Barnard/Columbia Disorientation Guide 2017

ZINE FAQs What is a zine?

A zine is a self-published magazine, meaning its creation and publication are completely controlled by the person or people making it.

What goes into a zine?

Anything you want! A zine can have poetry, essays, photography, drawings, cartoons, or pretty much anything else you can imagine.

How do people use zines? associate zines with riot grrrls in the 1990s, but zines have been and are a lion or a way to get the word out about something you care about.

Zines, NYC, Barnard/Columbia, and YOU

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zine librarian named Jenna Freedman. each semester and puts out a zine, so come to meetings and contribute!

(We have oreos!)

join barnard zine club

website: zines.barnard.edu email: barnardzinesubmissions@gmail.com twitter/instagram: @barnardzineclub

feminist zine fest

website: feministzinefestnyc.wordpress.com

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In the early 1920’s many Ivy League schools began instituting “unofficial quotas” to limit admitance of Jewish students.

Columbia’s was the most severe and slashed the Jewish population from 40% of students in 1920 to 22% in 1922 with particular discrimination against Sephardic and Eastern European Jews.

Quotas like these remained at Yale, for example, until the 1960’s.

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In 1985, the SAS won their fight for divestment from South African Apartheid.

Barnard and Columbia both divested their respective endowments from corporations doing business in South Africa, including IBM, CBS, General Motors, Ford Motors, Coca Cola, Chevron, Mobil Oil, Honeywell, and the Washington Post.

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some ways to get yr $$$$’s worth there are lots of reasons to try to save money as a student at Columbia. it’s expensive to live in New York, and it’s expensive to go to these schools! here are some ways to try to squeeze all the money-based value you can out of your tuition: • sneak into dining halls (be careful) and bring Tupperware, or have a friend go in and just get food for you* • sign up for classes just to download a million PDFs from courseworks and read them later • utensils, salt and pepper, napkins from Ferris* • you can watch so many movies from online databases (w/NYPL or UNI) • free newspapers in John Jay • be savvy w/ free bus to subway transfers • if you take out a Federal Stafford Loan and are on the Barnard Aetna student health insurance plan, financial aid might pay for it (I don’t know why) (pay 4 insurance, not the loan) • take classes with field trips (barbados! death valley! cruises on the hudson river! special access to museums! new york archaelogical repository! state parks!)

• free department and student life retreats • there’s free paper in the printers* • there’s a pool and a sauna in dodge • you are right next to 3 huge beautiful parks! go • you can get textbooks at the library : ILL and BorrowDirect are your friends; professors should be putting things on reserve and you can ask them to if they haven’t • there are free classes and teach-ins if you look (book-making! social justice!)

• there’s sometimes free department / club swag beyond t-shirts!

• get a NYPL card • you can sneak into big lectures if you just wanna audit one • free safer sex supplies all over • free IUD insertion for Barnard students (if you’re on Barnard health insurance it covers the cost of the IUD) • sometimes it’s cheaper to pay for a meal with points than a swipe • free boxes in the mailroom recycling bins • free packing tape in Barnard mailroom if you ask politely • join free food groups on FB • free short-term counselling at CPS and Furman • find and build community! love and friendship are priceless *some thoughts on “ethical stealing” (even from a large institution): consider what you can pay for and what things are worth paying for; consider that some departments have smaller budgets than others; consider that there’s not enough for *everybody* to steal what they want; consider that dining hall staff is just following orders when they yell at you for taking extra food; consider if you are in a financial position where you need to steal.

share yr resource$ equitably!

Marxist Student Association In the United States, millions of workers and youth have poured into the streets, outraged at the election of Donald Trump and the farright demonstrations in Charlottesville.

Mass marches and demonstrations show our strength, but that's only the beginning; working together, we can accomplish much more.

Our generation is the first to have a lower standard of living than the generation before us. Capitalism offers no way forward, which is why the majority of our generation is opposed to capitalism. But a better world is possible!

In order to get there, the Columbia Marxist Student Association aims to study the lessons of revolutionary history and theory to inform how we can intervene in history.

As students, it is imperative that we link up with the working class since it is the only class in society that can stop capitalism in its tracks.

“Without revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement.” –V.I. Lenin

“Life is beautiful. Let the future generations cleanse it of all evil, oppression, and violence and enjoy it to the full.” –Leon Trotsky

“The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it.” –Karl Marx

If you’re interested in our ideas, we hold weekly discussions on Mondays.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/columbia.marxists/

Email: Columbia.marxists@gmail.com

Columbia​ ​University​ ​South​ ​Asian​ ​Feminism(s)​ ​Alliance SO ​ UTH

SAFA’s mission is to ​encourage dialogue and mobilize leadership and community action against systems of oppression in the South Asian community. Our goal is to provide a space for South Asians, Indo-Caribbeans and allies to come together and find strength in our similarities and our differences, to learn about ourselves as well as others, and to find solace in each other when the rest of the world fails​ ​to​ ​accept​ ​us.

A​SIAN SAFA is a group for those who have dealt with misogyny and violence of all forms (including IPV or sexual violence) rampant in their homes, families, and communities. For those who have felt like their skin was too dark, their arms too hairy, their voices too opinionated. For those who are queer, trans, or gender non-conforming. For those who are not able-bodied or thin. For those who are not on a track to becoming doctors, engineers, lawyers. For those who have been othered within our communities because of their race, caste, or religion. ​This is a group for everyone who wishes to challenge South Asian gender norms and think critically​ ​about​ ​the​ ​intersection​ ​of​ ​one’s​ ​multiple​ ​identities.

F​EMINISM(S) Through group discussions, film screenings, mentorship programs and more, SAFA aims to cultivate awareness of struggles faced by so many members of the South Asian diaspora and folks at home, as well as to foster partnership and solidarity between SAFA and other activist and minority groups on campus. We urge anyone who identifies with our mission to come to a meeting and join us in making this campus​ ​a​ ​more​ ​inclusive​ ​place.

A​LLIANCE

We are a grassroots organization working to end sexual + domestic violence in our campus communities because we envision a world free of violence + oppression.

We recognize that sexual violence is a manifestation of systemic gender oppression which cannot be separated from all other forms of oppression. ​Therefore, the fight to end sexual + domestic violence cannot be won without eradicating all other forms of oppression including but not limited to racism, classism, ableism, colonialism, homophobia, + transphobia.

We seek to foster transparency around issues of sexual violence because ​we believe that a bottom up approach to building power is the only way to achieve justice.

Our current campaign demands ​more ​support, accessibility, accountability, funding, + enforcement ​(SAAFE) to ensure that Columbia University is an inclusive educational environment where survivors can thrive, regardless of their identity (including but not limited to race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, immigration status, + religion).

A major demand of our campaign is for the creation of a rape crisis center that is physically open 24/7 ​+ staffed with professional advocates trained in cultural competency​. We believe that these changes will improve the quality of resources for all survivors, especially for survivors whose experiences don’t match traditional narratives and who come from marginalized communities.

Want to get involved?​ Sign up for our listserv @ ​http://noredtapecu.org/new­page/ or email ​noredtapecu@gmail.com​! Our weekly meetings are on Sundays from 7PM­8PM.

Go to ​www.NoRedTapeCU.org​ to learn more about our work + for info on resources.

Welcome​ ​Chicanx​ ​Class​ ​of​ ​ ​2021​

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“Brown​ ​is​ ​not​ ​a​ ​color, It​ ​is​ ​a​ ​city,​ ​a​ ​continent, A​ ​whole​ ​world​ ​that​ ​expands​ ​beyond​ ​the​ s ​ ea.

Brown,​ ​is​ ​not​ ​a​ ​color, It’s​ ​a​ ​way​ ​of​ ​life, A​ ​way​ ​of​ ​struggle, A​ ​way​ ​to​ ​survive.”

- Cherrie​ ​Moraga

Our​ ​Mission​ ​is​ ​to: Celebrate,​ ​empower,​ ​and​ ​highlight​ ​intersectionality​ ​and​ ​diversity​ ​in​ ​all​ ​its​ ​forms, especially​ ​as​ ​it​ ​pertains​ ​to​ ​Latinidad​ ​and​ ​Chicanidad.​ ​We​ ​aim​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​our​ ​membership with​ ​a​ ​safe​ ​and​ ​engaging​ ​environment​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​fulfill​ ​their​ ​educational​ ​goals, promote​ ​their​ ​cultural​ ​consciousness,​ ​and​ ​help​ ​them​ ​become​ ​active​ ​in​ ​serving​ ​the needs​ ​of​ ​their​ ​community.

BARNUMBIA SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Being a student with a disability means you will have to work harder than most (if not all) of your classmates. This is not due to any fault of your own, but issues that arise from dealing with institutions.

Barnard and Columbia, as well as the city of New York, were not built for you and that may make every step you take a challenge. This guide aims to make this process easier by identifying a few key actions to take upon your arrival on campus. You will have these tools and the help of other students to get beyond these hurdles.

Barnard Services:

Office of Disability Services (ODS) If you are a student living with disabilities you should register with ODS now, even if you have not previously needed accommodations, rather than wait until you might need their services because it takes time and documentation to be approved for services. Documentation from doctors and therapists of your disability is required. Only 3-4 people in ODS take care of over 400 students on campus.

Accommodations: Academic: ODS can provide academic accommodations to help you in the classroom including extra time on tests and extra excused absences. You will need to meet with your professor to ‘prove’ your disability.

Residential Life: ODS can provide housing accommodations to make life easier on campus such as a dorm with AC, a single, a building with wheelchair access, or having a service animal with you on campus. Res Life has more control than ODS in housing accommodations.

Furman Counseling Center If you are a student living with mental health issues you must register with Furman. The intake process can be taxing as you must share details of your mental health history to determine whether you need long term or short- term counseling. The office will give you referrals but there is also a network of students to offer therapist recommendations.

Student Services:

Barnard Student Network for Disability Advocacy This student-created (non-university affiliated) Facebook page connects you to other students dealing with similar issues on campus. This is a place to ask for support, ask for recommendations, speak to the student health representative, be part of a greater community of people that want to help or just vent.

Barnard Pay It Forward This student-created (non-university affiliated) Facebook page connects students who need someone to help run errands for them with students who are willing to help. This is for anyone who is unable to get out of bed that needs something from the store, not just students with disabilities (medication, groceries etc.). Students may post in the group either asking for something or offering to get something.

Campus and the city of New York - Both campus and New York City may be difficult for students with mobility disabilities. Barnard and Columbia have very old buildings and (crappy) elevators (especially Milbank and Hamilton). You must leave early to get to class on time and it would be wise to inform your professor of your situation because you may be late for class. There are tunnels under Columbia that provide access to parts of Columbia for wheelchair users.

- NYC’s public transportation system is not ADA compliant providing full access to people with mobility disabilities. The 116th subway line 1 stop on does not have an elevator (96th Street has an elevator).

Community Advice: -Avoid taking general education requirements that will be challenging for you until you are more acclimated to college life.

-It is important to advocate for yourself but also important to be able to ask for help from a friend, faculty member, or member disability advocacy community. Dean Grabiner, the freshmen class dean, is an incredible resource and good person.

-School may knock you down; it is okay if you don’t have the strength to get up again. Some students find the need to take a lighter academic load or to take a semester or year off.

-You are not weak for taking time to work on your own health; it is an incredibly brave and important thing to do. You are attending a school that does not fully accommodate you and that takes a toll. You may have a different college experience but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a good one. No matter what anyone says, your disability absolutely does not mean you do not deserve to be here. There an entire community here excited for you to join us!

UndoCU Unless​ ​you’ve​ ​been​ ​living​ ​under​ ​a​ ​rock,​ ​you’re​ ​aware​ ​that​ ​the​ ​undocumented​ ​immigrant​ ​community​ ​has been​ ​Trump’s​ ​and​ ​most​ ​targeted​ ​and​ ​most​ ​profitable​ ​scapegoat​ ​since​ ​day​ ​one​ ​of​ ​his​ ​campaign.​ ​Through sensationalism​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​hateful​ ​order,​ ​the​ ​Trump​ ​administration​ ​has​ ​led​ ​the​ ​dissolution​ ​of​ ​any discussion​ ​of​ ​immigration​ ​into​ ​a​ ​baseless​ ​yet​ ​firebrand​ ​decree​ ​of​ ​dehumanization,​ ​while​ ​his​ ​opponents, the​ ​Democratic​ ​Party,​ ​and​ ​third​ ​party​ ​politicians​ ​retort​ ​with​ ​plans​ ​to​ ​control,​ ​and​ ​regulate​ ​immigrants through​ ​a​ ​tired​ ​liberal​ ​narrative​ ​of​ ​the​ ​meritocratic,​ ​multicultural​ ​American​ ​dream—with​ ​no​ ​room​ ​in between​ ​for​ ​the​ ​actual​ ​self-determination​ ​of​ ​all​ ​immigrants.

The​ ​Undocumented​ ​Student​ ​Initiative​ ​(we​ ​prefer​ ​UndoCU)​ ​exists​ ​to​ ​untangle​ ​these​ ​constrictions​ ​from​ ​all sides.​ ​We​ ​are​ ​the​ ​first​ ​undocumented​ ​student​ ​group​ ​at​ ​Columbia​ ​University,​ ​and​ ​our​ ​main​ ​objective​ ​is​ ​to protect​ ​and​ ​dignify​ ​the​ ​humanity​ ​of​ ​every​ ​undocumented​ ​person.​ ​We​ ​not​ ​only​ ​question​ ​the​ ​broken immigration​ ​system​ ​that​ ​produces​ ​the​ ​conditions​ ​of​ ​our​ ​collective​ ​subjectivity,​ ​but​ ​we​ ​critique​ ​the​ ​white supremacist​ ​settler​ ​colonial​ ​structure​ ​that​ ​is​ ​its​ ​root.​ ​Therefore,​ ​UndoCU​ ​is​ ​an​ ​intersectional​ ​movement that​ ​prioritizes​ ​solidarity​ ​with​ ​marginalized​ ​communities​ ​ ​and​ ​the​ ​destruction​ ​of​ ​white​ ​supremacy.

Following​ ​the​ ​2016​ ​election,​ ​UndoCU,​ ​with​ ​cooperation​ ​of​ ​Movimiento​ ​Cosecha,​ ​staged​ ​a​ ​walk-out​ ​in demand​ ​that​ ​undocumented​ ​students​ ​be​ ​protected​ ​and​ ​Undocu​ ​has​ ​since​ ​then​ ​become​ ​a​ ​prominent activist​ ​group​ ​on​ ​campus.​ ​We​ ​ensured​ ​Columbia​ ​would​ ​do​ ​its​ ​best​ ​to​ ​become​ ​a​ ​sanctuary​ ​campus, secured​ ​summer​ ​housing​ ​for​ ​at-risk​ ​students,​ ​educated​ ​the​ ​campus​ ​community​ ​at​ ​numerous​ ​speaking events,​ ​and​ ​have​ ​been​ ​featured​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Columbia​ ​Spectator,​ ​Mic.com,​ ​Democracy​ ​Now!, and—regrettably—Fox​ ​News.

Having​ ​only​ ​formed​ ​in​ ​September​ ​2016,​ ​UndoCU​ ​is​ ​a​ ​young​ ​movement​ ​that​ ​cannot​ ​spare​ ​to​ ​build​ ​slowly.

During​ ​the​ ​Trump​ ​presidency,​ ​we​ ​do​ ​not​ ​possess​ ​the​ ​privilege​ ​of​ ​time.​ ​Our​ ​upcoming​ ​campus​ ​challenges include:​ ​abolishing​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​the​ ​word​ ​“illegal”​ ​in​ ​reference​ ​to​ ​immigrants​ ​or​ ​immigration​ ​in​ ​general, changing​ ​the​ ​manner​ ​by​ ​which​ ​the​ ​university​ ​labels​ ​undocumented​ ​students​ ​from​ ​“international”​ ​to “domestic”,​ ​creating​ ​an​ ​undocumented​ ​student​ ​resource​ ​center,​ ​and​ ​undocumented​ ​student​ ​scholarships.

On​ ​a​ ​broader​ ​scale,​ ​the​ ​DREAM​ ​Act,​ ​the​ ​HOPE​ ​Act,​ ​and​ ​preventing​ ​the​ ​dissolution​ ​of​ ​DACA​ ​will​ ​all​ ​be our​ ​priorities​ ​as​ ​the​ ​American​ ​populace​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​not​ ​be​ ​tired​ ​of​ ​dissecting​ ​and​ ​devouring​ ​the​ ​humanity​ ​of immigrants.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​event​ ​that​ ​the​ ​federal​ ​position​ ​on​ ​undocumented​ ​immigrants​ ​becomes​ ​even​ ​harsher, we​ ​stand​ ​ready​ ​to​ ​resist,​ ​and​ ​we​ ​expect​ ​our​ ​allies​ ​to​ ​do​ ​the​ ​same.

Why​ ​should​ ​you​ ​join​ ​UndoCU? If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​undocumented,​ ​because​ ​we​ ​love​ ​you​ ​and​ ​you​ ​matter.

If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​an​ ​American​ ​citizen,​ ​because​ ​this​ ​political​ ​system​ ​considers​ ​you​ ​human​ ​above​ ​all​ ​of​ ​us,​ ​and​ ​an informed​ ​political​ ​education​ ​requires​ ​a​ ​rooted​ ​understanding​ ​of​ ​this​ ​construction.

If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​neither,​ ​because​ ​we​ ​believe​ ​in​ ​your​ ​humanity​ ​as​ ​much​ ​as​ ​most​ ​Americans​ ​don’t​ ​believe​ ​in​ ​ours.

Despite​ ​common​ ​pro-immigrant​ ​narratives,​ ​we​ ​have​ ​intersectional​ ​leadership​ ​and​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​that non-white,​ ​non-cisgender,​ ​and​ ​non-heterosexual​ ​identities​ ​are​ ​surely​ ​prioritized​ ​here.

Are​ ​you​ ​looking​ ​for​ ​a​ ​community where​ ​your​ ​background,​ ​experiences, and​ ​identities​ ​are​ ​valued?​ ​Want​ ​to make​ ​friends​ ​with​ ​the​ ​coolest​ ​kids​ ​on campus?​ ​Join​ ​Mujeres!

Mujeres​ ​provides​ ​an​ ​organization​ ​of cultural​ ​support​ ​and​ ​leadership development​ ​for​ ​Latinx​ ​students​ ​and allies​ ​at​ ​Barnard​ ​College,​ ​Columbia University.​ ​We​ ​promote​ ​awareness and​ ​pride​ ​in​ ​the​ ​diverse​ ​Latinx​ ​culture​ ​and​ ​heritage.​ ​We​ ​discuss everything​ ​from​ ​self-love​ ​to​ ​the​ ​decolonization​ ​of​ ​food,​ ​hold​ ​bake sales,​ ​and​ ​host​ ​an​ ​annual​ ​Mujeres​ ​Empowerment​ ​Dinner.​ ​Come​ ​say hi​ ​at​ ​our​ ​weekly​ ​general​ ​body​ ​meetings​ ​EVERY​ ​WEDNESDAY! FAQs: ● Do​ ​I​ ​have​ ​to​ ​self-identify​ ​as​ ​a​ ​Latina​ ​or​ ​as​ ​a​ ​woman​ ​to​ ​join?

NOPE.​ ​Everyone​ ​is​ ​welcome! ● Is​ ​Mujeres​ ​for​ ​Barnard​ ​students​ ​only?​ ​No.​ ​While​ ​our meetings​ ​are​ ​held​ ​on​ ​Barnard’s​ ​campus,​ ​any​ ​student​ ​from​ ​the University​ ​is​ ​welcome. ● Why​ ​should​ ​I​ ​join?​ ​Because​ ​college​ ​is​ ​a​ ​time​ ​for​ ​self-growth and​ ​our​ ​Mujeres​ ​family​ ​is​ ​here​ ​to​ ​support​ ​you​ ​as​ ​a​ ​student, individual,​ ​and​ ​person​ ​of​ ​color​ ​on​ ​this​ ​campus.

Meeting​ ​topics​ ​are​ ​decided​ ​by​ ​YOU!​ ​Suggest​ ​your​ ​ideas​ ​at​ ​our​ ​first general​ ​body​ ​meeting​ ​in​ ​September.​ ​We’ll​ ​keep​ ​you​ ​posted​ ​on​ ​the date​ ​and​ ​time​ ​of​ ​our​ ​first​ ​g-body​ ​meeting​ ​soon.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​meantime…. ● Like​ ​Mujeres​ ​on​ ​Facebook ● Follow​ ​us​ ​on​ ​Instagram​ ​@barnardmujeres ● Connect​ ​with​ ​us​ ​through​ ​email​ ​at​ ​mujeres@barnard.edu

Mobilized African Diaspora (MAD) In 2015, following a string of racist incidents, black students at the University of Missouri gained national attention after they launched a campaign to end the culture of anti-blackness on campus and demand that the president of the university resign. In response, a group of black students at Columbia University, later named the Mobilized African Diaspora (MAD), began to hold meetings and planned a rally in solidarity. After the rally, MAD continued to hold meetings and crafted their first official list of demands.

Since it’s inception, MAD has operated under a radical Black queer feminist lens, striving to use intersectional dialogue to combat violence inflicted upon Black queer folk, as well as uplift their voices. We utilize an intersectional approach because the liberation of queer Black women signifies freedom for all, as their freedom necessitates the destruction of all systems of oppression. Today, MAD serves as a productive space for Black students at Columbia University to organize against racism and use our privilege as students of this institution to fight against gentrification and Columbia’s role in furthering anti-blackness.

When it comes to action, our members have dedicated impressive amounts of time and labor to ensure that Columbia not only feels our presence, but acknowledges and respects our demands.

This involves many forms of action, but one of the most important is staying in tune with the concerns of the Black community on campus and in the surrounding area in order to inform our goals and missions. Last semester, for example, we hosted several grievance forums, where we allowed our fellow Black students to share their experiences in a safe space. Understanding Columbia’s long history of overlooking and disregarding the voices of Black students, we find it critical to provide such spaces. Our activism also includes teach-ins on issues such as eco-racism and legal rights training, organizing rallies that center the black, queer, feminist perspective, and launching campaigns, like our recent TJBDAY campaign, in which we dressed an on-campus statue of Thomas Jefferson in a KKK hood and released a statement demanding that the University acknowledge their persistent tolerance of a deeply rooted culture of white supremacy.

Despite what we have already accomplished as a group, we recognize that there is much more to be done in order to reinforce and normalize Blackness so that our identities are not lost in the shadow of this predominantly white institution. We strongly believe that a university’s strength lies in the ability to foster respect and and a sense of community among its different groups, but here at Columbia, “diversity” is merely a facade—eclectic and complex forms of Blackness are often suppressed, while Blackness that can be categorized, owned, and advertized is praised.

Resultantly, we have crafted a list of goals and demands to improve the black experience and hold the University accountable for its shortcomings.

We demand that the University eliminate the student contribution and improve financial aid for minority groups. We demand that the University improve its Black faculty representation and restructure the Core Curriculum to include Intro to African-American Studies and Intro to

Comparative Ethnic Studies as requirements. We demand that the University prioritize the physical safety and mental health of women, queer, and trans people of color. Laterally, we aim to condemn and disassemble white supremacist, racist, heteronormative, and neo-colonialist ideals that place restraints on Blackness and harm all black life. We also aim to improve our own engagement with the Harlem community, work against the University’s efforts to gentrify the neighborhood and displace its primary and rightful residents, as well as continue researching and uncovering the harmful systems and mechanisms that threaten to impede the fight for Black liberation.

We understand the scope of these goals and the hard work that it will take to accomplish them, and for that reason, we are always seeking new minds and voices to welcome into our group. While we strongly encourage that our members attend weekly meetings at a minimum, there is no set time commitment. MAD is a non-hierarchical organization, hence all roles and committees exist horizontally and equally to each other. To get involved, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or email us at mad.columbia@gmail.com for information on upcoming meeting dates, teach-ins, and other events. As a member of MAD, you can join us in the fight to normalize the presence of othered groups in and around campus, as well as put an end to the social, political, and economic disenfranchisement perpetuated by the University.

~~89.9 on the dial and streaming online 24/7 at wkcr.org~~~ Our nickname, "The Original FM," is somewhat of a misnomer, but WKCR-FM is one of the oldest radio stations around. We are Columbia University's student-run radio station, founded in 1941.

What we Broadcast can be summed up by other nickname: "The Alternative". We have a history of featuring music and talk programming that many consider commercially non-viable.(Not a problem for us: we're non-commercial.)

Catch anything from Reggae, Hindustani, Celtic, Cumbia, Indie Rock, Non-Western Classical, Field Recordings, Experimental, Folk, Carnatic, Afrofunk, Film Hits, Ethio-Jazz, and Chuigushou to Hip Hop on our "In All Languages" programs.

Check out our "New Music" Department, which played an important role in the establishment of what is known today as the New York Downtown Scene, which features experimental and avant-garde programming.

Or tune in to Studio A, our Arts Department's weekly live literature show, which highlights poetry, prose and experimental work by queer writers and writers of color.

KCR was one of the first radio stations to bring Jazz to the airwaves and we have maintained our reputation as one of the preeminent radio stations in the world for broadcasting Jazz of the past and present. Over the years our station has hosted icons Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Sun Ra and many others.

Our Latin Department was the first to bring salsa to the airwaves and continues to celebrate genres such as mambo, chachachá and bugalú.

Like Hip Hop? KCR's Sketch Armstrong and Bobbito García Show is considered one of the most influential radio programs of the 1990's dedicated to underground Hip Hop. Their show gave exposure to artists who would go on to become the biggest names in Hip Hop, including Nas, Notorious B.I.G., the Wu-Tang Clan, Jay Z, Eminem and The Fugees.

The WKCR News Department provides a unique take on local, national, and global issues. Student reporters continue the tradition of KCR’s award-winning coverage of the Columbia University student strike of 1968, and highlight issues relevant to Columbia and its surrounding communities (eg.Harlem). In recent months, the department has covered many activist initiatives and demonstrations taking place in the greater New York area. ~~If you are interested in becoming a DJ, you can find contact information for each department at wkcr.org!~~

the next few pages are reprinted w/ permission from the zine A Brief History of Civil Disobedi

ience @ Columbia University! Email disguide2016@gmail if you want more info

THE HARLEM RAIDS It was still early morning when residents of the Grant and Manhattanville Houses heard helicopters buzzing outside their windows. It was June 4, 2014, the day when police burst through residents’ doors in what was then the largest police raid in city history. Later, parents whose children were arrested would recall police entering their homes without permits, handcuffing innocent people, and taking their belongings as evidence. “ The police that were in my house were having a conversation in front of me about media coverage,” one parent said after the raids. “That's not a good feeling, that you're using me to get a promotion.” 103 people were indicted in the raid; that day, police arrested over 40 people.

The Grant and Manhattanville Houses are New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) buildings located about ten blocks from Columbia’s Morningside campus, and across the street from the rapidly developing Manhattanville campus. The NYPD’s justification for the raid was the same as what Columbia students heard from their own administration: safety. An email went out the day after the raids informing students that it would “make our city and community safer.” The reality, however, is that a persistent lack of resources for youth in the community is the reason for the violence there, and that services, not incarceration, are necessary if the situation is to improve. What’s more, it has become clear that although promises of community investment were made to Grant and Manhattanville residents when Columbia won approval to build a new campus across the street from their homes, the expansion has brought them only band-aid solutions and increased police violence.

There had been violence among youth at the Houses off-and-on over the past 40 years, but tensions had quieted in 2011, when Tayshanna “Chicken” Murphy, a nationally ranked high school basketball player, was shot at Grant. In light of the resulting tumult, community activists stepped up their efforts to bring resources to youth in the area, ideally in the form of a building between the Houses that could provide emergency services, after school activities, and employment training to young residents of Grant and

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Manhattanville. The Community Benefits Agreement promised $3 million specifically to residents of Manhattanville and Grant, but the West Harlem Development Corporation— the group responsible giving out grants from that pool of money--has been slow to act.

The WHDC, mired in controversy since its director stepped down in 2014 when a large grant went to his sister’s nonprofit, has been more willing to give money to outside groups that run small-scale arts or sports programming for kids. These programs aren’t bad, but they keep the money away from organizers who are actually from the Houses, and they don’t provide the core services--employment and crisis response--that would actually stop the cycle of violence at the Houses.

Now, many of those arrested in the raids are coming back to a situation that has largely remained the same, and in many ways has worsened. NYCHA decided in 2015 to permanently exclude residents convicted of crimes, which means whole families may lose their homes as a result of the raid. If they decide they want to continue living with their children when they return from prison, NYCHA will take away their homes. What’s more, the NYPD announced at the beginning of this summer that they would be carrying out dozens of raids. The 2014 raid of Grant and Manhattanville is no longer the biggest in city history: That title now belongs to a raid in the Bronx that indicted 120 people, arresting 88 in one day.

As students, we can’t accept the argument that raids keep us safe. They represent the worst possible response to an issue of systemic racism and inequality. Far from contributing to safe communities, police raids are the last resort of a city that chronically under-services Black and Latino neighborhoods. As our University expands to literally become the neighbor of the Grant and Manhattanville Houses, it is in the University’s interest to heighten surveillance in the surrounding communities. It is trying to create a campus bubble in a place where real people have lived--and, in the case of Grant and Manhattanville, been ignored--for years. It is far easier to cast prior residents as criminals who must be removed than to include them in the “development” that Columbia promises to the community.

Mass incarceration is just one aspect of Columbia’s broader effect on the neighborhood: dispossession and displacement. The University’s outright support for the raids, coupled with its lack of follow-up on the promises made to Manhattanville and Grant, sends a clear message to residents: Columbia is coming to your neighborhood, but it is not here for you.

49

Where​ ​and​ ​what​ ​is​ ​Manhattanville? Where​ ​and​ ​what​ ​is​ ​Manhattanville? ​ ​Manhattanville​ ​extends​ ​from​ ​West​ ​122​nd​​ ​street​ ​north​ ​to​ ​West​ ​134​th​​ ​street​ ​and​ ​from​ ​the​ ​H ​ ​Manhattanville​ ​extends​ ​from​ ​West​ ​122​nd​udson ​ ​street​ ​n River​ ​west​ ​to​ ​the​ ​City​ ​College​ ​campus.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​home​ ​to​ ​Manhattanville​ ​residents​ ​that​ ​generally River​ w ​ est​ t ​ o​ t ​ he​ C ​ ity​ C ​ ollege​ c ​ ampus.​ I ​ t​ ​is​ ​home have​ ​fewer​ ​economic​ ​and​ ​educational​ ​opportunities​​ ​than​ ​residents​ ​of​ ​Morningside​ ​Heights, have​​in​​f​Newer​ ​economic​ ​educational​ home​ ​to​ ​the​ ​most​ ​well-endowed​ ​institution​ ew​ ​York​ ​City.​ ​This​​a​dnd​ ynamic​ ​is​ ​felt​ ​daily​​o​bpportun y those​ ​who​ ​are​ ​effectively​ ​locked-out​ ​of​ ​o ur​ ​gated​ ​but​​w ​it​ell-endowed​ ​is​ ​felt​ ​with​ ​additional​ ​strength home​ ​to​​c​tampus,​ he​ ​most​ ​institution​ ​in​ ​N on​ ​the​ ​too​ ​frequent​ ​occasion​ ​that​ ​Columbia​ U ​ niversity​ f ​ lexes​ i ​ ts​ w ​ allet​ t ​ o​ s ​ hape​ t ​ he​ a ​ rea​ i ​ n​ i ​ ts those​ ​who​ ​are​ ​effectively​ ​locked-out​ ​of​ ​our​ ​gated white-columned​ ​image.

on​ ​the​ ​too​ ​frequent​ ​occasion​ ​that​ ​Columbia​ ​Univ ​image.

How​ ​has​ ​Columbia​ ​used​ ​its​ ​economic​ ​awhite-columned​ dvantage​ ​to​ ​take​ ​advantage?

1960s​​ ​-​ ​Columbia​ ​(CU)​ ​plans​ ​to​ ​build​ ​a​ ​g ym​ ​in​ ​Morningside​ ​Park​ ​that​ ​would​ ​largely​ ​exclude local​ ​residents.​ ​The​ ​plan​ ​becomes​ ​known​ ​as​ ​“Gym​ How​ ​has​ ​C​Crow.” olumbia​ ​used​ ​its​ ​economic​ ​advantag Also​ ​begins​ ​eliminating​ ​Single​ ​Room​ ​Occupancy​ h ​ ousing​ ​in​ ​the​​(CU)​ ​area;​​p​blans​ y​ ​one​​to​ ​estimate,​ 1960s​​ ​-​ ​Columbia​ ​build​ ​a​C​ ​gU ym​ ​in​ ​M displaced​ ​over​ ​7,000​ ​residents​​ ​in​ ​the​ ​decade​ ​before​ ​1968. local​ ​residents.​ ​The​ ​plan​ ​becomes​ ​known​ ​as​ ​“Gy 1968​​ ​-​ ​“Gym​ ​Crow”​ ​scraped​ ​after​ ​week-long​ ​occupation​ ​of​ ​campus​ ​buildings​ ​by​ ​the​ ​student ​barlem​ egins​​c​eommunity liminating​ ​Single​ ​Room​ ​Occupancy Afro-American​ ​Society​ ​coordinated​ ​with​Also​ ​the​ ​H displaced​ ​7,000​ ​residents​ ​ ​in​ ​t​she​ ​decade​ 1990​​ ​-​ ​CU​ ​purchases​ ​the​ ​Audubon​ ​Ballroom,​ ​where​ ​o ​Mver​ alcolm​ ​X​ ​delivered​ ​several​ peeches​ ​and ​bef was​ ​assassinated,​ ​and​ ​tries​ ​to​ ​turn​ ​it​ ​into​ a ​ ​ l ​ aboratory.​ C ​ ommunity​ g ​ roups​ p ​ rotest​ t ​ he​ p ​ roject 1968​​ ​-​ ​“Gym​ ​Crow”​ ​scraped​ ​after​ ​week-long​ ​occ and​ ​succeed​ ​in​ ​preserving​ ​the​ ​landmark.

Afro-American​ ​Society​ ​coordinated​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Har 1991​​ ​-​ ​Mville​ ​Community​ ​Board​ ​9​ ​starts​ ​work​ ​on​ ​a​ ​redevelopment​ ​plan;​ ​it​ ​is​ ​certified​ ​in​ ​2005 1990​​ ​-​ ​CU​ ​purchases​ ​the​ ​Audubon​ ​Ballroom,​ ​wh 2003​ ​-​ ​CU​ ​submits​ ​plan​ ​for​ ​$6.7​ ​billion​ ​expansion​ ​into​ ​Manhattanville​ ​that​ ​would​ ​require​ ​the was​ ​assassinated,​ ​and​ ​p​tries​ ​turn​ ​it​ ​into​ ​a​ ​labor acquisition​ ​and​ ​demolition​ ​of​ a​ ll​ ​but​ ​three​ ​buildings​ ​in​ ​the​ ​17-acre​ roject​​to​ ​area.

2006​​ ​-​ ​Empire​ ​State​ ​Development​ ​Corporation​ ​(ESDC)​ ​ien​nters​ ​contract​ ​w​tith​ lee​ ​King​ ​Rosen​ ​& and​ ​succeed​ ​preserving​ he​ ​A​landmark.

Fleming,​ ​a​ ​planning​ ​and​ ​engineering​ ​consulting​ f ​ irm,​ t ​ o​ d ​ etermine​ w ​ hether​ M ​ ​suffers 1991​​ ​-​ ​Mville​ ​Community​ ​Board​ ville​ ​9​ ​starts​ ​work​ ​on from​ ​“urban​ ​blight”​ ​(precondition​ ​for​ ​use​ ​of​ ​eminent​ ​domain).​​ ​Both​ ​corporations​ h ​ ad​ ​been 2003​ ​-​ ​CU​ ​submits​ ​plan​ ​for​ ​$6.7​ ​billion​ ​expansio previously​ ​contracted​ ​and​ ​paid​ ​by​ ​CU​ ​in​ ​relation​ ​to​ ​this​ ​project. acquisition​ ​and​ ​demolition​ f​ ​all​ ​but​ ​three​ ​buildi 2008​​ ​-​ ​ESDC​ ​deems​ ​neighborhood​ ​“blighted.”​ ​Nick​ ​Sprayegen,​ ​owner​ ​of​ ​o ​Tuck-It-Away ​Empire​ ​State​ ​Development​ Storage,​ ​and​ ​gas​ ​station​ ​owners​ ​Gurnam​2006​ ​Singh​​ ​-​a​ nd​ ​Parminder​ ​Kaur,​ ​sue​ ​the​ ​state. ​Corporation​ 2009​ ​-​ ​The​ ​New​ ​York​ ​State​ ​Supreme​ ​Court,​ ​Appellate​ ivision​ ​rules​ ​eminent​ ​domain​ ​was Fleming,​ ​a​ ​p​D lanning​ ​and​​that​ ​engineering​ ​consulting​ illegal​ ​in​ ​this​ ​case​ ​because​ ​it​ ​was​ ​for​ ​the​from​ ​benefit​ o ​ f​ a ​ n​ “ ​ elite”​ p ​ rivate​ i ​ nstitution ​“urban​ ​blight”​ ​(precondition​ ​for​ ​use​ ​of​ ​emi 2009​​ ​-​ ​ESDC​ ​appeals​ ​to​ ​New​ ​York​ ​State​ ​Court​ ​of​ ​Appeals,​ ​which​ ​overturns​ ​the​ ​ruling​ ​in​ ​favor previously​ ​contracted​ ​and​ ​paid​ ​by​ ​CU​ ​in​ ​relation of​ ​Columbia ​ ​ESDC​ eems​​Columbia​ ​neighborhood​ ​N 2010​​ ​-​ ​U.S.​ ​Supreme​ ​Court​ ​decides​ ​not​ ​t2008​ o​ ​hear​​ ​-​the​ ​case,​ ​d ​giving​ ​the​ ​green​​“​lblighted.”​ ight​ ​to Storage,​​and​ ​and​ ​gas​​their​ ​station​ ​owners​ ​Gurnam​ ​Singh​ ​a give​ ​the​ ​store​ ​owners​ ​market​ ​rate​ ​compensation​ ​take​ ​properties.

2014​​ ​–​ ​NYPD​ ​executes​ ​early​ ​morning​ ​raid​ ​at​ ​Manhattanville​ ouses.​ ​Residents​ ​had​ ​tried​ ​to ​App 2009​ ​-​ ​The​ ​New​ ​H ​York​ ​State​ ​Supreme​ ​Court,​ collaborate​ ​with​ ​city​ ​officials,​ ​law​ ​enforcement,​ ​and​ ​CU​ ​for​ ​a​ ​year​ ​to​ ​stem​ ​gang​ ​violence​ ​in​ ​a illegal​ ​in​ ​this​ ​case​ ​because​ ​it​ ​was​ ​for​ ​the​ ​benefit​ way​ ​that​ ​might​ ​not​ ​obstruct​ ​the​ ​futures​ ​of​ ​so​ ​many​ ​young​ ​people.​ ​CU​ ​boasted​ ​of​ ​raid​ ​in​ ​an ​ ​-​ ​ESDC​ ​a​that​ ppeals​ ​N​aew​ ​York​ ​State​ ​Court​ ​o email​ ​and​ ​is​ ​believed​ ​to​ ​have​ ​assisted​ ​in​2009​ ​the​ ​surveillance​ ​led​ ​to​​to​ ​the​ rrests. of​ ​Columbia 2016/2017​​ ​-​ ​Manhattanville​ ​Campus​ ​opens

2010​​ ​-​ ​U.S.​ ​Supreme​ ​Court​ ​decides​ ​not​ ​to​ ​hear​ ​t

2016/2017​​ ​-​ ​Manhattanville​ ​Campus​ ​opens

CU​ ​Manhattanville​ ​Expansion The​ ​expansion​ ​uprooted​ ​a​ ​community​ ​to​ ​which​ ​it​ ​returned​ ​little​ ​in​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​opportunities​ ​for th​ north​ ​to​ ​West​ 34​ ​ ​street​ ​a​H nd​ ​from​ ​the​ ​H udson education​ ​and​​1​e mployment.​ aving​ ​learned​ ​from​ ​previous​ ​efforts​ ​to​ ​uproot​ ​the​ ​neighborhood e​ ​t(Gym​ o​ ​Manhattanville​ r ​ esidents​ t ​ hat​ g ​ enerally ​Crow),​ ​Columbia​ ​created​ ​a​ ​fund​ ​for​ ​local​ ​programs​ ​and​ ​initiatives​ ​in​ ​West​ ​Harlem,​ ​but without​ ​also​ ​implementing​ ​ ​structure​ ​for​​H ​the​ ​dispersal​ ​of​ ​these​ ​funds,​ ​money​ ​has​ ​been nities​ ​ ​than​ ​residents​ ​of​ ​M​aorningside​ eights, difficult​ t ​ o​ a ​ ccess​ a ​ nd​ i ​ n​ t ​ he​ e ​ nd,​ i ​ t​ w ​ on’t​ d ​ o​ e ​ nough​ New​ ​York​ ​City.​ ​This​ ​dynamic​ ​is​ ​felt​ ​daily​ ​by ​to​ ​help​ ​the​ ​community.​ ​As​ ​Columbia faculty​ ​and​ ​students​ ​start​ ​looking​ ​to​ ​live​ ​close​ ​to​ ​their​ ​Manhattanville​ ​campus,​ ​they​ ​will​ ​price d​ ​campus,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​is​ ​felt​ ​with​ ​additional​ ​strength long-term​ ​residents​ ​out​ ​of​ ​their​ ​homes​ ​and​ ​properties​ ​and​ ​break​ ​up​ ​long-standing​ ​social versity​ ​flexes​ ts​ ​w allet​ ​shape​ ​the​ ​a​in​rea​ ​in​ ​e​its networks.​ ​In​ ​f​iact​ ​this​ ​has​ ​t​so​ tarted​ ​already​ ​these​ arly​ ​days​ ​of​ ​the​ ​new​ ​campus.

Moving​ ​Forward ​need​​a​tdvantage? o​ ​build​ ​a​ ​means​ ​of​ ​communication​ ​between​ ​Columbia​ ​University​ ​students,​ ​to​ ​whom ge​ ​t​ ​W o​ e​​take​ the​ ​university​ ​administrators​ ​listen​ ​much​ ​more​ ​often​ ​than​ ​community​ ​residents,​ ​and​ ​those Morningside​ ​Park​ ​that​ ​would​ ​largely​ ​exclude residents​ ​whose​ ​needs​ ​aren’t​ ​being​ ​met​ ​in​ ​a​ ​community​ ​which​ ​Columbia​ ​directly​ ​exploits. ym​ ​Crow.” y​ ​hPast​ ousing​ ​in​ ​the​ ​area;​ ​by​ ​one​ ​estimate,​ ​CU ​Student​ ​Efforts ​ ​CAGE​ ​(Coalition​ ​Against​ ​Gentrification)​​ ​–​ ​frequent​ ​meetings​ ​with​ ​members​ ​of​ ​the​ ​community, fore​ ​1968. led​ ​the​ ​protests​ ​against​ ​the​ ​expansion cupation​ ​of​ ​campus​ ​buildings​ ​by​ ​the​ ​student City​ ​News​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Columbia​ ​Spectator​​ ​–​ ​published​ ​articles​ ​exposing​ ​Columbia’s​ ​interaction​ ​with rlem​ c ​ ommunity the​ ​community​ ​and​ ​made​ ​this​ ​news​ ​accessible​ ​to​ ​students​ ​and​ ​community​ ​members;​ ​some​ ​of here​ ​Malcolm​ ​Xere​ ​ ​delivered​ peeches​ ​and these​ ​stories​ ​w ​picked​ ​up​​s​beveral​ y​ ​larger​​s​n ews​ ​organizations

ratory.​ ​Community​ ​groups​ ​protest​ ​the​ ​project Further​ ​Reading “The​ ​Radiant​ ​University,”​ ​Steven​ ​Gregory n​ ​a​ ​redevelopment​ ​plan;​ ​it​ ​is​ ​certified​ ​in​ ​2005 “Understanding​ ​Columbia​ ​University’s​ ​Expansion​ ​into​ ​West​ ​Harlem:​ ​An​ ​Activist’s​ ​Guide” on​ City​ ​into​​N​M anhattanville​ ​w​Could​ ​require​ ​the ews​ ​(old​ ​coverage)​​t​ohat​ n​ ​the​ olumbia​ ​Spectator ings​ ​in​ ​t​that​ he​​B​1ind:​ 7-acre​ ​project​ rea.

“Ties​ ​Checking​ ​on​ ​t​ahe​ ​Manhattanville​ ​Community​ ​Benefits​ ​Agreement,​ ​six​ ​years later,”​ T ​ he​ E ​ ye,​ T ​ he​ C ​ olumbia​ S ​ pectator ​(ESDC)​ ​enters​ ​contract​ ​with​ ​Alee​ ​King​ ​Rosen​ ​& “Organizing​ ​Against​ ​G​w entrification​ ​U.,”​ ​S​socialistWorker.org ​firm,​ ​to​ ​determine​ hether​ ​Mville​ uffers

inent​ ​domain).​​ ​Both​ ​corporations​ ​had​ ​been n​ ​to​ ​this​ ​project.

Nick​ ​Sprayegen,​ ​owner​ ​of​ ​Tuck-It-Away and​ ​Parminder​ ​Kaur,​ ​sue​ ​the​ ​state. pellate​ ​Division​ ​rules​ ​that​ ​eminent​ ​domain​ ​was ​of​ ​an​ ​“elite”​ ​private​ ​institution of​ ​Appeals,​ ​which​ ​overturns​ ​the​ ​ruling​ ​in​ ​favor

the​ ​case,​ ​giving​ ​Columbia​ ​the​ ​green​ ​light​ ​to

re:claim magazine

calling wr it er s & ar t ist s! re:claim is a publication at Columbia that works to center the voices, well-being, and liberation of Black people, people of color, disabled and neurodivergent people, femme, queer, gender-nonconforming and trans people, migrants, workers, and all marginalized identities in both content and in leadership. We strive to embody values rooted in histories of organizing, anti-oppression politics, creative resistance, and freedom of expression for those who have been historically silenced.

We started up in the late winter/early spring of 2016 as a staff consisting predominantly of people of color, women and femmes in conversation with people doing organizing of all kinds.

For many of us, helping to build re:claim came in response to the hurt we have experienced at the hands of mainstream campus media, which routinely excludes Black people and people of color from its ranks, and demonizes activist groups. We do not purport to be "objective" (and maintain suspicion of those who claim objectivity), but instead aim to create, solicit, and honor content rooted in our own experiences and communities. re:claim publishes first-person narrative, news, creative writing, and visual art. In the coming year, we specifically want to prioritize group structures that challenge the burdens of labor placed on marginalized groups as a “default� in organizing and publishing spaces at Columbia, addressing this within our publication as well as in our larger communities.

Please reach out to reclaim.at.cu@gmail.com or any of the folks listed on reclaimatcu.wixsite.com/reclaimatcu if you are interested in getting involved! We make decisions by consensus using a non-hierarchal structure. Recognizing that people have different capacities for and ways of contributing labor, time, and energy, we strive to make involvement as accessible and accommodating as possible. On-boarding involves a brief conversation with a couple current committee members just to make sure we're on the same page. We'd love to have you!

W hat W e’ve Published Why I’m Occupying a Building at Columbia: Love, Power, and Climate Justice by Iliana Salazar-Dodge

Untitled by Megan Wicks

“We must believe that we can change for the better and that we deserve better. In addition to symbolically taking down the fossil fuel industry and other villains of our capitalist economy, we must use this moment to redirect resources towards the creation of the beautiful.”

Dreams and Visions by Thando Miambo

Senior Interview: Kevin Chen and Rachel Poirier by Claire Zuo “‘I think there are several things embedded in activist groups and activist identity that don’t really get accounted for. Who’s bearing the brunt of the emotional labor, what does the leadership look like, how are these configured?’ --R.P. ‘What do we want? In care it’s easy to lose sight of that -- it’s easy to lose sight of what we actually desire, so that people end up feeling burnt out, exhausted, bearing the brunt of this.’”--K.C.

“Our Cry: Gynnya” by Rosalyn Huff [Content warning: This piece discusses anti-Black violence, death and misogynoir.]

“Our men are stolen from us every day.

We rally. We riot. We rage.

We are stolen, too.

They retreat.

‘Say her name!’ Her family cries.

‘GYNNYA!’ Our men fail us every day.

We fuss. We fight. We forgive.

We never fail.

They forget.”

Urgent: Letter from Eyricka King at Franklin Correctional Facility [Content warning: physical abuse, sexual assault, anti-Blackness (specifically anti-Black state violence), transmisogyny, state violence]

“They are denying me medical treatment.…

Please contact everybody, the news stations, call the facility.… I wrote you 3 different times since this happened only to get the mail returned to me shredded up in pieces.… They only care once you have people from the outside call in.”

Read/listen online: ● “Why Students Need the #RighttoRecord” by Brandee Blocker ● “Velvet: A Playlist” by Charlene Adhiambo, and more…...

Page​ ​1

How​ ​Barnard​ ​Contingent​ ​Faculty​ ​Won​ ​Their​ ​First​ ​Contract By​ ​Gerard​ ​Di​ ​Trolio *Reprinted​ ​from​​ ​In​ ​These​ ​Times

The​ ​contingent​ ​faculty​ ​at​ ​Barnard​ ​College have​ ​won​ ​their​ ​first​ ​contract,​ ​adding another​ ​victory​ ​for​ ​precarious​ ​academic workers​ ​across​ ​the​ ​country.

Barnard​ ​Contingent​ ​Faculty-UAW​ ​Local 2110​ ​(BCF-UAW)​ ​is​ ​made​ ​up​ ​of​ ​about​ ​200 adjunct​ ​professors​ ​and​ ​term​ ​faculty, predominantly​ ​women.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​certified​ ​back in​ ​October​ ​2015​ ​and​ ​had​ ​been​ ​negotiating with​ ​Barnard’s​ ​administration​ ​since February​ ​of​ ​last​ ​year.

In​ ​December,​ ​after​ ​getting​ ​nowhere,​ ​union members​ ​voted​ ​by​ ​an overwhelming​ ​majority—89 percent—in​ ​support​ ​of​ ​a​ ​strike.

A​ ​strike​ ​date​ ​was​ ​set​ ​for February​ ​21,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​tentative agreement​ ​was​ ​reached​ ​with just​ ​five​ ​days​ ​to​ ​spare.​ ​On March​ ​26,​ ​BCF-UAW announced​ ​that​ ​a​ ​five-year contract​ ​had​ ​been​ ​ratified​ ​by​ ​its membership.​ ​More​ ​than​ ​90 percent​ ​voted​ ​in​ ​favor.

"I​ ​think​ ​it's​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​contract.​ ​In​ ​some​ ​ways we​ ​had​ ​to​ ​compromise​ ​and​ ​there's​ ​room​ ​for improvement​ ​but​ ​we​ ​have​ ​a​ ​very​ ​good​ ​first contract​ ​and​ ​it​ ​creates​ ​a​ ​foundation​ ​for​ ​us moving​ ​forward,"​ ​says​ ​Siobhan​ ​Burke,​ ​a Barnard​ ​graduate​ ​and​ ​adjunct​ ​lecturer​ ​of dance,​ ​who​ ​also​ ​sits​ ​on​ ​BCF-UAW's bargaining​ ​committee.

The​ ​main​ ​issues​ ​for​ ​members​ ​were​ ​wages, benefits,​ ​workload​ ​and​ ​job​ ​security.

Adjuncts​ ​will​ ​now​ ​get​ ​$7,000​ ​per three-credit​ ​course,​ ​instead​ ​of​ ​the​ ​current average​ ​of​ ​$6,000,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​will​ ​increase​ ​to $10,000​ ​over​ ​the​ ​course​ ​of​ ​the​ ​contract.

Full-time​ ​term​ ​professors​ ​will​ ​have​ ​a

minimum​ ​salary​ ​of​ ​$60,000,​ ​rising​ ​to $70,000​ ​within​ ​five​ ​years.

Adjuncts​ ​will​ ​also​ ​have​ ​access​ ​to​ ​healthcare for​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time,​ ​with​ ​those​ ​teaching​ ​six​ ​or more​ ​credits​ ​in​ ​an​ ​academic​ ​year​ ​receiving​ ​a 50​ ​percent​ ​contribution​ ​from​ ​Barnard​ ​for medical​ ​insurance​ ​costs.

And​ ​in​ ​the​ ​area​ ​of​ ​job​ ​security,​ ​adjuncts​ ​will have​ ​access​ ​to​ ​some​ ​severance​ ​and​ ​be​ ​able to​ ​receive​ ​multi-year​ ​appointments.​ ​They will​ ​also​ ​receive​ ​earlier​ ​notification​ ​of​ ​their teaching​ ​status​ ​and​ ​course​ ​loads,​ ​under​ ​the new​ ​contract.

"We​ ​are​ ​pleased​ ​that​ ​the Barnard​ ​Contingent​ F ​ aculty union​ ​has​ ​ratified​ ​its​ ​first contract,​ ​which​ ​reflects​ ​the College’s​ ​deep​ ​respect​ ​for​ ​union members’​ ​significant contributions​ ​to​ ​our community.​ ​We​ ​look​ ​forward​ ​to continue​ ​building​ ​a​ ​strong partnership​ ​with​ ​our contingent​ ​faculty,​ ​to​ ​ensure our​ ​students​ ​and​ ​our​ ​academic​ ​program flourish,”​ ​Provost​ ​Linda​ ​Bell​ ​said​ ​in​ ​a statement.

Mobilizing​ ​membership BCF-UAW's​ ​victory​ ​was​ ​in​ ​large​ ​part​ ​due​ ​to its​ ​mobilizing​ ​strategy.

"At​ ​each​ ​key​ ​step​ ​of​ ​the​ ​way—particularly organizing​ ​the​ ​strike​ ​authorization​ ​vote​ ​and preparing​ ​for​ ​a​ ​strike—we​ ​reached​ ​out​ ​to our​ ​members​ ​through​ ​phone​ ​banking, email,​ ​social​ ​media,​ ​informational​ ​meetings and​ ​one-on-one​ ​conversations​ ​on​ ​campus.

Because​ ​many​ ​adjuncts​ ​juggle​ ​multiple​ ​jobs, it's​ ​a​ ​challenging​ ​group​ ​to​ ​organize.​ ​They're

Page​ ​2

How​ ​Barnard​ ​Contingent​ ​Faculty​ ​Won​ ​Their​ ​First​ ​Contract By​ ​Gerard​ ​Di​ ​Trolio *Reprinted​ ​from​​ ​In​ ​These​ ​Times

pulled​ ​in​ ​many​ ​directions.​ ​So​ ​staying​ ​in contact,​ ​keeping​ ​people​ ​informed​ ​and maintaining​ ​open​ ​lines​ ​of​ ​communication was​ ​essential,"​ ​says​ ​Burke.

Barnard​ ​went​ ​to​ ​significant​ ​lengths​ ​to​ ​have contract​ ​negotiations​ ​go​ ​its​ ​way.​ ​The​ ​college hired​ ​notorious​ ​union​ ​busting​ ​law​ ​firm Jackson​ ​Lewis​,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​federal​ ​mediator​ ​was brought​ ​in,​ ​showing​ ​how​ ​fraught​ ​the negotiations​ ​were.

Burke​ ​cautions​ ​that​ ​how​ ​Barnard​ ​respects the​ ​contract​ ​remains​ ​to​ ​be​ ​seen.

"Will​ ​they​ ​try​ ​to​ ​create​ ​new​ ​job​ ​titles​ ​that are​ ​outside​ ​the​ ​recognition​ ​clause​ ​of​ ​our contract?​ ​And​ ​find​ ​ways​ ​around​ ​the contract?​ ​Based​ ​on​ ​the​ ​process​ ​we​ ​went through,​ ​I​ ​wouldn't​ ​be​ ​surprised,"​ ​she​ ​said.

Student​ ​support Another​ ​major​ ​factor​ ​in​ ​BCF-UAW's​ ​victory was​ ​the​ ​role​ ​of​ ​student​ ​activism.​ ​When​ ​a possible​ ​strike​ ​was​ ​on​ ​the​ ​horizon,​ ​Barnard students​ ​mobilized​ ​to​ ​pressure​ ​the administration​ ​through​ ​the​ ​Student-Worker Solidarity​ ​(SWS)​ ​organization.

"In​ ​January​ ​and​ ​February,​ ​we​ ​started​ ​door knocking​ ​in​ ​the​ ​dorms​ ​and​ ​gathered​ ​more than​ ​700​ ​signatures​ ​on​ ​a​ ​student​ ​petition.

At​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time,​ ​we​ ​encouraged​ ​students to​ ​get​ ​their​ ​parents​ ​to​ ​call​ ​the​ ​president​ ​and provost​ ​of​ ​the​ ​college,"​ ​says​ ​Meghan Brophy,​ ​a​ ​Barnard​ ​student​ ​and​ ​SWS member.​ ​"It​ ​was​ ​a​ ​good​ ​way​ ​to​ ​talk​ ​to

students​ ​who​ ​didn't​ ​know​ ​what​ ​was happening​ ​or​ ​who​ ​were​ ​only​ ​reading​ ​emails from​ ​the​ ​administration.​ ​I​ ​think​ ​we​ ​learned a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​practical​ ​organizing​ ​skills​ ​from​ ​that experience,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​helped​ ​us​ ​remember​ ​to really​ ​see​ ​what​ ​information​ ​we​ ​needed​ ​to publicize​ ​more."

The​ ​group​ ​also​ ​spearheaded​ ​a​ ​number​ ​of actions​ ​like​ ​having​ ​students​ ​line​ ​the​ ​halls that​ ​Barnard's​ ​bargaining​ ​team​ ​had​ ​to​ ​travel down​ ​to​ ​reach​ ​the​ ​negotiating​ ​table, organized​ ​marches​ ​and​ ​helped​ ​to​ ​circulate​ ​a petition​ ​among​ ​alumni.

"The​ ​administration​ ​tries​ ​all​ ​these divide-and-conquer​ ​tactics​ ​like​ ​pitting financial​ ​aid​ ​and​ ​campus​ ​programs​ ​against living​ ​wages​ ​and​ ​benefits​ ​for​ ​contingent faculty.​ ​We​ ​want​ ​to​ ​show​ ​we​ ​will​ ​be​ ​united and​ ​not​ ​divided​ ​by​ ​all​ ​these​ ​tactics,"​ ​said Brophy.

The​ ​irony​ ​behind​ ​an​ ​elite​ ​women's​ ​college trying​ ​to​ ​stonewall​ ​a​ ​bargaining​ ​unit​ ​that​ ​is predominantly​ ​women​ ​was​ ​not​ ​lost​ ​on students.

"When​ ​Barnard​ ​says​ ​that​ ​it​ ​advocates​ ​for women,​ ​especially​ ​women​ ​in​ ​the​ ​academy and​ ​higher​ ​education,​ ​they're​ ​speaking about​ ​a​ ​very​ ​specific​ ​subset​ ​of​ ​women,”​ ​said Becca​ ​Breslaw,​ ​a​ ​Barnard​ ​student​ ​and​ ​SWS member.​ ​“There​ ​are​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​leaders​ ​that have​ ​come​ ​out​ ​of​ ​Barnard​ ​that​ ​they​ ​push​ ​for us​ ​that​ ​represent​ ​this​ ​corporate​ ​feminist appeal​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​advocating​ ​for​ ​all women,​ ​especially​ ​working-class​ ​women.

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Women’s​ ​College​ ​vs.​ ​Women​ ​Workers Women’s​ ​College​ ​vs.​ ​Women​ ​Workers

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Don't​ ​be​ ​fooled​ ​by​ ​their​ ​progressive​ ​rhetoric.​ ​Even​ ​the​ ​most​ ​"socially​ ​conscious"​ ​university Don't​ ​be​ ​fooled​ ​by​ ​their​ ​progressive​ ​rhetoric.​ ​Even​ ​the​ ​most​ ​"socially​ ​conscious"​ ​university administrator​ ​is​ ​still​ ​a​ ​boss. administrator​ ​is​ ​still​ ​a​ ​boss. *Reprinted​ ​from​ ​Jacobin​ ​Magazine *Reprinted​ ​from​ ​Jacobin​ ​Magazine

By​ ​Meghan​ ​Brophy By​ ​Meghan​ ​Brophy

Debates​ ​about​ ​cultural​ ​appropriation​ ​and Debates​ ​about​ ​cultural​ ​appropriation​ ​and free​ ​speech​ ​at​ ​elite​ ​universities​ ​have free​ ​speech​ ​at​ ​elite​ ​universities​ ​have consumed​ ​both​ ​the​ ​Left​ ​and​ ​Right​ ​lately. consumed​ ​both​ ​the​ ​Left​ ​and​ ​Right​ ​lately.

While​ ​some​ ​college​ ​administrators​ ​have While​ ​some​ ​college​ ​administrators​ ​have acquiesced​ ​to​ ​student​ ​demands​ ​around acquiesced​ ​to​ ​student​ ​demands​ ​around these​ ​issues,​ ​with​ ​many​ ​incoming​ ​student these​ ​issues,​ ​with​ ​many​ ​incoming​ ​student orientation​ ​programs​ ​incorporating​ ​the orientation​ ​programs​ ​incorporating​ ​the language​ ​of​ ​social​ ​justice​ ​and language​ ​of​ ​social​ ​justice​ ​and intersectionality,the​ ​underlying​ ​class intersectionality,the​ ​underlying​ ​class dynamics​ ​of​ ​these​ ​schools​ ​remain dynamics​ ​of​ ​these​ ​schools​ ​remain unchanged.​ ​Amid​ ​left-sounding​ ​rhetoric unchanged.​ ​Amid​ ​left-sounding​ ​rhetoric from​ ​the​ ​top,​ ​workers​ ​at​ ​these​ ​elite​ ​colleges from​ ​the​ ​top,​ ​workers​ ​at​ ​these​ ​elite​ ​colleges continue​ ​to​ ​run​ ​into​ ​barriers​ ​when continue​ ​to​ ​run​ ​into​ ​barriers​ ​when organizing​ ​on​ ​campus. organizing​ ​on​ ​campus.

Barnard​ ​College,​ ​a​ ​women’s​ ​liberal​ ​arts Barnard​ ​College,​ ​a​ ​women’s​ ​liberal​ ​arts college​ ​where​ ​I​ ​am​ ​a​ ​student,​ ​exemplifies college​ ​where​ ​I​ ​am​ ​a​ ​student,​ ​exemplifies the​ ​ability​ ​of​ ​progressive​ ​rhetoric​ ​and​ ​class the​ ​ability​ ​of​ ​progressive​ ​rhetoric​ ​and​ ​class inequality​ ​to​ ​coexist.​ ​From​ ​its​ ​Social​ ​Justice inequality​ ​to​ ​coexist.​ ​From​ ​its​ ​Social​ ​Justice Institute​ ​to​ ​its​ ​Zine​ ​Library,​ ​Barnard Institute​ ​to​ ​its​ ​Zine​ ​Library,​ ​Barnard showcases​ ​its​ ​feminist​ ​credentials, showcases​ ​its​ ​feminist​ ​credentials, marketing​ ​itself​ ​as​ ​an​ ​institution​ ​dedicated marketing​ ​itself​ ​as​ ​an​ ​institution​ ​dedicated to​ ​“address[ing]​ ​issues​ ​of​ ​gender​ ​in​ ​all​ ​of to​ ​“address[ing]​ ​issues​ ​of​ ​gender​ ​in​ ​all​ ​of their​ ​complexity​ ​and​ ​urgency.” their​ ​complexity​ ​and​ ​urgency.”

​ ​In​ ​recent​ ​years,​ ​Barnard​ ​has​ ​hosted ​ ​In​ ​recent​ ​years,​ ​Barnard​ ​has​ ​hosted commencement​ ​speakers​ ​such​ ​as​ ​Sheryl commencement​ ​speakers​ ​such​ ​as​ ​Sheryl Sandberg​ ​and​ ​Hillary​ ​Clinton.​ ​It​ ​even Sandberg​ ​and​ ​Hillary​ ​Clinton.​ ​It​ ​even awarded​ ​a​ ​Medal​ ​of​ ​Distinction​ ​to​ ​Lena awarded​ ​a​ ​Medal​ ​of​ ​Distinction​ ​to​ ​Lena Dunham.​ ​Yet​ ​at​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time,​ ​Barnard Dunham.​ ​Yet​ ​at​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time,​ ​Barnard administrations​ ​past​ ​and​ ​present​ ​have​ ​come administrations​ ​past​ ​and​ ​present​ ​have​ ​come into​ ​conflict​ ​with​ ​workers​ ​on​ ​campus. into​ ​conflict​ ​with​ ​workers​ ​on​ ​campus.

Whether​ ​by​ ​attempting​ ​to​ ​cut​ ​back​ ​on​ ​office Whether​ ​by​ ​attempting​ ​to​ ​cut​ ​back​ ​on​ ​office workers’​ ​and​ ​dorm​ ​attendants’​ ​health workers’​ ​and​ ​dorm​ ​attendants’​ ​health benefits​ ​in​ ​1996,​ ​a​ ​move​ ​that​ ​sparked​ ​one benefits​ ​in​ ​1996,​ ​a​ ​move​ ​that​ ​sparked​ ​one ofthe​ ​longest​ ​strikes​ ​ever​ ​to​ ​take​ ​place​ ​at​ ​a ofthe​ ​longest​ ​strikes​ ​ever​ ​to​ ​take​ ​place​ ​at​ ​a college​ ​in​ ​the​ ​United​ ​States,​ ​or​ ​by​ ​hiring​ ​a college​ ​in​ ​the​ ​United​ ​States,​ ​or​ ​by​ ​hiring​ ​a

notorious​ ​anti-labor​ ​law​ ​firm​ ​to​ ​negotiate notorious​ ​anti-labor​ ​law​ ​firm​ ​to​ ​negotiate with​ ​its​ ​newly​ ​organized​ ​contingent​ ​faculty with​ ​its​ ​newly​ ​organized​ ​contingent​ ​faculty union​ ​in​ ​2016,​ ​Barnard,​ ​like​ ​many​ ​other union​ ​in​ ​2016,​ ​Barnard,​ ​like​ ​many​ ​other colleges,​ ​is​ ​riven​ ​by​ ​the​ ​class​ ​divide​ ​between colleges,​ ​is​ ​riven​ ​by​ ​the​ ​class​ ​divide​ ​between administrators​ ​and​ ​campus​ ​workers. administrators​ ​and​ ​campus​ ​workers.

These​ ​conflicts​ ​suggest​ ​that​ ​rather​ ​than These​ ​conflicts​ ​suggest​ ​that​ ​rather​ ​than producing​ ​a​ ​more​ ​egalitarian​ ​institution, producing​ ​a​ ​more​ ​egalitarian​ ​institution, Barnard’s​ ​social​ ​justice​ ​rhetoric​ ​is​ ​part​ ​of​ ​a Barnard’s​ ​social​ ​justice​ ​rhetoric​ ​is​ ​part​ ​of​ ​a limited​ ​brand​ ​of​ ​liberal,​ ​“lean-in”​ ​feminism. limited​ ​brand​ ​of​ ​liberal,​ ​“lean-in”​ ​feminism.

“Barnard​ ​Cuts​ ​Women​ ​and​ ​Children “Barnard​ ​Cuts​ ​Women​ ​and​ ​Children First” First”

In​ ​1996,​ ​about​ ​165​ ​office​ ​workers​ ​and In​ ​1996,​ ​about​ ​165​ ​office​ ​workers​ ​and dormitory​ ​attendants,the​ ​majority​ ​of​ ​whom dormitory​ ​attendants,the​ ​majority​ ​of​ ​whom were​ ​women​ ​of​ ​color,​ ​carried​ ​out​ ​a were​ ​women​ ​of​ ​color,​ ​carried​ ​out​ ​a successful​ ​six-month​ ​strike​ ​following​ ​the successful​ ​six-month​ ​strike​ ​following​ administration’s​ ​proposal​ ​to​ ​reduce​​the ​their administration’s​ p ​ roposal​ t ​ o​ r ​ educe​ ​their health​ ​benefits. health​ ​benefits.

Originally​ ​organized​ ​in​ ​1972,​ ​Barnard Originally​ ​organized​ ​in​ ​1972,​ ​Barnard workers​ ​in​ ​UAW​ ​Local​ ​2110​ ​(then​ ​District workers​ ​in​ ​UAW​ ​Local​ ​2110​ ​(then​ ​District 65)​ ​were​ ​among​ ​the​ ​lowest​ ​paid​ ​workers​ ​on 65)​ ​were​ ​among​ ​the​ ​lowest​ ​paid​ ​workers​ ​on campus​ ​in​ ​an​ ​increasingly​ ​unaffordable​ ​city. campus​ ​in​ ​an​ ​increasingly​ ​unaffordable​ ​city.

In​ ​an​ ​interview​ ​with​ ​the​ ​New​ ​York​ ​Times, In​ ​an​ ​interview​ ​with​ ​the​ ​New​ ​York​ ​Times, Local​ ​2110​ ​President​ ​Maida​ ​Rosenstein Local​ ​2110​ ​President​ ​Maida​ ​Rosenstein described​ ​many​ ​of​ ​the​ ​strikers​ ​as​ ​“single described​ ​many​ ​of​ ​the​ ​strikers​ ​as​ ​“single mothers​ ​who​ ​barely​ ​make​ ​it​ ​paycheck​ ​to mothers​ ​who​ ​barely​ ​make​ ​it​ ​paycheck​ ​to paycheck.”​ ​Barnard​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​add​ ​health paycheck.”​ ​Barnard​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​add​ ​health care​ ​premiums​ ​to​ ​their​ ​list​ ​of​ ​expenses. care​ ​premiums​ ​to​ ​their​ ​list​ ​of​ ​expenses.

During​ ​this​ ​time,​ ​sympathetic​ ​faculty​ ​moved During​ ​this​ ​time,​ ​sympathetic​ ​faculty​ ​moved classes​ ​off​ ​campus​ ​and​ ​students​ ​organized classes​ ​off​ ​campus​ ​and​ ​students​ ​organized to​ ​support​ ​the​ ​strikers.​ ​Workers​ ​at​ ​Yale, to​ ​support​ ​the​ ​strikers.​ ​Workers​ ​at​ ​Yale, who​ ​were​ ​on​ ​strike​ ​at​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time,​ ​held​ ​a who​ ​were​ ​on​ ​strike​ ​at​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time,​ ​held​ ​a joint​ ​rally​ ​with​ ​Local​ ​2110​ ​in​ ​New​ ​York​ ​City. joint​ ​rally​ ​with​ ​Local​ ​2110​ ​in​ ​New​ ​York​ ​City.

The​ ​Student​ ​Strike​ ​Committee​ ​staged The​ ​Student​ ​Strike​ ​Committee​ ​staged

Women’s​ ​College​ ​vs.​ ​Women​ ​Workers

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Don't​ ​be​ ​fooled​ ​by​ ​their​ ​progressive​ ​rhetoric.​ ​Even​ ​the​ ​most​ ​"socially​ ​conscious"​ ​university administrator​ ​is​ ​still​ ​a​ ​boss. *Reprinted​ ​from​ ​Jacobin​ ​Magazine

By​ ​Meghan​ ​Brophy

demonstrations​ ​and​ ​eventually,​ ​a​ ​sit-in​ ​in solidarity​ ​with​ ​the​ ​striking​ ​workers.​ ​In response,​ ​Barnard​ ​withheld​ ​their​ ​diplomas.

With​ ​the​ ​ongoing​ ​strike​ ​and​ ​suppression​ ​of student​ ​activism​ ​in​ ​support​ ​of​ ​it,the​ ​1996 graduation​ ​became​ ​a​ ​site​ ​of​ ​struggle.​ ​During the​ ​ceremony,​ ​both​ ​strikers​ ​outside​ ​the main​ ​gates​ ​and​ ​students​ ​in​ ​the​ ​audience held​ ​protest​ ​signs.

As​ ​Judith​ ​Shapiro,​ ​a​ ​renowned​ ​feminist anthropologist​ ​and​ ​Barnard’s​ ​president​ ​at the​ ​time,​ ​began​ ​to​ ​speak,​ ​students​ ​unfurled a​ ​banner​ ​reading​ ​“Anti-Worker​ ​= Anti-Woman,​ ​Contract​ ​Now.” Eventually,​ ​Barnard​ ​withdrew​ ​its​ ​health care​ ​proposal​ ​and​ ​conceded​ ​to​ ​the​ ​strikers’ demands.​ ​But​ ​the​ ​school​ ​hasn’t​ ​changed.​ ​As recently​ ​as​ ​2012,the​ ​administration​ ​sought to​ ​freeze​ ​pay​ ​and​ ​reduce​ ​maternity​ ​leave​ ​for the​ ​same​ ​group​ ​of​ ​workers,​ ​leading​ ​to​ ​the creation​ ​of​ ​Barnard​ ​and​ ​Columbia’s​ ​United Students​ ​Against​ ​Sweatshops​ ​local, Student-Worker​ ​Solidarity.

Faculty​ ​Fight​ ​Back On​ ​Equal​ ​Pay​ ​Day,the​ ​provost​ ​of​ ​Barnard College​ ​discussed​ ​her​ ​research​ ​on​ ​the importance​ ​of​ ​women-led​ ​firms​ ​in​ ​closing the​ ​gender​ ​pay​ ​gap.​ ​Yet​ ​just​ ​a​ ​few​ ​months earlier,​ ​Barnard​ ​Contingent​ ​Faculty—about two​ ​thirds​ ​of​ ​whom​ ​are​ ​women—set​ ​a​ ​strike deadline​ ​during​ ​their​ ​fight​ ​for​ ​a​ ​fair​ ​first contract.

Organized​ ​and​ ​certified​ ​in​ ​2015,​ ​Barnard Contingent​ F ​ aculty-UAW​ ​Local​ ​2110​ ​began yearlong​ ​negotiations​ ​with​ ​Barnard​ ​College in​ ​February​ ​2016.​ ​Like​ ​many​ ​others​ ​in​ ​the growing​ ​academic​ ​precariat,​ ​Barnard’s adjuncts​ ​and​ ​other​ ​non-tenure-track​ ​faculty were​ ​fighting​ ​for​ ​demands​ ​such​ ​as​ ​higher minimum​ ​per​ ​course​ ​pay,​ ​access​ ​to affordable​ ​health​ ​and​ ​retirement​ ​benefits,​ ​a grievance​ ​procedure,​ ​and​ ​job​ ​security.

While​ ​Barnard’s​ ​president​ ​was​ ​busy​ ​writing an​ ​op-ed​ ​for​ ​the​ ​New​ ​York​ ​Times​ ​about body​ ​image,​ ​cosmetic​ ​surgery,​ ​and​ ​aging among​ ​her​ ​“liberal,​ ​feminist-leaning,​ ​highly educated​ ​peer​ ​group”​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Upper​ ​East Side,the​ ​anti-union​ ​law​ ​firm​ ​Jackson​ ​Lewis handled​ ​negotiations​ ​with​ ​the​ ​contingent faculty​ ​on​ ​behalf​ ​of​ ​the​ ​administration.

Frustrated​ ​by​ ​months​ ​of​ ​the​ ​administration stalling,​ ​contingent​ ​faculty​ ​voted​ ​to​ ​approve a​ ​strike​ ​deadline​ ​by​ ​an​ ​overwhelming majority​ ​of​ ​89​ ​percent​ ​in​ ​December.​ ​In​ ​a campus-wide​ ​email,the​ ​administration implied​ ​that​ ​a​ ​strike​ ​would​ ​contribute​ ​to students’​ ​post-election​ ​distress.

Meanwhile,the​ ​law​ ​firm​ ​they​ ​retained​ ​wrote that​ ​Obama-era​ ​anti-discrimination​ ​laws were​ ​“aggressive”​ ​and​ ​that​ ​Trump​ ​would “return​ ​to​ ​traditional​ ​theories​ ​of discrimination.”

Students​ ​organized​ ​rallies​ ​and​ ​went door-to-door​ ​in​ ​dorms​ ​to​ ​petition​ ​in​ ​support of​ ​professors.​ ​With​ ​student​ ​support​ ​rapidly growing,the​ ​administration​ ​attempted​ ​to​ ​pit living​ ​wages​ ​and​ ​benefits​ ​for​ ​adjunct

Don't​ ​be​ ​fooled​ ​by​ ​their​ ​progressive​ ​rhetoric.​ ​Even​ ​the​ ​most​ ​"socially​ ​conscious"​ ​university administrator​ ​is​ ​still​ ​a​ ​boss. *Reprinted​ ​from​ ​Jacobin​ ​Magazine

By​ ​Meghan​ ​Brophy

professors​ ​against​ ​financial​ ​aid​ ​and​ ​campus programs​ ​for​ ​students.

Ultimately,​ ​Barnard​ ​Contingent Faculty-UAW​ ​Local​ ​2110​ ​reached​ ​an agreement​ ​a​ ​few​ ​days​ ​before​ ​the​ ​strike deadline.​ ​Their​ ​first​ ​contract—which included​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​minimum​ ​per​ ​course pay​ ​for​ ​adjuncts​ ​of​ ​any​ ​college​ ​in​ ​New​ ​York City—was​ ​ratified​ ​in​ ​March​ ​2017.

Not​ ​Just​ ​Barnard The​ ​problem​ ​is​ ​not​ ​confined​ ​to​ ​Barnard​ ​or its​ ​administration.​ ​While​ ​one​ ​Barnard student​ ​correctly​ ​called​ ​the​ ​school​ ​“a women’s​ ​college​ ​for​ ​the​ ​one​ ​percent”​ ​in​ ​the Columbia​ ​Spectator,these​ ​patterns​ ​extend far​ ​beyond​ ​one​ ​college​ ​in​ ​New​ ​York​ ​City.

This​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​anti-worker​ ​liberal​ ​hypocrisy​ ​is nothing​ ​new​ ​on​ ​college​ ​campuses.​ ​Likewise, the​ ​ascendance​ ​of​ ​corporate​ ​“lean​ ​in” feminism—prominently​ ​displayed​ ​in​ ​the Clinton​ ​campaign​ ​and​ ​in​ ​much​ ​of​ ​the mainstream​ ​women’s​ ​movement—is​ ​not confined​ ​to​ ​campuses.

Elite​ ​universities​ ​may​ ​try​ ​to​ ​hide​ ​it​ ​behind the​ ​progressive​ ​language​ ​of​ ​their​ ​brochures, but​ ​their​ ​place​ ​in​ ​the​ ​system​ ​at-large​ ​hasn’t changed.​ ​While​ ​many​ ​college​ ​presidents criticized​ ​the​ ​Trump​ ​administration​ ​in graduation​ ​speeches​ ​this​ ​year,they’ve​ ​also been​ ​eagerly​ ​awaiting​ ​Trump’s​ ​National Labor​ ​Relations​ ​Board​ ​appointments​ ​in hopes​ ​these​ ​appointees​ ​will​ ​overturn​ ​the board​ ​ruling​ ​that​ ​allows​ ​graduate​ ​workers​ ​to organize​ ​unions.

A​ ​few​ ​months​ ​ago,​ ​a​ ​dean​ ​at​ ​Yale​ ​who​ ​has touted​ ​her​ ​commitment​ ​to​ ​supporting students’​ ​“multifaceted​ ​identities”​ ​made headlines​ ​for​ ​publicly​ ​calling​ ​New​ ​Haven residents​ ​“white​ ​trash”​ ​and​ ​“low​ ​class​ ​folks.”

When​ ​housekeepers​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Harvard-owned Doubletree​ ​Hotel​ ​were​ ​organizing​ ​a​ ​union​ ​in 2014,​ ​as​ ​Sarah​ ​Leonard​ ​and​ ​Rebecca​ ​Rojer have​ ​detailed,​ ​Sheryl​ ​Sandberg​ ​couldn’t​ ​find time​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​with​ ​them​ ​when​ ​she​ ​was​ ​on campus​ ​to​ ​speak.​ ​Harvard’s​ ​first​ ​woman president​ ​fought​ ​them​ ​every​ ​step​ ​ofthe​ ​way.

The​ ​list​ ​goes​ ​on.

Elite​ ​universities’​ ​administrations​ ​can accommodate​ ​a​ ​particular​ ​brand​ ​of​ ​identity politics​ ​and​ ​progressive​ ​rhetoric.​ ​That rhetoric​ ​does​ ​not​ ​threaten​ ​their​ ​bottom​ ​line or​ ​tight​ ​grip​ ​on​ ​control​ ​of​ ​the​ ​campus.​ ​But when​ ​university​ ​workers​ ​engage​ ​in​ ​some old-fashioned​ ​collective​ ​action​ ​on​ ​the job,these​ ​administrators​ ​suddenly​ ​drop their​ ​intersectional​ ​commitments—or,​ ​even worse,​ ​use​ ​that​ ​progressive​ ​rhetoric​ ​against those​ ​workers.

Don’t​ ​be​ ​fooled​ ​by​ ​their​ ​progressive posturing.​ ​Even​ ​the​ ​most​ ​“socially conscious”​ ​college​ ​administrator​ ​is​ ​still​ ​a boss.

The Columbia Queer Alliance (CQA) is a student organization for queer and trans students.

CQA recognizes the diverse intersections of identities, backgrounds and needs of our community, and remains committed queer and trans liberation hand-in-hand with anti-racism, anti-sexism and anti-imperialism. [image description: the CQA logo. the letters 'cqa' in curly font, filled in with rainbow colors, with a Columbia crown on top of the 'q' and a heart after the 'a']

cqaboard@columbia.edu

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,

, ISM

Why is it that we have all the technology and means to produce immense wealth—enough food to feed everyone 4 meals per day, enough homes and construction materials to house everyone, the capacity to provide education and healthcare for all—and yet, in the U.S., the top 1% controls more than a third of the nation’s wealth? Why is it that 66 million children still go hungry each year, that millions of people are homeless, and that the overwhelming majority still do not have access to quality schools and medical services?

The reason is that the system we currently live under--capitalism--is fundamentally based on exploiting the many to make profit for the few. Under capitalism, a minority ruling class directly profits off of the labor of the majority, the working class, who is forced to sell their ability to work in order to survive. Capitalism is responsible for countless wars, endless poverty, and mass exploitation and oppression for the sake of profit; and as a capitalist institution, Columbia is complicit in all of these processes.

Columbia is not simply an intellectual island in which independent inquiry is allowed to flourish. Its administration directly benefits from maintaining capitalism and the inevitably racist, sexist, classist, and homophobic conditions that arise from it. Columbia is a place where students are molded into the next generation of bosses, politicians, and CEOs who have a stake in maintaining the status quo. Its primary function as a capitalist institution is far more corporate than educational: it exists to train the 1% to rule and reproduce intellectual workers and research for profit at the expense of students, workers, neighboring residents, and the global community at large.

Columbia’s actions have made this evident throughout the course of its history. Columbia’s administration is currently hard at work displacing hundreds of Harlem residents for the sake of its expansion into Manhattanville; supporting the oppression of Palestinians both through its investments and by suppressing anti-Israel speech by students and faculty; funding the destruction of the planet; and worrying about its reputation rather than guaranteeing rights and resources for survivors of sexual violence (just to name a few examples). This is all in addition to what Columbia students already know--that Columbia extracts exorbitant fees well over the median family income from students, while paying its president millions of dollars per year to chastise student activists and act as Columbia’s respectable, liberal figurehead.

While Bollinger gets paid an outrageous salary, it is actually the workers on this campus--from custodians to professors, support staff to TAs, most of whom are woefully underpaid--that allow Columbia to function. As students, we also occupy a unique space within the corporate institution that is Columbia, and that position gives us the power to make a real change, especially when we can collaborate with workers on campus and people in the communities around Columbia.

All the issues mentioned above are embedded within contexts outside of the university, but we can still make a disproportionate impact by acting against the profit-driven motives of the administration. We’re the ones the university is meant to accommodate, we’re the ones who uphold their reputation, and we’re the ones who often pay (either through tuition and/or donations as alumni). As stakeholders in a capitalist institution, we don’t only have the power, but also the responsibility to fight against its oppressive policy. As you can see in Columbia’s own history of student activism, student movements can often lead to change on a larger scale; just think of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against apartheid South Africa, which inspired a new generation of students to push their administration to withdraw its investments from the private prison industry. Now, a new wave of students is pushing for divestment from fossil fuel companies and Israeli apartheid.

We, as socialists, see that these issues of oppression are all interrelated because they all have the same roots in the foundations of the capitalist system. The fight against sexual violence is part of the fight against transphobia, which is part of the fight against prisons, which is part of the fight against racism, and so on and so forth. Moreover, this fight is global, and there are revolutionary socialists fighting for justice all over the world; from Greece to South Africa, from Egypt to Puerto Rico. Because the fight against oppression and exploitation spans so many issues and regions across the world, we must develop political principles and experience that we carry outside of the gates of Columbia and well past our graduation. We enter campus with a choice: Are we here simply to get a degree from an elite school, or are we going to actually challenge the inequality and oppression that Columbia perpetuates? We don’t look proudly at the institution of Columbia University; and yet, we have a vision of a world beyond corporatized schooling in which access to quality education is available to all, in which the students, faculty, and workers who run schools democratically design the institutions that they want to be a part of, and in which education, inquiry, and scholarship are the uninhibited governing values that drive our schools.

lu Co

A L U! T I O P

C A an d Y

5 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY: began in 2012 to support Barnard dorm attendants and clerical workers who were fighting against proposed cuts to benefits and maternity leave.

On October 19th 2012, the workers reached a contract that met every one of their demands. Student-Worker Solidarity has been fighting for labor justice since!

Since then, we supported workers in the Indus Valley restaurant who fought against wage theft ( ); Worked along with UNITE HERE to help Faculty House Workers win their contract; helped defeat unsafe working conditions in John Jay Dining Hall and discriminatory treatment of workers at the Butler Cafe; joined the nationwide Fight For Fifteen Campaign to win 15 on campus; and supported the unionization efforts and contract campaign by Barnard's Contingent faculty (successful!) and Columbia Graduate Students (still fighting)

end the illegal yet prevalent occurrence of late pay on campus stand with the Graduate Workers and pressure CU to respect their vote fight against retaliation by Barnard administration against contingent faculty work with USAS to get Barnard to affiliate with Worker Rights Consortium educate ourselves and raise awareness about labor history and its importance

https://www.facebook.com/StudentWorkerSolidarity

what questions do you still have? what are you thinking about? this is a free writing/drawing/thinking space

by Fred Moten and Stefano Harney