Vol. CXXXIV—No. 94
Friday, October 8, 2010
columbiaspectator.com
Green complex houses ex-cons
Columbia launches Palestine center
BY JAKE DAVIDSON AND REBECCA WRIGHT Columbia Daily Spectator
Program first of its kind in the nation
A new $42 million housing development in West Harlem has opened its doors to low income residents who were recently been behind bars. The green complex, unveiled in September and dubbed “the Castle Gardens,” boasts Energy Star appliances, a green roof, aluminum solar shades, and other environmentally friendly traits. It is operated by the Fortune Society, a nonprofit that helps former convicts make their way back into society.
BY SAMANTHA JEAN-BAPTISTE Columbia Daily Spectator
“People coming out of prison want to make a fresh start.” —Timothy Bryant, Fortune Society member MATTHEW SHERMAN/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
According to the Fortune Society, the new 110,000 squarefoot building on 140th Street will provide 114 apartments for homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals. Monthly rents in the building range from $624 for a studio to $1127 for a three-bedroom apartment. Eligibility for low-income residents is 60 percent or less of the area median income of the surrounding neighborhood. “This is a place of real hope. It is a place where dreams will be made, where families will thrive, and, make no mistake, where lives will be saved,” said JoAnne Page, the president and CEO of the Fortune Society for over 20 years, in a press release. Jonathan Rose Companies, a planning firm which managed the construction of the project, implemented green technologies, such as a highefficiency boiler and toxic-free sealants. SEE HOUSING, page 2
AT THE CENTER The Middle East Institute launched the first-ever Center for Palestine Studies Thursday evening. Rashid Khaladi, a co-director of the center, left, and Michel Khlefi, a Palestinian film director of new film “Zindeeq,” spoke at the launch event. |
Urban New York postponed, no free tickets this fall BY FINN VIGELAND AND LEAH GREENBAUM Columbia Daily Spectator First-years hoping to see “The Lion King” for free may have to wait until the spring. Urban New York, a program run by the Office of Student Development and Activities and that distributes coveted free tickets to about 400 undergraduates, has been called off this semester, but will return in the spring. In the past, the program has given Columbia College, School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Barnard students the opportunity to win free tickets through a lottery, with the fall semester open only to first-years. But this fall, no one will be receiving free tickets through Urban New York. “We have begun conversations
about how we might revitalize the program for next semester and support it best in light of recent staff changes in SDA,” Terry Martinez, dean of Community Development and Multicultural Affairs, said in a statement. She emphasized that the program has not been “cancelled” but “postponed” until the spring. For new students hoping to take advantage of the free tickets, the postponement is a let-down. “That actually sucks that it’s been canceled,” Deryn Jakolev, SEAS ’14, said. Without free tickets through Urban New York, she said that going to shows “becomes less accessible, or you dismiss it because it’s too expensive.” For others, it’s a delayed opportunity to get off campus. “I realize I never see the city
because I’m always in my room working,” Jean-Charles Levy, CC ’14, said. “There’s just not enough time.” When you go to an arts events for free and enjoy it, Jakolev said, you’ll want to go to similar events in the future, even if they cost money. “I had never thought to go to a poetry slam, but we went with my CUE group [Columbia Urban Experience, a pre-orientation program] and now a lot of us are going back because we enjoyed it so much,” she said. Mark Choi, CC ’14 and a New Jersey native, said that he had been looking forward to attending more events across the city, but finds it difficult. “Even though I’ve lived near New York City my whole life, living in a suburb is a very different experience than having
a place to live in Manhattan,” he said. Phylicia Hisel, CC ’14, said she would have liked to participate in the program this semester, since the cultural promise of New York was one of the reasons she came to Columbia. “It’s unfortunate,” she said. “I would have been interested.” Martinez said in her statement that SDA will be working with students to improve the Urban New York program. “We also look forward to gathering and incorporating student input to ensure Urban New York continues to provide students with exciting and unique opportunities. We hope students will agree our decision to postpone Urban New York will lead to an enhanced spring program for the benefit of all students.” news@columbiaspectator.com
Columbia launched the first-ever Center for Palestine Studies in the United States on Thursday night, and organizers said that, despite limited funds, they are pushing forward. The center, which will run out of the University’s Middle East Institute in Knox Hall, was created by a group of faculty with the goal of promoting and advancing Palestine studies in a wide range of subjects, from politics to the arts. “Columbia has one of the most distinguished faculty of people that work on Palestine studies, and it was some sort of a logical outgrowth of that community,” Brinkley Messick, co-director of the Center for Palestine Studies, said. The Middle East Institute is over 50 years old on campus, but this center is the first of its kind.
“Columbia has one of the most distinguished faculty of people that work on Palestine studies.” —Brinkley Messick , co-director of the Center for Palestine Studies The center was also created in honor of former professor Edward Said, who taught at Columbia for 40 years before his death in 2003 and is widely known for his book “Orientalism.” “He was one of the most SEE PALESTINE, page 2
BORN TO RUN
NEWS BRIEF
Faced with budget woes, MTA approves new fare hikes The Me t ro p o l i t a n Transportation Authority’s newest fare hikes will hit the subway’s most loyal customers, public transportation advocates say. The MTA board approved a series of fare hikes on Thursday that will go into effect at the end of the year and help the cashstrapped agency yield a 7.5 percent increase in fare revenue. This is the third round of hikes for New Yorkers in the last three years. 30-day unlimited cards will face a 17 percent increase from $89 to $104, and an unlimited weekly pass will rise from $27 to $29. All riders will face a 25-cent jump for single rides, raising the fare to $2.50. The MTA cited a $900 million funding gap, in addition 30-DAY UNLIMITED
before fare hikes after fare hikes
UNLIMITED WEEKLY SINGLE RIDE
to shortfalls in state tax revenue and cuts to state aid. The MTA says that internal costcutting measures this year will save $380 million in 2010. Transportation groups say the state has to find an alternative solution to its budget problems. “It’s just been assault after assault and asking people to pay more for less,” said Kim Martineau, a spokeswoman for Transportation Alternatives, an advocacy group. Commuters on the Upper West Side have already been hurt by the MTA’s financial woes—the local M104 and M10 buses had the southern ends of their routes slashed in a recent round of cuts. The hike announced this week, though, will impact
New Yorkers across the city. “People feel very frustrated and defeated,” Martineau said, adding that Transportation Alternatives has launched a “Rider Rebellion” campaign in response to the hikes—an effort to demand that the state legislature and candidates for office in Albany give the transit system the funding it deserves. The system needs to change, and the state needs to take public transportation much more seriously, she said. But for riders, the cuts and hikes have become all too familiar. “Sadly, I think riders are used to this now,” Martineau said. —Sam Levin $89 $104
$27 $29 $2.25 $2.50
JASPER L. CLYATT / SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
GRAPHIC BY STEPHANIE MANNHEIM
THREE STRAIGHT? | Sophomore quarterback Sean Brackett and the rest of the football team will look for their third straight victory when they host Lafayette Saturday. Back page.
OPINION, PAGE 4
SPORTS, PAGE 6
EVENTS
WEATHER
Thirsty for water, not knowledge
Columbia to square off against Penn soccer
Social Enterprise Conference
Today
Rhonda Shafei argues that, although the world may lack water, Columbia has no shortage of solutions.
No major, more problems Samuel Roth re-examines the call to un-declare majors.
Tonight’s women’s soccer game will be a showdown between the Light Blue’s solid defense and Penn’s explosive offense. The matchup will take place on Penn’s home turf.
Listen to industry leaders discuss the status of social innovation. Lerner Hall, 7:45 am
71°/ 51°
Tomorrow
69°/41°