Three undergraduate councils passed a joint resolution Monday to allow Columbia University Emergency Medical Service, commonly known as CAVA, to relocate to Broadway 103.
Columbia College Student Council, Engineering Student Council, and General Studies Student Council recommended the resolution to University administrators in response to CAVA’s petition to move from the basement of Carman to Broadway 102 and 103.
The councils had originally presented different resolutions that would have given CU-EMS both rooms, one room, or neither. They met and formed a joint resolution, which is standard procedure when they have conflicting views.
“We wanted to make sure we didn’t give them [the administration] different opinions to choose from. We want to present one voice behind all the students,” said ESC President Chris Elizondo, SEAS ’11,. “It’s to the students’ benefit.”
Elizondo said the councils reached a consensus after looking at all published opinions on the move and reviewing meeting minutes and notes. “This was the optimal decision for all the groups involved,” he said.
“We sat down with representatives from all three councils and talked about our reasons for voting how we voted, as well as considering what administrators and governing boards had advised,” CCSC President Learned Foote, CC ’11, said of the process. “SGB [Student Governing Board], for instance, supported CU-EMS’s transition to 103 but not 102.”
SGB chair Lisa Weber, CC ’11, said that the governing board would rather maintain space for other groups to use instead of granting both rooms to CU-EMS.
“SGB asked our members, and there has been a unified request to have more storage space for our groups, and we believe that Broadway 102 would work wonderfully for that use, as well as the Carman spaces that will be vacated by CU-EMS,” Weber said. “We are very happy with the process thus far and feel that CU-EMS fills a necessary niche on campus in order to help the well-being of all of our group members.”
Foote said communication among groups was also important in the process. He met with CU-EMS representatives several times, looked at their current space and potential new spaces, and attended general meetings.
Alexander Harstrick, CC ’12 and director-elect of CAVA, said the meetings between groups were productive.
“Student council meetings have gone very well. ... Through this entire process, we’ve corresponded 10-15 times a week over this whole issue.” Harstrick said.
Foote and Elizondo also met with Scott Wright, vice president of campus services, to discuss the resolution as they were coming to a consensus, Elizondo said. Final approval will come from Wright’s office, with input from University President Lee Bollinger and Dean of Student Affairs Kevin Shollenberger.
CU-EMS members were relieved to get Broadway 103, even if it didn’t come with 102. “We’re really happy that everything went through,” Harstrick said. “It would have been preferable to get both rooms, [but] it is a significantly better space than what we used to be in.”
The resolution has now been forwarded to University administrators for the final go-ahead. Foote said he expected the process to be finished this winter, and Harstrick is hopeful that the administration will grant CAVA Broadway 103. “I think our petition warrants more severe necessities than other student groups,” Harstrick said.
“It’s very obvious we have complete student support for this move,” Harstrick added, referring to the joint resolution. “I hope they take that very seriously when making decisions.”
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