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In Step with Expansion
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 5, 2007
Despite the number of administration-sponsored publicity campaigns, many students still feel that they have little personal investment in the future of Manhattanville. As Columbia’s proposed expansion progresses, it is more and more important that student groups organize themselves to ensure that questions about the University’s responsibility to the community and how the new campus might serve undergraduate needs are addressed. The Columbia College Student Council Committee on Manhattanville Expansion has the potential to facilitate this type of productive discussion and must function as a true bridge between the student body and the administration, instead of merely acting as a spokesperson for the administration’s vision.
The CCSC’s committee claims this is a pivotal year for their group. But the fact that the two-year-old group only put on its first official event—an open house—last Wednesday indicates that the organization must move quicker if they hope to really affect the debate. It is vital that they organize themselves and begin putting on regular events like forums where students may pose questions to the administration. With each passing year, more and more decisions are made and the committee’s potential effects are diminished. If, like in the past, the committee spends most of the year organizing, they will lose much of their strength.
The first priority for the committee should be to educate and energize the student population regarding the importance of Columbia’s expansion into Manhattanville. Since the Manhattanville expansion will not be completed for more than 30 years, well past when the current student population graduates, this goal will require new and creative measures. They must recognize that their role is not just to educate students on the many issues that surround the debate, but they must make students care about the issue. It is not enough to glut students’ inboxes with information, but they must make efforts to engage students in the present and future issues. This is no small task and will require original events like campus art exhibits, poster campaigns around the University, and public events and exhibits that examine issues surrounding the expansion from both sides.
Furthermore, the committee must demonstrate their independence from the administration by inviting vocal community leaders to speak with student leaders. Rather than having panel discussions, the committee should sponsor less formal interaction between concerned students and community leaders. If the committee demonstrates their independence and credibility, more students will devote time to the issue. The time to affect change in Manhattanville is running out. The CCSC Committee on Expansion must position itself as a destination for student information on the proposed expansion. While it will be an enormous challenge for the committee to engage students on an issue that is so remote to all of us, it must be a guiding principle for the committee.
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Just one of many points to keep in mind:
When I was an undergrad 20 years ago, Columbia was considerably weaker than it is today. But when people assess me based upon my Columbia degree (for better and for worse many people make important decisions based substantially upon credentials) they think of Columbia as it is today, not as it was in the 1980s. I thus benefit from Columbia's gains overthe years, as has everyone else who graduated back then.
If Columbia can't expand the way it needs to it will lose ground to its peers over the next few decades. Today's students will be judged 20 years hence by how strong CU will be then, not by how strong it is today. Thus, if Columbia's expansion is hindered too much, today's students will pay a real price because their degrees and their educational experience will be devalued.
Is this the most important issue surrounding expansion? No. But for current students who want to know what's in it for them, it is one worth considering.
Also, for those more concerned about specific academic programs, note that even those which won't move will benefit because those that will are going to leave empty space behind which other programs will expand into. When the Business School moves, Uris may become a social sciences building. When the School of the Arts goes north, Dodge will probably become available to humanities departments. If the biology department moves, Fairchild will likely be handed over to SEAS. Science departments that leave the main campus will free up lab space for those that remain behind. Thus, even if your department seems unlikely to go to Manhattanvile it is still likely to benefit from the expansion.
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