University Senate: Keianna Dixon

At the last University Senate plenary session on April 2, I watched as the CCSC and ESC presidents and two student senators presented our proposal to fix the academic calendar. During what I thought was a well-delivered presentation, I was surprised to see a professor in front of me smirk and snicker about the proposal to her colleagues, even rolling her eyes as the students spoke. As the faculty Senators probably hoped for, the academic calendar debate remained unresolved at the end of the session, shelved off for next year.

This experience, as well as countless others I and my peers have had at this University with the administration and its services, motivates me to run to be Columbia College’s newest University Senator. To be really empowered as students, instead of simply bemoaning the bureaucracy, I believe we must take collaborative and strategic action towards addressing our greatest needs.
To begin, I want to change the image of the University Senator. I believe that a University Senator should be visible; after all, she or he is in an elected position. Simple idea, right? Yet not often followed. I will work to reach outside of the student council to the rest of the Columbia community so that people know who I am and what University Senate does.

My platform focuses on two central ideas: greater representation and greater services.

As your University Senator, I want to represent the collective voice of our peers, being sure to include those underrepresented in the past. Reflecting on my past three years here, I realize that the highs and lows of my Columbia experience and the diversity of perspectives that I have gained will enable me to have a line of communication into different pockets of our community. When facing the administration and faculty on the University Senate, I believe that our greatest strength as students lies in coalition building and unity. I see the strategy on the academic calendar, in which all four undergraduate student councils and countless students were behind one proposal, as an exemplary way for pushing my policy ideas.

My platform speaks to top concerns for every Columbia student today that are also realistic for the University Senate to address next year: the academic calendar, financial aid, Butler, and the Center for Career Education.

Columbia was rated the second most stressful school in the nation (The Daily Beast). It’s essential that we find a way to reform the academic calendar so that we keep our Election Day holiday, which is more of a fall break for most students, while providing more time to prepare for exams and to return home well enough before the winter holidays, like our peer institutions.

Furthermore, stronger financial aid for students whose families don’t qualify for the no-loan policy will go a long way towards decreasing the stress that comes with attending a competitive college and being left with burdensome loans that may limit your opportunities after graduation, especially in these tough economic times when families are experiencing more financial strain.

For the amount of time that we spend in Butler and for price that we pay for tuition, its services should better satisfy our study needs, which is we should have a snacks vending machine—so that we can get a bite to eat in Butler after the café closes at midnight and before it opens at noon on the weekend—as well as more 24-hour study rooms to ease our woes in finding late-night study space.

Last, CCE needs to be strengthened to better support students’ professional interests, having a greater focus on facilitating placement into short- and long-term employment and supporting unpaid and alternative internships, such as an internship at the White House. Furthermore, CCE needs to have a greater focus on professional networking, which, if mastered, is a powerful skill for securing jobs, especially for students from backgrounds lacking strong professional networks.

In light of these important policy ideas that can ensure a greater Columbia for us all, everyone should VOTE in this year’s CCSC Elections, Tuesday (9 a.m.) to Thursday (noon). Check out my campaign video and student testimonials at www.dixonforcusenate.com and vote for me for University Senator.

The author is a Columbia College junior majoring in sociology running for University Senator. She is president and founder of the Africa-Diaspora Literary Society.