Vol.26, No. 18	Mar. 29, 2001

Columbia Political Union Reinforces Its Mission

The Columbia Political Union, a non-partisan student organization, is doing exactly what it set out to do one year ago—raise student awareness of political issues and engage the Columbia community in the political process through events and open discussions.

In an event on March 22, the CPU reinforced its mission to promote civic awareness and on-campus political activism with the inauguration of a new constitution and governing board. Other highlights of the evening included speeches by former New York City Mayor David Dinkins (and Columbia professor at the School of International and Public Affairs) and Political Science Department Chair Robert Shapiro, followed by a debate on the death penalty.

Dinkins described New York City as a “mosaic, rather than a melting pot,” whereby differences of opinion enrich the political dialogue. This, he said, is what the CPU has acknowledged in its attempt to incorporate the entire political spectrum in various discussions.

It is CPU’s commitment and effectiveness in mobilizing students to vote, said Shapiro, that has made the organization a vital force on campus. “Getting people interested is extraordinarily difficult,” he said. “If everyone voted, how different would American politics be, how would this change campaigns? We don’t know, but these are some of the questions that the Columbia Political Union is working toward understanding.”

Marc Dunkelman, CPU general manager and co-president, reflected on the past year’s accomplishments, which included hosting four of the five major presidential candidates and sending a busload of 50 students to New Hampshire to participate in the primary campaigns.

“There has been a silence for the past 30 years,” said Dunkelman, referring to the political unrest of 1968 on campus. “Since that time, however, we have nurtured a cooperative relationship with the University administration which believes, as we do, that giving students an opportunity to have first-hand experiences with the political process is an integral part of a Columbia education.”