Somewhere in this photo CCSC is meeting and arguing over something that probably won’t even happen.

Another week, another CCSC meeting. This time, Bwog Staffer Nadra writes on the complexities of CCSC that make you ponder if they’re actually doing anything.

More than you’d expect, as it turns out. Last night, CCSC unveiled a draft of its Fall 2017 Semester Report, soon to make its way into your inboxes. It’s filled with the good, the okay, and the remains of abandoned projects.

Biggest Hits

Before discussion of the report officially began, President Nathan Rosin drew the room’s attention to a big victory (?): in response to CCSC’s complaint against CUCR, the administration has revised its policy with regard to security fees for large or controversial events hosted by recognized student groups. Whereas before these costs would be funded by student activity fees, a fact which formed the basis of CCSC’s complaint, they will now be borne by the University itself if a University Delegate is required. (Such delegates are present at events if there is potential for significant disruption.) While this is definitely not the outcome that BSO was seeking when it came before CCSC, Rosin termed it a meaningful victory.

As CCSC nodded in affirmation, CUCR walked past the Satow Room, still unaware of the changes afoot.

Also great: As mentioned in previous posts, an alumni fund has been established with the goal of raising $60,000 this semester, with the potential to expand the initiative in the future if all goes well. The fund is designed to feed into F@CU, consequently directly supporting student programming “across the gamut.”

And hey, they actually pulled off the Faculty Mentorship Initiative, matching juniors and seniors with Arts & Sciences faculty. Now that the pilot is over, it’s time to evaluate what worked and what didn’t.

The report also included the Winter Celebration as a completed initiative, but per our review, it was kinda bad.

Hidden Gems?

Because general body updates are achievement focused, some CCSC initiatives have flown under the radar. Here are some things that caught my eye, even if they haven’t come to fruition:

• a 2021 initiative focused on making iClickers more financially accessible to first-years
• a potential new Facilities-created lawn tracker, which would inform students which lawns are open at any given time
• an ongoing attempt to make Adobe software free for students, or at the very least, student groups
• a student-designed financial literacy program targeted at Columbia students—ready to go live very soon

Lost to Time

R.I.P. Morningside Heights Restaurant Week, a Finance Committee project that never quite took off. Instead, it’s been rebranded as an opportunity to get students away from Morningside Heights, with committee members now searching for partnerships with restaurants all over the city. Whether this will actually come to pass is unclear.

On The Horizon

CCSC’s ongoing initiatives are many, and can be broadly grouped into projects intended to (1) address financial insecurity and the needs of low-income students, (2) build community, or (3) ease the academic stress of students.

With regard to financial insecurity, CCSC is focused on providing low-income students with more accessible summer housing and somehow lessening the burden of the student work contribution for those who have high need; other projects include Metrocard subsidization and surveys of the costs of certain classes. To build community and improve campus-wide mental health, CCSC has sought to redesign lounges for more collaboration, ensure that students have feedback on diversity and sensitivity trainings for faculty and TAs, coordinate and standardize the student experience around mental health trainings, and facilitate more meaningful student-faculty interactions.

Of course, there’s the Inclusive Student Group Project, which is expected to eventually open up clubs so more students can take advantage of their resources; the next steps are consulting with governing boards and creating guidelines for what constitutes an “inclusive” club.

As for administrative/structural changes that would ease academic stress, CCSC is considering the ways that Advising can better serve students, how departments can be differently structured, and the implications of the recently-instituted 18 credit semesterly limit, among other projects.

The Class of 2018 Is Bad At Budgeting

2018 majorly underestimated the cost for both the September and November Lerner Pubs, making them the only class council with negative net revenue. But it’s not so bad—seniors are entitled to some things, after all. If it’s any consolation, they’ll soon have to brave the harsh realities of the NYC real estate scene.

In total, CCSC spent $24,500 on events (both Campus Life and individual classes), $5,527.20 through JCCC, and $10,327.00 through the Capital Investment Fund. (The groups that received the most JCCC funding were the Native American Council, Science Review, and Columbia iQ. Among the groups that received capital investment were Columbia Super Smash Bros Club, Malama Hawaii, and the Columbia Space Initiative.)

Updates

• CCSC was paid a visit by Linda Amrou of the Global Centers; Amrou, who has a background in immigration law, is trying to bring back insights from the global centers, of which there will soon be nine, back to Columbia’s New York campuses—in the form of events that enlighten students as the activities that take place within these global centers. Members provided suggestions and expressed an interest in learning more about under-publicized opportunities related to global centers.
• “Something kind of happened during the [last] meeting,” said Inclusion and Equity Rep Elise Fuller, referring to the closed deliberations that took place as this semester’s vacancies were finally filled. Though she didn’t elaborate, Fuller emphasized the need to uplift marginalized voices, even if you don’t agree with them.
• VP Finance Adam Resheff belatedly gifted 2019 Rep George Jiang a carton of milk for his birthday. According to Resheff, “George has been getting big this semester.”
• Glass House Rocks is this Thursday, February 1, from 8 pm to 12 am in Lerner. Break out your flapper dresses: the theme is The Great Glassby (which, when announced, drew scoffs from around the room).

Shitty architecture via Bwog Archive