Columbia Students Hold Town Hall Discussion
From Social Justice Wiki
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 20, 2004 Contact: Nell Geiser, 646-296-5927
Columbia Students Hold Town Hall Discussion on University Expansion
Tuesday, February 24th 6:00-8:00pm Satow Room (E567) Lerner Hall, 115th and Broadway
The Office of Government and Community Affairs for Columbia has held so-called town hall meetings in the community about the planned expansion into West Harlem. However, many people say such events have been little more than public relations initiatives absent any substantive dialogue. In order to provide a truly open forum on this important issue, a cross-section of student groups have come together to sponsor a town hall forum where people can share their ideas and questions about the expansion.
On Tuesday, February 24th students, faculty and staff of Columbia University and community members will gather in Lerner Hall to discuss the implications of the university’s plans to expand into West Harlem.
Representatives of the Student Coalition on Expansion and Gentrification will start the event with a brief summary of the expansion process thus far. Then, student facilitators from the campus-based organization ROOTED will moderate the discussion and make sure anyone who wants to speak gets a chance to do so.
According to SCEG member Candyce Phoenix, “Our goal is to promote dialogue that takes into serious consideration both the potential benefits and the dangers of expanding into West Harlem. We want to keep this debate alive on campus and ensure the administration takes into account the real impacts the Manhattanville project will have on the community.”
Along with providing a forum in which to discuss and clarify issues related to the expansion, the event demonstrates that a broad coalition of student organizations on campus are committed to continuing dialogue and action. The town hall is being sponsored by the Student Coalition on Expansion and Gentrification, the Columbia College Student Council, The College Democrats, the College Republicans, The Student Organization of Latinos, Students Promoting Empowerment and Knowledge, Students for Economic and Environmental Justice, The Whitney M. Young Program on Race Relations, Respecting Ourselves and Others Through Education, The International Socialist Organization, and the Student Social Workers Alliance for a Progressive Society.