Letter to the editor

To the editor:

So perhaps, unlike my industrial engineering and operations research counterparts who have talked about cultural awareness and funding for clubs, I don’t want to necessarily just focus on the numbers, but rather on the implications of their respective articles. The issues discussed in the original article, Rajat Roy’s “Spreading the culture around,” (Oct. 1, 2009) and the response, “Letter to the editor: Columnist misses mark on Columbia culture critique,” (Oct. 8, 2009) both highlighted key issues and concerns.

I would like to start with the initial article and highlight certain misleading comments. Columbia’s tuition is indeed very high. That itself is undeniable. And if you were personally not too involved in extracurricular activities, then perhaps you would feel that the student life fee is an unnecessary expense. I follow that logic, but I must say that clubs are essential in showing the diversity within Columbia’s student body. Religious organizations on campus follow similar suit. The numbers here speak for themselves. Columbia’s student body includes students from 52 countries and of various religious faiths, with over 150 clubs focusing on diversity (just under ABC), and over 40 different religious organizations. So like the author of the letter to the editor, I would have to say that the columnist missed the mark here.

There are other concerns as well. The clubs on campus do try to make an effort for more inter-group involvement. For instance, under the leadership of Club Zamana about two years ago, the South Asian Intergroup was started, with the primary focus of increasing communication among South Asian clubs and related religious groups and putting on an event together that goes beyond the clubs themselves. That’s initiative towards more inter-club involvement.

Similarly, the Muslim Students Association has continuously strived to work with Hillel and other groups on campus by hosting events throughout the year to promote awareness and an exchange of ideas and thoughts. The column ignored this completely and stated that these two organizations essentially failed to have any communication. For instance, I recall the first MSA event I attended, even before I was a student here, in which I sat with several Jewish students. It was one of the iftars held during the month of Ramadan that sought to increase inter-religious awareness. Later on, when I became a student here, I find out that this event was held annually and called the Union Theological Seminary Interfaith Iftar. Not only that, but there are a multitude of other events on which the MSA has worked with Hillel, including, ‘Love And Marriage In Islam and Judaism,’ many discussions and debates about Israel and Palestine, and so many more.

The cultural club I am currently active in, Club Bangla, is also shifting some of its events towards the larger South Asian community. For instance, we are holding an event called; “Malnutrition in South Asia,” which will involve groups beyond South Asian clubs, and includes organizations on campus that we do not traditionally work with, including the Earth Institute and Mailman School of Public Health. This social activism demonstrates that these clubs go beyond their ethnic targets and aim to include a larger audience. It also shows that clubs are trying to increase the events they hold together, and learn from each other’s respective, and irrespective of cultures and faiths when dealing with larger issues.

There are most definitely things we can do to continue attending each other’s club’s events. As Varun Gulati said in his letter to the editor, membership to these clubs is not exclusive, and they are waiting for you not only participate, but also to improve and build on the clubs’ event and initiatives.

These clubs, whether they are cultural or not, want YOU to be a part of them. There will always be room for improvements within and even between these clubs—that’s a given. But without involving yourself in them, and immersing yourself in the various events these clubs hold, you won’t be able to see it. That’s my point, and hopefully you yourself will be able to see what these clubs have to offer by attending one of their many colorful events.

Idrisul Somi, SEAS ‘10
2009-2010 Co-President, Club Bangla
Member, Muslim Students Association

Today's print edition includes an abbreviated version of this letter.