To the editor:
We are glad to see conversation stirred around how Columbia College Student Council and Engineering Student Council can better connect with its constituents with Rajat Roy’s column “Constituency, shmostituency,” (Oct. 29, 2009). For any group on campus, the question of how to keep a close ear to the ground, of how to reach out, and how to bring in the needs and opinions of each constituent proves to be a difficult challenge. This is a perennial issue to which we are all seeking the perfect solution. Until then, we can only test various options.
We just wanted to note two points of the article that called for further clarification. As per the claim of the CCSC executive board’s idea to grant Barnard swipe access—such an initiative was pursued by last year’s executive board, and not by this year’s executive board. This year’s executive board, counter to the claim that information is not passed on from year to year, has learned from last year’s executive board that such an initiative would run into many institutional roadblocks and hazards, and that other projects besides BC-CC/SEAS swipe access are worth following. Secondly, the argument that “75 percent of council members are there for their own egos or, worse, their resumes” is unfounded and insensitive. The personal investment each council member has made, at least this year, is not accurately reflected by the author’s statement. We invite Roy, and all students interested, to reassess his claims about council member involvement during meetings by attending the next CCSC meeting on Sunday Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. in Satow.
The question of high turnover with CCSC is an issue we grapple with. We all know that institutional change on this campus occurs at a velocity that we wish we could ratchet. It is a slow-moving process, and yes, in order for such a change to constantly be evolving, we must think about ways to efficiently transfer information and knowledge between years. And indeed, included in such a transfer of information is a continued emphasis on the importance of remaining true and connected to our constituents.
Sue Yang, CC’10, CCSC President
Sarah Weiss, CC’10, CCSC Vice President, Policy
Sana Khalid, CC’11, CCSC Vice President, Communications
Deysy Ordonez, CC’10, CCSC Vice President, Campus Life
Nuriel Moghavem, CC’11, CCSC Vice President, Finance
Nov. 4, 2009
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