Update 9:59 p.m.: The Couch Exchange is live.
Update 5:23 p.m.: The site is currently “under construction.”
Through petitions and statements by their student councils, all of Columbia’s undergraduate schools have expressed disappointment with the University’s handling of GS Class Day. But SEAS, it seems, wasn’t content to stop at mere words. Instead, ESC has come up with a nifty “Couch Exchange” website.

The program, created by SEAS seniors Mailing Wu and James Huang, is a modification of ESC’s Commencement Ticket Exchange website and allows students to offer up a couch (or other sleeping area) for GS families to stay during GS Class Day. According to the site’s FAQ, the project is “an effort to alleviate housing issues some GS students may have for their guests.”

Anyone — from any school — can offer up a couch. GS students can go to the site to find a place for their loved ones to spend the night. So if you want to help, or if you’re a GSer with guests who could use a couch, check out the website and sign up!

UPDATE: In other (related) news, incoming GSSC president Jennifer Wisdom and incoming CCSC president Karishma Habbu have thrown some updates out on Facebook. The gist of these: There is no chance of changing the date of Class Day, but the administration is working on creating an additional reception for seniors on Monday afternoon.

Also, the councils are looking at the possibility of donating to the Travel Fund. Full updates from Wisdom and Habbu after the jump.

From Jennifer Wisdom, incoming GSSC president:

Hi everyone, just passing along a few more updates on the Comms end:

1. Seniors- Make sure to send your requests for funds if you have been affected by class day travel changes to gsclassday@columbia.edu. For those needing financial reparations, now is time to ask for it! The deadline is Monday the 30th, so please dont wait.

2. Members of the GSSC e-board had a meeting with Dean Awn, Dean Rodgers, and Dean Limardo yesterday. They are actively at work on a reception for Seniors on Monday. The time may change to the afternoon rather than 9am, and it is highly likely that it will be off campus due to the overwhelming security.

3. Please keep the petition circulating and support strong, but let me repeat – please do not vent your frustration at Barnard students in any way, shape, or form. It makes GS students look bad. For clarification – Barnard cannot have their class day on the Barnard campus because of space and security concerns.

4. As to Class Day itself, after speaking with the Deans, please know that there is no possibility of a date or time change. What we can do now is move forward. The GSSC has been told that “GS administration are hard at work trying to create the best possible outcome for our graduating seniors and their families.” Please don’t take this as an appeal to the administration on the behalf of GSSC, but an acknowledgment that after hearing Dean Halvorson speak at the town hall and Dean Awn in our meeting yesterday, please take comfort in knowing they are indeed working for you.

I will keep you updated as we find out more info but for now we are still waiting for more info and clarifications ourselves. And keep spreading the word, in your classes and online!

From Karishma Habbu, incoming CCSC president:

a) You’ve seen the statement of support that is now circulating as a petition

b) The councils are trying to donate to the Travel Fund in ratio.

c) There’s talk of helping GSSC host some kind of event though I don’t have exact details on this portion of things.

d) ESC has a great website they’re trying to get up and running:http://cuengineering.com/gscouchexchange/

Stay tuned for more updates as we get them.