On the tail end of things
The letter to President Bollinger published yesterday contains a moment so remarkable and extraordinary, that I’m going to repeat it for you just to make sure you don’t miss it. It was written:
Representatives and members from all of the undergraduate schools stand in solidarity with graduating seniors of the School of General Studies. Though there are four separate undergraduate schools, we stand as one undergraduate student body—celebrating the experiences and perspectives that every group and individuals add to this community. We wish to move past the animosity that has been presented toward various groups and remind students that we are here to support each other and wish that every member of our community feel included and welcomed.
Since this is an opinion post, here is my opinion of this paragraph: YES!!!!!!
To clarify further: This statement is the most serious and powerful declaration of undergraduate fellowship in the fours years I’ve been a student in Morningside Heights. This is the first time I can remember that a formal declaration has been issued at this level of solidarity from across the four undergraduate schools, and that so explicitly identifies our community of peers as one student body dedicated to celebrating, supporting, and empowering each and every CU undergrad to the benefit of all.
In this, my last ever blog post for Spectrum, there’s certainly no need for any lengthy, farewell—I’ve sort of already done that.
Instead I’ll just say again how thankful I am. Thankful for this place, this experience, this education, and for the past, present, and future it has afforded me. Thank you to my readers for putting up with me, for encouraging me, and for keeping me in line when needed.
But most of all thank you just to you: My closest friends and buddies, colleagues, peers, and professors, you who shared your mind or heart in the classroom, or a smile on college walk, or a milkshake in a booth at Tom’s, or the back of a sled flying down Low Steps in the snow. You who laughed beside me, prayed and worshiped beside me, voiced a different opinion beside me, or just sat silently beside me. You who held the heavy Diana door open, who reached out with kinds words, who shared your notes when I missed a class, and who helped me navigate the fright-filled dungeons of bureaucracy. You and everyone too who have spoken out, and inspired, and who have acted for the well-being of every other student here.
It’s my time for moving on, and I do so with hope and confidence in you my peers who will still be here next year, that the Big Ass Blue Whale might no longer stand for all things broken and cruel and unwell. Instead, maybe someday soon, the Whale will represent a sense of fellowship, mutual support, and wellness, stretching its big old self across a thriving CU community of scholars and friends.
Caroline Blosser is a Senior Spectrum opinion blogger. The past semesters have been a SPEC-tacular adventure, and she hopes to CU around.
Farewell! *Big hug*
In keeping with the Paragraph…
http://www.change.org/petitions/standing-together-with-the-school-of-general-studies#
Congrats to Caroline as well. :)
I’m glad the statement I wrote resonated with so many people. Thank you Caroline.
How are you just so awesome, Logan? Can we just elect you CU president?
As a fellow Speccie and a graduating GS senior (thankfully only marginally affected by the graduation debacle), please allow me to echo your opinion of “YES!!!!” with a “HELL yes!!!!” Best of luck to you, and hopefully the job market isn’t too much of a nightmare for us to navigate from here on out, hah hah!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVIZMBV6QfU
General Studies Class Day fiasco featured on NY1 news segment.
Fidatevi sono screen della veosnrie Wii. Questo gioco sfrutta il motore grafico di Spyborgs che (anche se non lo sa nessuno perch Spyborgs non se lo filato di striscio nessuno) tra i migliori mai fatti per Wii.
It was awesome meentig y’all. What a fun weekend! You and you’re wife were incredibly inspirational. Have a ball on the hut-to-hut adventure!Cheers,Ellee
Columbia Students – please pass this on and stand in solidarity with your fellow undergraduate schools!
PASSED: GSSC RESOLUTION ON GS CLASS DAY
SUBJECT: The unfair, uninformed, and spontaneous move of The School of General Studies Class Day 2012.
WHEREAS we are honored and humbled by the unity expressed by all Columbia University and affiliated schools, the alumni community, and current students
WHEREAS we acknowledge and understand the need for increased security procedures surrounding the visit of a sitting United States President to the Columbia University CampusWHEREAS the move of GS Class Day creates an unfair and undue financial and logistical burden to graduating GS Seniors and their familiesWHEREAS this change forces students and faculty to choose between attending GS Class Day and other planned commitments including Baccalaureate and other religious commitmentsWHEREAS the communication surrounding this move was untimely and insufficient to allow for appropriate changesWHEREAS President Bollinger’s unsympathetic message failed to sufficiently acknowledge the inconvenience that has been placed upon the GS community and their familiesWHEREAS the University administration’s modest financial reparations fail to meet the need demonstrated of all graduating GS seniorsWHEREAS the move of The School of General Studies Class day is unacceptableTHEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The School of General Studies Student Council, on behalf of all General Studies Students, especially the graduating seniors and their families, request a formal and sufficient apology from President Bollinger. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The School of General Studies Student Council, on behalf of all General Studies Students, especially the graduating seniors and their families, requests guaranteed financial compensation for all fees incurred from altering planned travel and lodging. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a celebration event be organized for GS graduatingseniors and their families on May 14th during the original class day time.Reviewed and adopted on the 24th of April, 2012 by The School of General Studies Student Council.Signed:Jacqueline ThongStudent Body President, General Studies Student Council
Wow this is ironic that you are talking about OPINION because your opinions are spoon fed to you by the dictators of spec. Now that the TRUTH about spec EDITORIAL BOARD has been leaked, there is NOTHIGN you can do but hide. specsucks.wordpress.com has the EXCLUSIVE scoop.
Would you PLEASE just fuck off and die in a hole? Your schitick was stupid months ago, now it’s mean spirited, rude, and even stupider.