Columbia Spectator: University Senate Discusses Manhattanville Expansion in Depth

University Senate Discusses Manhattanville Expansion in Depth

The University Senate did not consider any resolutions at its monthly gathering on Friday, instead devoting the hour-long meeting largely to a discussion about the issues surrounding campus expansion in response to a brief speech by University President Lee Bollinger.

Bollinger did not address specifics about the negotiations to acquire the Manhattanville land or the results of a meeting with city officials two weeks ago that was thought to be a major checkpoint for evaluating the viability of the project. Instead, he said that the project was moving forward and spent time answering questions in depth about community concerns over the expansion.

"All I can really report at this point is that we have many people working absolutely day and night on trying to move this forward and that for the moment it is moving forward well," Bollinger said. "But since we're talking about many, many years' worth of moving forward, there will be plenty of opportunities for me to report the contrary. Hopefully I will not have to say it is no longer even a possibility."

Several senators asked Bollinger specific questions about community opposition to the Manhattanville expansion, referring to a Columbus Day student-organized panel that denounced the expansion plans as racist, as well as a community protest outside the University gates a week before the Senate gathering. Bollinger acknowledged such concerns but expressed optimism that all involved parties could work together and reach a consensus that would allow Columbia to continue the project.

"Working out relationships with the communities involved in this project is exceedingly important not only for getting this project underway but for establishing Columbia as an institution that the communities can work with and trust over time," he said. "The point is not to get to zero conflict but to get to a point where there is trust that can provide the ground for negotiation."

In response to questions about who is included in the University's definition of the community that will be affected by the proposed expansion, Bollinger offered a detailed description of the area that emphasized how few people actually live there. He said that between 125th and 133rd Streets from Broadway to 12th Avenue, there are approximately 30 residents, 1,000 jobs, and between 30 and 40 parcels of land that neither the University nor the city currently owns, and added that Columbia has an interest in working to support much of the Harlem area outside of Manhattanville.

The Senate also briefly discussed the recent admissions controversy at Columbia's newly-opened elementary school and community mistrust about current expansion projects. Bollinger said that the incident, in which The School admitted four children outside the mandated lottery process and many community members reacted with outrage, was "clearly a hurtful move that breeds suspicion that Columbia can't be trusted." But he added that, all in all, the elementary school is a "colossal success story that gets chipped away by little mistakes we may make."

"I do believe that this has to be a time that we make a case about Columbia's attitudes," he said.

Paul Duby, chair of the Senate executive committee, said in his address to the Senate body that the committee had discussed the admissions problem at The School and would continue to do so in the future, though he had nothing to report at Friday's meeting. He added that he would be working with University administrators to schedule town-hall meetings in late November or early December to get input from students, faculty, staff, and community members about the Manhattanville expansion plans.

The Senate also heard the first reports of the year from student caucus chair Jerald Boak, faculty caucus chair and political science Professor Sharyn O'Halloran, and the budget review committee, whose report was presented by law professor Avery Katz standing in for the absent chair, history Professor Richard Bulliet. All three committee presentations focused on issues the groups will focus on in the coming year, many of which revolve around campus expansion.

The next Senate meeting will take place on Friday, Nov. 14.