Name: Rafael Ortiz
Bio: Wine mom, New Yorker, Poli Sci + Econ transfer student, Columbia icon, meme aficionado, 2017 CCSC Pre-Professional Representative candidate. For my platform, qualifications, and general information, please visit www.rafaelortiz.us
Platform: My name is Rafael Ortiz, and I am running to be your next CCSC Pre-Professional Representative. My platform has four pillars: An Increase in Opportunities, Academic Development, Professional Development, and Equity & Inclusion programs.
Under an increase in opportunities, I believe that the Center for Career Education can do more to ensure your success as a student in one of the greatest universities in the world. Likewise, I believe in creating workshops for students to understand the hiring process for challenging positions like Goldman Sachs and other large organizations. Further, I believe in communicating with a larger array of nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations so that students who want to help their communities are given the means to do so.
For academic development, I will work to implement graduate school fairs based on majors, so that students have an idea of what to look for if they so choose to apply to graduate schools instead of seeking employment after Columbia. I believe that schools will be interested in highlighting their programs for interested students. I will also work with other pertinent offices to ensure that pre-law and pre-med students have access to Columbia Law and Medical school research, by implementing programs where students from these schools are able to meet with undergraduate students to understand those environments.
Professional development is particularly important to me. Lionshare is a great platform for individual companies to look for qualified candidates for their organizations. By implementing major specific weekly emails for new internships, students will be able to quickly apply to positions that fit their goals. Moreover, I will work with companies to get more of them to participate in on campus recruiting and interviewing.
Finally, Equity and Inclusion programs are vital to the success of all students at Columbia. International and Undocumented students are at a disadvantage when applying for internships and positions at organizations within the US. I believe in working with CCE to create a point person on these matters, or in training the dedicated staff in how to address the unique needs of these students. Further, I will work with the CCSC board to petition the college for more funding for the WEP program. I believe that all students on financial aid who apply for WEP funding for unpaid summer internships should have a reasonable chance of receiving that accommodation. Since Columbia University has a student contribution requirement which it expects to be fulfilled during the summer, adequately funding this program will ensure that students who want to pursue internships in their fields of study are able to do so without worrying about the negative effect this may have on the student’s financial aid. Furthermore, I believe in proactively seeking, amongst a larger plethora of organizations, ones that hire minority and LGBT students. Also, I will work to create workshops on workplace misconduct and sexual harassment, so that students know what to do if they witness or are victims of that kind of mistreatment by any employer.
Name: Ethan Kestenberg 
Bio: Hi! I’m Ethan Kestenberg, and I’m from Newton, Massachusetts. I’m currently a sophomore in CC studying Mathematics. For the past two years, I have learned the ‘ins and outs’ of our administration by serving on the CCSC appointed council. As a freshman, I served as Secretary of CCSC ’19. We were able to combat food insecurity issues on campus by partnering with 18 local restaurants to create discount meal programs. This year, I’ve worked on the Committee of Finance, assisting in the structuring of a new Student Events Fund to alleviate prohibitive event fees for eligible students. Aside from Class Council, I am a consultant for the Columbia Consulting Group and a proud member of Alpha Epsilon Pi.
Platform: As your future Pre-Professional Representative, I will promote a more equitable pre-professional environment at Columbia so that students of all backgrounds can confidently prepare for their future careers. I will do so through a three-tiered platform.
First, I will tackle the hyper-competitive nature of pre-professional club recruitment at Columbia. It is no question that there are many aspects of Columbia that are unduly stressful; club recruitment is no exception. While pre-professional clubs provide students with incredible opportunities, the admissions processes for many pre-professional clubs systematically favor students with certain backgrounds over others, perpetuating already existing student imbalances. This club culture leaves many students feeling rejected and discouraged, particularly freshmen who are not accustomed to such levels of competition. This culture of rejection is installed by freshmen resume ‘screens’, rigorous interview processes, and students not being informed when they are rejected from student groups. I will work hard to ensure club recruitment is more egalitarian by addressing these burdensome club recruitment policies. I will implement a “no-resume rule” for freshmen applying to recognized pre-professional organizations. I will also combat ensure that clubs provide sample interview questions before each interview to increase transparency and level the playing field. It’s my mission to ensure that pre-professional clubs serve our entire community. This can only be done through an encouraging and cohesive environment, not one that pawns student against student, club against club.
Second, I will foster diversity in student career choices by connecting students and faculty through a Pre-Professional Mentorship Program. The initiative would enable students with the opportunity to build and develop close relationships with professors in their field of interest. This program should inspire students to explore the various arcs along their career path, offering direction and encouragement to those who lack guidance in navigating the professional world. Moreover, this program will empower students with the ability to work one-on-one with their mentors through student projects, faculty research, and professional work experience. I am confident that this program will greatly enhance the focus and clarity of many student’s academic and pre-professional profiles. This initiative will allow our community to soak in the knowledge and experience of our incredible, multifaceted faculty.
Third, I will implement a CCSC database dedicated to pre-professional development that will be constantly maintained and updated each year. The database will include a library of Graduate School Prep Books, an archive of where current and former CC students have worked, and a series of guides on how to master industry-specific interviews. I will collaborate with CCE and our Alumni Affairs representative to ensure that this database is both comprehensive and applicable to Columbia students.
This position is more than preparing students for the professional life. It’s more than building resumes. It’s about building students. It’s about strengthening a community and lifting everyone up together, not just supporting those already at the top. The greatest thing we can do for this community isn’t getting ourselves an interview at Goldman Sachs, but rather creating a cohesive environment that promotes positive mental health by expanding access to pre-professional development within the Columbia community itself.