CCSC Candidates Debate Flex Program, Platforms

In their final chance to publicly woo voters before Wednesday’s Columbia College Student Council elections, Alidad Damooei and George Krebs, both CC ’09 and candidates for CCSC president, argued over experience in a debate Monday night.

The first question addressed to Experience Columbia, Krebs’ party, asked whether Krebs demonstrated humility when he called the recent Flex Off-Campus initiative his “baby” in a Spectator article.

“I’m well-aware that people brought it [Flex Off-Campus] up before I was on council,” Krebs said. “I was lucky enough to come along when it was coming into fruition.”
Krebs said his main role was forcing the University to offer a timeline for the new program.

“We talked about transparency,” Krebs said, “and by getting a timeline from the administration, that holds them accountable.”

The criticisms of Krebs began before the debate was underway. In an interview beforehand, Damooei, the candidate for Connect Columbia, accused Krebs of taking undue credit for the initiative after “dropping the ball” on his responsibilities, referring primarily to delays on a survey that asked which vendors students would like to see on Flex.

While Krebs said he finished the survey in reasonable time, Scott Wright, vice president of student and administrative services, said he “did get a little concerned in early December” when the survey was not ready.

“In all fairness, George came to meet with me in person on a regular basis, to check in,” Wright said. “He asked, ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ The thing is, there wasn’t.”

Michelle Diamond, CC ’08 and current CCSC president, told Spectator she was brought in to work with the administration after difficulties with Krebs.

“I think he’s exaggerating a lot of what he’s done,” Diamond said.

While denying that she was biased toward either candidate, Diamond recused herself from the Judicial Board, which decides on rules violations appeals, to avoid even the appearance of partiality. She said, in fact, that it was not so much choosing between Damooei or Krebs, but that “Connect Columbia is a stronger ticket.”

Elections rules prohibit current CCSC members from officially endorsing candidates.

But Krebs said Diamond only entered the Flex Off-Campus process to gain recognition for it.

“The chickens came home to roost, and now everybody wants to take credit for it,” Krebs said.

Damooei said the charges against Krebs were not timed to influence voters going into
Wednesday’s and Thursday’s elections. He said he was tempted to mention earlier what he saw as Krebs’ irresponsibility, but wanted to keep his campaign positive, rather than give in to Experience Columbia’s “mudslinging.”

Damooei asserted that Krebs has been using negative tactics by criticizing Connect Columbia rather than strengthening Experience Columbia.

Krebs’ main criticisms cast Connect Columbia as the “status quo” ticket because two of its members—Damooei and Jennifer Choi, CC ’09 and vice president for funding candidate—are current CCSC executive board members.

Krebs said that for students “unhappy with the way CCSC is run,” Experience Columbia will “change the tone” of the council.

Though Connect Columbia emphasizes the work its members have done on this year’s council, Cliff Massey, CC ’10 and Connect Columbia’s vice president for campus life candidate, sharply criticized the tactic of using the current council’s perceived failings to cast Connect Columbia in a negative light.

“We’re Connect Columbia, we’re not the old executive board,” Massey said.

But in his opening statement, Massey also said, “We know what it takes to get things done because we’ve already done them.”

One of the things Connect Columbia has “already done” is collaborate with student groups on projects like affordable birth control and environmental sustainability.

Adil Ahmed, CC ’09 and Experience Columbia’s vice president for policy candidate, focused on financial aid for international students.

“We consider ourselves an international university, and pride ourselves in bringing in all these different students,” Ahmed said, yet “only accept students if they can afford it.”

Ahmed also called for an expanded Manhattanville committee that includes more council outsiders. “The fact is, people are losing their jobs, people are losing their homes,” he said.

Both tickets promised to address problems in Greek life—and campus life as a whole—such as the school’s crackdown on alcohol and parties.

“The administration sees this more as a monastery than a college campus,” Krebs said.

When the parties were asked, amid laughter, to give one reason why students should vote for their competitors, Damooei said, “Collectively both parties demonstrate passion.”

“Don’t be swayed by us,” Laura Doan, CC ’10 and Experience Columbia’s vice president for funding candidate, said. “Do your research and make your own decision.”

lien.hoang@columbiaspectator.com