Press Release: CU COLLEGE DEMOCRATS ELECT NEW E-BOARD

The general body of the Columbia University Democrats elected its 2008-2009 executive board tonight at an elections meeting in Earl Hall. Chris Daniels, CC ’09, was elected the organization’s president. The full 2008-2009 executive board follows:

President: Chris Daniels
Vice President: Anna Brower
Secretary: Nancy Huemer
Treasurer: Linda Magana
Speakers Coordinator: Stef Goodsell
Membership Director: Kaley Hanenkrat
Outreach Director: Lianna Reagan
Media Director: Avi Edelman
Social & Alumni Affairs Coordinator: Greer Feick
Lead Activists: Ross Johnson, Jenna Hovel

The new executive board took office immediately following the elections. Two additional Lead Activists will be elected in May and two Freshman Representatives will be elected in the fall.

Outgoing President Josh Lipsky, CC ’08, thanked the body for the opportunity to serve, and new President Chris Daniels looked forward to the organization’s future: "I'm thrilled with the energy and dedication of the new board members and excited to build on past successes and create new traditions. This fall will present both a challenge and an opportunity for us to engage our members in a constructive manner, and this wonderful group of people will lead the organization to great achievements."

The new executive board is looking forward to the coming year, and hopes to capitalize on the energy generated by this historic election to mobilize the Columbia campus in a way that will keep progressive activity flourishing beyond November.

Columbia University College Democrats Endorse George Krebs and the Experience Columbia Ticket

After hearing from both candidates for Columbia College Student Council tonight, the College Democrats are convinced that, like the Democratic Party, Columbia College is presented with two exciting, well-qualified candidates. However, there are clear differences, and the College Democrats enthusiastically endorse George Krebs and his Experience Columbia party in the CCSC elections for the following reasons:

ü Their superior understanding of, and solutions for, the funding problems that have plagued the College Democrats and all SGB groups this year.

ü Their ideas for increasing transparency in F@CU and the funding apparatus behind campus life at Columbia.

ü Their concrete plan for reforming the unfair Dean’s Discipline process by creating and empowering a Student Advocacy Council.

ü Their proposal to create a Columbia Student Portal to better serve students and campus groups online.

ü Their commitment to ensuring that the Manhattanville expansion pays heed to the needs of the community rather than simply displacing it.

ü Their interest in building community while simultaneously instilling activism in CCSC through the CON+ACT project and the Passport to Columbia.

Experience Columbia demonstrated both an appreciation of the minutiae of campus life and administration and a big-picture vision for Columbia that the College Democrats found appealing. We look forward to working with them next year to implement our shared goals and to ensure that Columbia better serves its students.

Governor Spitzer's Actions

College Democrats,

The Executive Board of the College Democrats has made a commitment to keep you informed of major issues affecting our campus, our state and our country. We've also made a promise to take strong stances on the issues that directly relate to how we move forward as young progressives. Today, we continue to fulfill that promise, in light of the breaking news concerning Governor Eliot Spitzer.

The Columbia University College Democrats condemn the actions of Governor Eliot Spitzer. Governor Spitzer campaigned on cleaning up Albany. His promises to establish robust ethics and campaign reform gave New Yorkers hope that new leadership could create a more effective and more transparent governing system for the state. Today, the Governor's actions have put those goals in jeopardy. His behavior may have torn the rug out from under a strong progressive movement in this state that was headed for success in the state senate elections this Fall. Governor Spitzer's conduct gives the GOP ammunition for the fall campaign in a way that could derail our goal of reforming the way politics works in New York.

We emphasize the word could. Politics in this state is bigger than any one man, no matter how that man has behaved in his personal life. Politics in this state is about reform. Reform of Albany, reform of back room politics and reform of ethics. These are ideas that the Columbia University College Democrats have fought for across the state and will continue to fight for in the months to come. This is the moment as Columbia Democrats to rally behind ideas, and tell the state GOP that our ideas are the right ones for New York and that these ideas WILL prevail in November. This is an organization committed to activism and in that light we provide you with the following opportunities to get involved in state politics. Instead of shaking your head with disgust and saying we want no part in this process, we ask you to shake your head in disgust and then jump in to the process to create meaningful change. We cannot just be participants, we have to be leaders of this party. It is our voices that have been missing from the process and we believe, especially in light of today's news, that it is ONLY our voices that can ever change the way politics is done in the state of New York.

Ways to get involved:

1) Adopt-a-District
The Activist Council of the College Democrats has "adopted" the 15th Senate District of New York, and from now until November we will work toward electing a progressive State Senator over the the incumbent Republican, Serphin Maltese. Email ac.cudems@gmail.com for more information

2) Summer Internship - Students for a New American Politics PAC
(SNAP PAC) is a federal political action committee offering students the opportunity to get progressive leaders elected to Congress next fall. SNAP Fellows will be given full-time field organizing placements on key congressional campaigns across the country, working for progressive candidates who have been endorsed by SNAP and whom we believe can win and can use our help. The deadline for applications is March 15. You can find more information on the fellowship and our organization online at http://www.snappac.org.

3) Work for the State Party
Email Sarah Leonard at srl2126@columbia.edu for more information

4) Lobby in Albany
Join Dems Umbrella Group SAME (Students Allied for Marriage Equality) to lobby on a variety of important pieces of LGBT legislation in Albany on April 29th. For more information, contact Jeremy Constancio at jsc2138@columbia.edu or Chris Daniels at cvd2102@columbia.edu.

If you're a member, keep on working hard and getting involved. If not, this is the time to help us build a stronger Democratic Party. If you have a new idea or are unsure how to get involved, email Josh Lipsky at jsl2120@columbia.edu

Sincerely,

Josh Lipsky
President, Columbia University College Democrats

Chris Daniels
Vice President, Columbia University College Democrats

Weekly Media Roundup

Columbia Dems are making waves this week...

Check out the latest media:

http://columbiaspectator.com/node/29458

http://columbiaspectator.com/node/29440

http://www.bwog.net/articles/food_both_free_and_not_so

And our very own Lydia DePillis wrote this campus progress story about campaign trips:

http://campusprogress.org/fieldreport/2563/grassroots-road-trip

Oh, and Howard Dean is coming on Monday

Get Psyched for Howard Dean!

In case you weren't sure just how much the Columbia Dems love Howard Dean...

On second thought...

Maybe we should let them have it. With the news today that Ben Bernanke elected to slash interest rates by another fifty basis points (making it 125 in eight days), leaving the federal funds rate scraping bottom at three percent, it seems clear to me that the Bush administration is well aware that a Democrat will win the 2008 election. They are so confident of this, in fact, and so politically cynical, that they are trying to wreck the country before that happens so that we have to clean up the resulting economic and political mess. Even Alan Greenspan, who created the real estate bubble by encouraging Americans and America to continue borrowing and spending in good times and bad, never played with our money supply with such cavalier disregard for the long term impacts.

As we plunge into a recession that looks to be longer and deeper than any in recent memory (including the ones that began under Republicans Ford, Reagan, Bush, and Bush--not that that says anything about their economic prowess), due in no small part to Greenspan-backed Republican tax cuts and Greenspan-spawned Republican fiscal policy (the latter continuing unabated under the DLC-spawned Clinton presidency), one wonders why we are trying so hard to win this election. Sure it would be much better for the country, but how have we faired as a party in the past after inheriting Republican recessions? Just ask Jimmy Carter. And the situation he had to deal with in Iran was not nearly so bad as the one Bush appears anxious to create.

Of course I do not truly advocate allowing the Repubicans to win this election and further destroy America, but we should think carefully about how to proceed into the first months of a Clinton or Obama presidency. If Congress continues to drag its feet on key economic and foreign policy reforms under a Democrat as it has under Bush, and if we do not introduce tough policy measures like deep cuts in "defense" spending, speedy withdrawal from Iraq, and higher taxes on the wealthy, we should not expect the "eight years of [insert favored Democratic candidate's name here]" that Democrats inevitably mention when discussing their choice between the two remaining frontrunners.

Columbia Unites Behind Barack

Columbia is getting fired up for Barack Obama with an event-packed week. Students from the law school, the medical school, Barnard, SEAS, and Columbia College are making their voices heard and encouraging others to do the same.

Just in the past week, over 1500 phone calls have been made and more than a hundred new supporters have been signed up by students, who meanwhile still managed to rush to their classes on time. The Students for Barack Obama chapter has reached out to the entire campus, including the African and faith-based communities.

The enthusiasm Columbia students have shown will only grow in this coming week, which brings even more opportunities to participate. There will be tabling on college walk daily, phone banking throughout the campus, and a constant multitude of events and rallies.

Calling to Get Out the Vote

From now until Super Tuesday, students will be phone banking daily. Volunteer coordinators run these informal, intense sessions in order to garner more support and remind people to vote.

Women Throw Their Support Behind Obama

This Saturday, Columbia women will be coming together for a very exciting Women for Obama Rally on Saturday February 2^nd at Central Park. Students will be able to show their support, get out into the neighborhood, and meet other Obama-ites of all ages. These women are going to prove to New York City that this is not Hilary country--they love Obama and are proud of it!

They are going to start out at Barnard Hall bright and early at 10:30 a.m. for donuts, coffee, and sign-making. They will head over to the rally together. This is an exciting part of the GOTV week. The group is inviting all, from diehard devotees to new supporters, from political science students to enthusiastic newbies.

Tuning in For Barack

Fellow supporters and intrigued students will watch the Democratic Debate on Thursday night from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. A big screen television, cozy couches, and delicious food will accompany lively discussion on Obama’s policies and potential. Students will meet at Lewisohn Parlor, Brooks Hall Lounge, in the Quad @ Barnard.

For more information contact Students for Barack Obama Director Mary McDonald at mcm2172@columbia.edu, 914.380.2250. Students for Barack Obama is a registered umbrella group of the Columbia University College Democrats.