General Studies Lounge

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Brody Berg
Date: Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 12:25 AM
Subject: GSSC Weekly Message
To: gsba@cuvmc.ais.columbia.edu

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of General Studies,

The big news this week are our new council members! We have an incredible group of people joining us including a strong international presence, very experienced student high school and community college leaders and more. Welcome everyone!

Now that Obama and McCain have walked off stage, we can return to our regularly scheduled work on the fundamental issues that concern students.

In this message:

* Housing & Financial Aid
* Dorm Access
* Storybook - your thoughts?
* Your questions

Housing & Financial Aid:

On both the Housing and Financial Aid fronts the council is diving in to comprehensively understand the issues at hand. There are two ways individual students can participate:

* Let us know about your housing situation - on campus or off, or even volunteer for a walkthrough, you can even send us cellphone photos of your apartment if you want - email VP of Policy Michael Rain (mr2593@columbia.edu)
* Let us know about your questions about financing your education - email VP of Policy Michael Rain (mr2593@columbia.edu)

Another housing topic is that we are also working on identifying policies that prevent GS fraternity members from living in UAH fraternity dorms. If you know about this situation or have questions please contact Sophomore VP Joey Spitz (jes2204@columbia.edu)

Dorm Access:

Allowing members of GS to access dorms on the Columbia and Barnard campuses is something the council is working on. We have begun speaking with the Dean of Students office on this topic and with the other three student councils. Let Sophomore President Alex Katz (ajk2153@columbia.edu) know if you have any questions or comments on this issue.

Storybook - your thoughts?

Super Tuesday has ended. We had one day to recover from this massive influx of information. Numbers, numbers, and numbers! Well, every candidate won his/her states – with just a few exceptions. But as expected GOP candidate John McCain gained a large lead over his fiercest rival, Governor Mitt Romney, while Governor Huckabee surprised in some states, and proved himself to be a realistic candidate for the potential VP position alongside McCain. And well … I do not waste any words about Mr. Paul and his disappointing but expected statistics of never winning a state in his controversial candidacy. Oh yeah, don’t forget Barack and Hilary… head-on-head race until the convention? Really? I am sure McCain and the Republican Party will receive this set of developments with a bright smile.

But okay… but what will change for us students? Rallying around out candidate calling for CHANGE. But where does the change come from? Is Barack Obama, former Columbia graduate, the right candidate for change with his ridiculously short time as Illinois senator. Well he certainly lacks experience and a clear plan. We all know that we need change, but how?

Senator Hilary Clinton… oh yeah… a candidate for change? If she was a candidate of change, then Washington wouldn’t be right now the mess it is today. She has been long enough in D.C. to change at least something. Vote for the Iraq War, working with lobbyists in her campaigns, serving as a lawyer for big corporate giants such as Wal Mart… I can go on and on… but I spare your precious time! Oh yeah: A recent question: If a family affords to buy insurance but choose not to do so, what would you do? Clinton: Everyone HAS to have insurance. Enforcement in a democracy? Where is then our free will to decide whatever we want to do with out money, Senator Clinton?