An introduction to campus student groups

Prepare for spam: Part of college is four years of sifting through notices from all the student groups you signed on with at your first activities fair. There’s something for everyone, but here’s a handful of groups that made news last year.

EVERYONE ALLIED AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, GENDEREVOLUTION, Q, AND COLUMBIA QUEER ALLIANCE
These groups made headlines after members proposed that the University allow for mixed-gender doubles in the dorms. Administrators rejected the proposal. National media outlets picked up the story that Columbia students might soon be “living in sin” last fall, but representatives from Everyone Allied Against Homophobia and GendeRevolution countered that the proposal was intended to make homosexual and transsexual students more comfortable with their living arrangements.

Top administrators have said they will “seriously consider introducing a pilot program for the 2011-2012 school year” that would open up some mixed doubles, so you can expect to hear more from these groups throughout the year.

ADVOCATES OF THE ARTS INITIATIVE
Although it’s not a particularly large group, last year the Advocates mobilized in opposition to a proposed 30 percent budget cut to the Arts Initiative. AI was founded in 2005 by the Office of the President to subsidize discounted theater tickets (which students can buy in the lobby of Lerner Hall), fund student arts groups and arts-related internships, and manage a number of other arts programs on campus. While their campus visibility waned at times, the Advocates re-emerged at the end of last semester.

POSTCRYPT COFFEEHOUSE
Postcrypt, a student-run music venue in the basement of St. Paul’s Chapel, found itself fighting for survival last year after administrators became concerned about underage drinking at the group’s weekly folk music concerts. There’s no cover charge at Postcrypt, so the club relies on selling local, microbrewed beers to stay afloat. Currently, they are required to hire one security guard and two alcohol proctors at each of their concerts—conditions that members claim are not financially sustainable. Expect to hear more as the club and administrators continue to update the terms and conditions of their agreement, but in the meantime, catch one of their free concerts while you can.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY DEMOCRATS AND COLLEGE REPUBLICANS
While the Democrats and Republicans on campus aren’t quite as hot-headed as their comrades and liberty-lovers on Capitol Hill, you’re bound to hear about their activities during the upcoming election cycle. Both groups organize campaigning trips across the East Coast and invest themselves in local politics.