Alumni Programming

Problem - Two problems facing Columbia are the lack of school spirit and connection to the school. A main factor of this problem is the void of a solid relationship between current students and alumni. As a result we have resolved to provide regular and meaningful programming with our alumni classes to foster Columbia unity and add meaningful networking connections.

What We Have Done - Recognizing the need to connect and network with Columbia alumni, the Columbia College Class of 2007 has worked hard with the Office of Alumni Affairs and created an Alumni Networking Events Series with our father class (CC'82) and our grandfather class (CC'57). We have secure ample funding for great regular events. Over the past two years these events have come to include:

• Dinners at Faculty House
• Cocktail Receptions in the homes of Alumni
• An Alumni led tour of the Met

Air Conditioning

Problem - A major problem facing Columbia students is the inequality of dorm facilities, namely a lack of air conditioning in certain dorms. More than being uncomfortable, the lack of a cool environment hampers one�s studying abilities and makes tasks such as sleeping impossible. Many of the dorms that do not have air-conditioning (i.e. LLC, John Jay) have air conditioners installed in the summer months for outside programs. During the school year students do not have the ability to buy an A/C from Columbia to install nor are they allowed to buy their own. This policy is unfair. A/C should be available to all Columbia students in all possible dorms.

What We Have Done - We have taken the first and most pivotal step of meeting with representatives from Undergraduate Housing and Dining. It was ascertained that the reason A/C is not installed year round is due to cost drivers. Moreover, students are not allowed to install their own A/C in the window out of safety concerns that they would fall. While this rationale is very logical, we believe that there is a happy medium where students can have A/C. Upon looking at the electrical and manpower costs of installing an A/C in a non-airconditioned dorm, the price appeared to be comparable to the difference between the non-airconditioned and the air-conditioned dorms. As a result, we have devised an opt-in system in which a student at the time they sign their housing contracts in the spring can opt-in to have air conditioning. As a result they would absorb the cost of the A/C and it would be installed for them by Columbia Housing and Dining. Approval for such a measure has many stages; We have however cleared the first and now need the approval of the entire Housing and Dining Committee. The goal is A/C for Fall 2006 (since contracts for 2005 have been signed).

Peer Advising

Problem - A major problem at Columbia is the lack of advising in many departments. Many times department heads and FYSAAC advisors are too busy to meet with students to provide meaningful advice.

What We Have Done - Currently we are working to adapt a peer advising program with the purpose of establishing a recognized system through which students can seek the advice of reliable, experienced peers in areas related to their major. The program is designed to be in addition to the guidance offered by their major advisor. Peer advisors would advise students on requirements and courses from a student perspective, which a major advisor may not be familiar with. Currently a peer advising program exists in the East Asian Languages and Cultures department as well as the Philosophy department. We are working to expand this into several other departments including Chemistry, Comparative Literature, Computer Science, and Religion among others.

FREE New York Times

Problem - A major problem facing students is a lack of awareness of current events. Given that many of Columbia�s peer institutions have collegiate readership programs, we strove to provide the class with FREE newspapers.

What We Have Done - The Columbia College Class of 2007 spent the past two years working to bring free NewYork Times to the Columbia Campus. Ever since we launched the Collegiate Readership Pilot program in spring of 2004, where we offered free USA Today, New York Times, and Financial Times to students, we have worked long and hard to permanently offer free New York Times to the student populous. We spent all of fall 2004 working with administrators to bring free papers to you without ever affecting your Student Life Fees or your club�s funding. As a result, on Wednesday, February 9th, 2005 the New York Times returned and will remain a staple at Columbia University. Moreover, we have worked with Administrators to secure more funds to expand the program even further this coming semester.

Big Buddy Program

Problem - After Orientation freshman year, it was evident that the type of advice and advising received from FYSAAC does not cover all of the questions relating to first-years. Thus a program or a Forum needed to be created for first years to ease into their college years with someone to talk to about any questions ranging from academic to social to whatever.

What We Have Done - The big buddy program is an initiative enacted by the Columbia College Class of 2007 in Fall 2003 to ease the tension of transition into Columbia, as well as providing a mentor and a friend. The program began very small with questionnaire for willing first-years and upperclassmen. Based on this questionnaire buddies were paired. Buddies were then given opportunities to attend BBQ�s, baseball games, and movies in order to build a meaningful relationship where FYSAAC leaves of. In 2004 the program grew as funding from advising offices such as FYSAAC were secured. Now the program, like all clubs, creates a meaningful opportunity for all incoming first-years. As the program has grown over time, it has been passed down to different classes in order to ensure that program survives long after we graduate. For any further questions please email [email protected].

CCE

Problem - A major problem facing Columbia students is what to do after college. Many students are aware of the Center for Career Education, yet they feel that CCE is �too finance oriented.� Given this impression, the Columbia College Class of 2007 is working hard to ensure that CCE seeks out employers froma diverse industry background, as well as making them more approachable to students through greater programming. Consequently, we vow to create new career panels and workshops this year focused on alternative industries.

Musical Practice Space

Problem - At Columbia there is basically no musical practice space open to students on a regular basis. The green room in Lerner, which is the only available space to book, consistently gets bumped when the party space is being used. Consequently we have long term and short term goals to help create more options for students which included classroom rentals and ultimate space on Lerner 6. More information will be provided soon.