In February, CU Student Union launched its first mass meeting as a coalition of students seeking to represent student interests to administration.

The CU Student Union (SU), an organization formed following conversations among students about a large, cohesive student coalition, held its first mass meeting in February. In January, the group met to complete its constitution and structure its operations, allowing it to begin its work in earnest early this semester. SU is inspired by the work of many existing clubs, including SWS (Student Worker Solidarity), YDSA (Young Democratic Socialists of America), and the Sunrise Movement, a climate justice group. Members of these groups initially convened during SWS meetings, hoping to form a coalition to work on issues that affect the Columbia student body and the displaced, gentrified community around Columbia, according to its members.

I spoke to a member of SU, Eva, who talked me through some of the key structures of the organization. “Students make the university, but we have no voice,” Eva said. Another member of SU mentioned the need for students to come together to advocate for themselves after instances of students losing access to housing and healthcare: “We can’t trust this University.”

The goal of SU is to address major issues affecting the study body, such as opening campus gates, divestment from Israel, the University’s expansion displacing Harlem residents and businesses, as well as services that might be applicable for general student wellbeing, such as free bike fixing services or course registration support. SU offers students opportunities to participate at various levels of commitment. Each mass meeting offers an opportunity for students to partake in large conversations that feed into the work of weekly committee planning meetings. For students who want to be more involved, there are working groups to join. Currently, there are four working groups: Student Safety, Columbia Finances, Community Outreach, and Student Services, as well as administrative groups that work on media and outreach.

Eva noted that unlike the Student Government, which requires a working relationship with University administration, the Student Union is not tethered to the administration, and in future conversations with administration, will simply represent the voice of the student body. “Our authority comes from the favor of students, and we want to represent that as best as possible,” Eva said. A major point of conversation for SU is how to participate in campus issues without infringing on other groups working on similar issues, and how to tackle issues not as an interest group, but as a student union. “We don’t want to co-op existing efforts by other student groups,” said Petra, another SU member.

As the coalition continues to develop its structure, Eva outlined SU’s upcoming plans, including a steering committee and more communication infrastructure: email chains, telegram, and a future publication. In the meantime, SU has a Linktree with a campus poll and other information. They are currently most active on Instagram.

Header image via author