Name: Hannah Weiss
Bio: Hannah Weiss is a first-year studying Sustainable Development and Jewish Thought. Before attending Columbia, she served as the International Social Action and Tikun Olam* Vice President of United Synagogue Youth and was the Relay for Life Event Chair in St. Petersburg, Florida. Through these efforts, she has raised over $150,000 for charitable causes. Currently, Hannah is an intern at Harlem Grown and a writer for New York City Food Policy Watch. In her spare time, she can be found serenading the dogs of Morningside Heights with her mandolin.
*Tikun Olam translates from Hebrew to English as “Repairing the World”
Platform: My primary goal as JTS Representative is to further integrate JTS into the GS community through strengthening the social and academic lives of students. Through the following initiatives and programs, I will make the communities more accessible to each other and ensure that students are gaining equally from their experiences at JTS and GS.
Increased Connections:
-JTS Course Registration for GS Students: I would love to make courses at JTS easily accessible for Columbia students interested in Judaism or religion.
-Mentorship: First-year JTS students will be paired with an older GS mentor who shares the first-year’s prospective major and/or participated in specific programs the first-year is interested in. This program will be optional; students will sign up to be a mentor or mentee.
-Educational Events: I will survey students about topics they are interested in and hold cross-religious events that address them. An example event might be a panel about social justice through the lense of different religions.
-Social Events: Whether it’s bagels and knishes in the GS lounge or a Shabbat dinner in the JTS Moadon, I want to incorporate Jewish life into GS and invite members of the GS community to be a part of JTS.
-Dual-BA Events: As traditional-age undergraduates, JTS students should be particularly engaged with their peers in the other Dual-BA programs. I’ll plan Dual-BA activities throughout the year, particularly during NSOP so that new students can get acclimated.
-Alumni Engagement: I will increase networking opportunities for JTS students with GS alumni in their intended field of study.
Policies:
-Sustainability: During the 2017-2018 school year, I will also be serving as the JTS Greening Intern. I will leverage this position on GSSC to bring sustainable practices to GS as well as JTS; for example, I plan to work on creating more eco-friendly Kosher, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dietary options to Columbia and JTS dining (and GS Snack Attacks). I’ll also bring composting to the GS lounge and other areas of Columbia, and I’ll work to reduce our overall waste.
-Double-Counting Classes: I would like to clarify the current rules regarding double counting classes between JTS and GS, and I will search for ways to expand JTS student opportunities to double-major or have an additional concentration at GS.
-Swipe Access: Plans are already underway to obtain swipe access for GS students in Columbia dorms, and I intend to aid in that process.
Name: Kayla Pollak
Bio: Hi!
I’m Kayla and I’m running for JTS Representative!
I’m from Thousand Oaks, California and some of my favorite things are the ocean, chocolate covered bananas, and my two younger brothers. I also love camping, visiting new places, and meeting new people.
I am very passionate about my communities whether at JTS, in GS, or in New York and I love giving back. I am involved in many volunteering opportunities at the local soup kitchen and elementary schools. I also participate in two dance groups on campus.
I hope to learn about and serve my communities even better on GSSC.
Platform: I have been thinking a lot about the difference between diversity and inclusion. Columbia excels in diversity, but not so much in inclusion. As a member of GSSC, I am not only interested in bridging the gap between JTS and GS, but in making our school a more inclusive place overall. I think this can be done best through creating more common goals for students.
First, I plan to help do this through increased JTS/GS partnership and and involvement with the local Harlem community. I want to make volunteering options more accessible and regular and help students participate in the greater New York Community. Second, I want to strengthen JTS involvement in the CU Food Bank. This GS led initiative is a great example of how the GS voice is greatly needed and very powerful at Columbia. Third, I want to help increase JTS involvement at Columbia through inclusion in Freshman Orientation Programs like COOP.
At JTS, I know that without a doubt, I will be welcomed into spaces, meals, and conversations. I want to take this central Jewish value into GSSC. I want GS to lead the Columbia community in inclusion and acceptance. It is because we are so diverse that we have a unique perspective on how to encourage students to work toward a more accepting University.
I have personally felt all the ways that a competitive environment like Columbia causes students do feel that they are working against and not with their fellow students. However, when I spend time volunteering with my peers to help the greater community, I realize that we all have a common goal: creating a community we want to be a part of. By encouraging people to see their peers as partners in this process, I think we can work toward feeling heard and accepted.
Through GSSC, I hope to be a voice for the JTS/GS community with the primary values of welcoming and inclusion.