[ALMA MATTERS ♔] 11.19.11
Happy Thanksgiving!
It’s not uncommon that when the weather drops to -10˚ and the sunlight disappears that it feels like manners and gratitude fall away too. Often we get caught up in our own problems and our own lives, and we don’t reach out to others to say thank you for all that they do for us. In light of that, we would like to propose for all of you to take a moment of reflection, and pick someone different for each of the next few days to express your gratitude. Here’s the list of people that we’d like to thank:
First, we’d like to give a huge shout-out to our friends and families for being so supportive of all of the work that we do and time that we spend trying to build a better student body. You make coming home in the evening after 8 hours of meeting worth it.
Second, we want to thank the administration, staff, and professors that we interact with on a daily basis. From the fantastic people of student services to the deans to our advisors, none of what we do would be possible without your support and guidance.
And finally, most importantly, we are so, so thankful to be a part of such an incredible student body and to all of you, the students of Columbia College, for giving us the opportunity to serve you through CCSC. It’s been a fantastic year thus far, and we’re looking to make it even better with your help.
Check out the announcements below for fun goings-on this weekend, including an opportunity for those of you wanting to have some crazy times before going home for the holiday—be a background dancer in a music video!
As always, look through some of the awesome new content on our website and FB page.
Have a great, restful vacation, and we’ll see you after break!
Thankfully yours,
Aki Terasaki
Student Body President
Columbia College ♔
1. Diwali Dinner | 11/19, 7:30pm | Roone Arledge Auditorium
2. Hillel’s Under the Sea Formal | 11/19, 8:30pm | Low Library
3. NYC Dance Opportunity | 11/20, 1:30pm
4. Annual Modern Women of Faith Dinner | 11/21, 6:30pm | Kraft Center, 5th Floor
6. TEDxColumbiaEngineering: Registration for Event on 11/29
7. $10,000 Grant to fund your Peace Project: Application | 1/22
1. Diwali Dinner | 11/19, 7:30pm | Roone Arledge Auditorium
Mark your calendars - Diwali is today! Celebrate the festival of lights and journey through the villages with us in Roone! Don’t miss out on the LARGEST religious event in Columbia and definitely do not miss out on a full sit-down Indian dinner with HSO and Ahimsa! Doors will open in the evening, following which we will have an educational segment on the festival of Diwali, followed by dinner, and finally an open dance party to finish off the night. Semiformal attire is suggested. South Asian attire is recommend but not necessary. This event celebrates the festival of Diwali by bringing together various faiths, such as Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, to jointly present this auspicious holiday which is of utmost significance to these religions. Our event hopes to show the similarities as well as differences in the way Diwali is celebrated in these faiths and other ways. In Hinduism, Diwali honors the triumph of good over evil, of light over dark, and Hindus throughout the world light candles and lanterns to show their deference to light and emphasize its equivalence to spiritual knowledge. It is the day that Lord Rama returns to the kingdom of Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of Nirvana (eternal peace) by Lord Mahavira, and also establishes the beginning of the Jain year. In Sikhism, Diwali is the day that Guru Hargobind Ji escaped from imprisonment, also releasing 52 other Hindu kings with him.
2. Hillel’s Under the Sea Formal | 11/19, 8:30pm | Low Library
November 19th at 8:30 PM in Low Library will be Hillel’s Under The Sea Formal: Get Dressed Up to Get Down Low. This event will be a big party with a Kosher meat meal, a photobooth, and a DJ to celebrate Hillel and the Hillel Community. This year, formal will be a benefit and we plan to donate 100% of our net proceeds to The Arava Institute’s Center for Transboundary Water Management. To bring it all together, the theme for Formal is Under The Sea because you can’t get down much Lower than that! It is intended to be an evening that portrays Hillel as a fun social space for both regular Hillel goers and new faces alike. Tickets for formal cost $12 in advance, $15 at the door, and for the first time ever, we will be selling official Formal t-shirts and tank tops for $8. Check out the facebook event and the promotional video- you may see someone you know! You can purchase tickets through the TIC or on the 3rd floor of the Kraft Center. Formal is Co-Sponsored by Social and Cultural at Columbia/Barnard Hillel, Hillel Executive Board, SGB, CCSC, GSSC, ESC, SGA, and Hillel groups: Yavneh, Yiddush Club, Pizmon, Shabbat Meals Committee, KOACH, Shalhevet, JWOC, Jewish Education Workshop, Garin Lavi, LionPAC, Smadar, Kesher, Pro-Israel Progressives, Kraft Clothing Pantry, and Beit Midrash Committee.
Email Sara Miriam Liben at socialcultural@hillel.columbia.edu with any questions!
Can’t wait to see you at Hillel Formal! How Low can You Go?
3. NYC Dance Opportunity | 11/20, 1:30pm
Hello actors/dancers/models and everyone in between! We need you on Sunday 11/20 in Manhattan on music video shoot for artists DJ Rekha (www.djrekha.com) and Zuzuka Poderosa (www.myspace.com/zuzukapoderosa)!! This is a party scene, all background actors will be dancing on camera- see below for details.
If you’re looking for a way to get on camera, be seen, meet people in the business or just have an amazing NYC experience with fabulous music and free food– join us! This video will play on various MTV outlets.
DATE-TIME: SUNDAY 11/20 – 1:30PM- 6:00PM in Manhattan (exact location provided after reviewing email/headshot)
WHO: If you are a dancer and have specific skills (breaking/hip-hop street style, etc… this is a BIG PLUS). We’re looking for diversity and a variety of looks–send us your headshot or a personal photo that represents you!
Email us now! We will review your headshot/photo and get back to you ASAP to book you for Sunday. No previous acting experience needed. Please respond to: raeshem@lotusfireproductions.com with PARTY SCENE CASTING in the subject line.
4. Annual Modern Women of Faith Dinner | 11/21, 6:30pm | Kraft Center, 5th Floor
Annual Modern Women of Faith Dinner
Monday, November 21st from 6:30-8 PM
5th Floor Auditorium of the Kraft Center (606 W. 115th St. across from Schapiro dorms)
Come join MSA and Columbia/Barnard Hillel for our annual MODERN WOMEN OF FAITH DINNER & DISCUSSION. This exciting event is an opportunity for women of various religions to meet and discuss specific issues that they face as both women of faith and as modern women.
This year’s topic will be FAITH AND SEXUALITY: IS THERE A CONTRADICTION? ? We hope that this event will allow for discussion of what is normally seen as a “taboo” topic. Some questions that will be addressed are “Should sexuality be discussed openly in our faith?” “How does sexuality affect the relationship between the genders?” and “How were we educated about sex in our faith communities,” among many others.
All faiths are welcome at this WOMEN-ONLY event. Dinner is Halal/Kosher and meat-free (and free!). So come join MSA and Hillel in our effort to promote dialogue about controversial issues among women of faith!
*Co-sponsored by the Kraft Family Fund for Interfaith and Intercultural Awareness*
5. Bike Share Survey
Hi Columbia University Community! Do you wish you had a bike on campus, but don’t have the space to keep one? Do you want to learn how to fix a bike, or meet other people who are excited about biking? A bike share would lend bikes out to members for up to a day at a time, for trips around campus, the neighborhood, and the city. Please take a minute to tell us what you think: tinyurl.com/cuBikePoll – thanks!
6. TEDxColumbiaEngineering: Registration for Event on 11/29
Ideas. Entrepreneurship. Innovation.
Registration for TEDxColumbiaEngineering on November 29, 2011 is now open.
Register now before it’s too late!
Sound like an idea worth spreading? Like us on Facebook and follow our Twitter for the latest updates on speaker selection, ticket information, and more.
See you there,
The TEDxColumbiaEngineering Team
www.tedxcolumbiaengineering.com
7. $10,000 Grant to fund your Peace Project: Application | 1/22
The Davis Projects for Peace is an initiative funded by Kathryn W. Davis for undergraduate students to design and implement their own grassroots projects for the summer of 2012. Individual or groups of students are invited to submit innovative and engaging proposals for projects focused on conflict resolution and the breaking down of barriers to peace. While the overall program is worldwide in scope, individual projects may be carried out in any location, including the United States. Selected projects will receive $10,000 in funding. The Office of Civic Action and Engagement is now accepting submissions from undergraduate students in Columbia College, Columbia Engineering, and General Studies for this amazing opportunity! Go to www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/ocae/davispeace for full information.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 22ND
