The Morningside Post

04/21/2023

CAMPUS NEWS: U.S. News whistleblower says ‘no one has taken responsibility’

“Mathematics Professor Michael Thaddeus, the whistleblower, told The Morningside Post that his formal communication with the administration had been limited to one 40-minute video call scheduled in response to his request for a meeting in April 2022. Calling the conversation generic, he said “[the conversation] didn't address any of the specific matters that I raised. [...] I didn't learn anything substantive from that conversation.”

🖊️: Kavya Jain (MPA ‘24)

Over a year since the controversy over Columbia University’s undergraduate ranking, Kavya Jain (MPA ‘24) interviews Professor Michael Thaddeus, the U.S. News and World Report whistleblower, and asks whether steps have been taken to strengthen the existing data collection system or change process...

04/21/2023

CAMPUS NEWS: SIPA water fountains — repair staff are standing by ready to fix, but someone has to ask

“SIPA students love kvetching about the water fountains not working. Indeed, the dispensers that refill bottles are so slow that traffic jams build up before classes on the fourth and fifth floors. The problem has gotten so bad that it now features regularly on an anonymous Instagram feed […] However, students don’t seem to be sending in complaints to the facilities department.”

🖊️: Anya Schiffrin
📷: Noah Lichtman

Anya Schiffrin, Director of the Technology, Media and Communications (TMaC) specialization, investigates the issue of faulty water fountains at SIPA and explores why students aren't reporting the problem despite widespread complaints and prominent signage.

04/21/2023

CAMPUS NEWS: SIPA considers curriculum review

“To execute the five goals of her vision, Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo proposed a “curriculum review,” which would examine and change curriculum requirements for different degrees and programs. This may entail minor changes or a major curriculum overhaul.”

🖊️: Kat Sewon Oh (MIA ‘23)
📷: Emily Muller (MIA ‘24)

Kat Sewon Oh (MIA '23) reports that Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo has proposed a curriculum review that may result in changes to curriculum requirements for SIPA degrees and programs.

04/21/2023

CAMPUS NEWS: SIPA students rally for gender intersectionality on International Women’s Day

"Every concentration and specialization should have a course dedicated to the intersection of that field with gender, and SIPA can do more to integrate gender aspects into all of our courses," said Isabella Lee Oyarce, President of Women in Leadership and a first-year Master of International Affairs (MIA) student.”

🖊️: Pachara Aungsusuknarumol (MIA '24)
📷: Victoire Mandonnaud (MIA ‘24)

Pachara Aungsusuknarumol (MIA '24) reports on the International Women's Day demonstration held by the Gender Policy Working Group and Women in Leadership.

03/29/2023

OPINION: For Muslims in India, trial is by brick and bulldozers

“When legal institutions overlook the collective hatred of those in power, they give their silent nod to the perpetrators of communal violence, creating space for the continuation of mass violence and a faceless bloodshed.”

🖊️: Mohammed Shahrukh (MIA ‘24)

Mohammed Shahrukh (MIA ‘24) writes that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is using encroachment codes to target and demolish the houses of Muslim families, a new form of collective punishment.

03/26/2023

OPINION: Plates cannot be controlled, but policy and its implementation can be

“To a student and follower of public policy, President Erdogan’s declaration is the abnegation of responsibility in the face of grave human tragedy. Worse, it represents a denial of responsibility for the future.”

🖊️: Ipsita Dash (MPA ‘23)
📷: NK Ni/Unsplash

Ipsita Dash (MPA ‘23) asserts that President Erdoğan's statement claiming it was "not possible to be prepared for" the catastrophic earthquakes in Turkey-Syria in 2023 is inaccurate.

03/26/2023

CAMPUS NEWS: Columbia SIPA announces ‘Inside the Situation Room’ taught by Hillary Clinton and Keren Yarhi-Milo

In an exclusive statement to The Morningside Post, Dean Yahri-Milo said:

“Inside the Situation Room is an exciting opportunity: to take a trained political scientist and a senior decision-maker who has spent considerable time inside the Situation Room defusing crises and bring our expertise together to educate the next generation of global leaders on crisis management.”

🖊️: Emily Muller (MIA ‘24)
📷: Columbia SIPA

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo will bring students “Inside the Situation Room” this fall. Emily Muller (MIA ‘24) reports with an exclusive statement from Dean Yarhi-Milo.

03/12/2023

OPINION: Clean electricity transmission is the future of American energy transition

“Continuing to rely on the system we have today will destroy any chance of completing electrification goals prior to 2050, so the electric connection issue demands smart policy reforms.”

🖊️: Andrew Evans (MIA-EE ‘24)
📷: Matthew Henry/Unsplash

Andrew Evans (MIA-EE ‘24) argues that community participation, permitting reform and capital allocation is the key to meeting America’s electrification goals.

03/07/2023

POLITICS: Human Rights Watch releases report on plight of Trinidadians detained in Syria

“For every day that goes by, dozens of children, many very young, suffer because of their parent’s decisions. These children never chose to live under ISIS. The government should act now to bring them home.”

🖊️: Aarushi Gupta (MIA ‘24)
📷: Human Rights Watch

Aarushia Gupta (MIA ‘24) details the recently released Human Rights Watch report on nationals of Trinidad & Tobago, including at least 56 children, unlawfully held in detention camps in Northeast Syria.

03/06/2023

CAMPUS NEWS: Two years on, updated university reimbursement process faces criticism

“Two years after Concur was adopted, several School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) faculty interviewed by TMP said they have stopped submitting work-related expenses to the platform.”

🖊️: Emily Muller (MIA ‘24)
📷: Chenyu Guan/Unsplash

Is Concur another tedious task or an end to them? Emily Muller (MIA ‘24) covers reactions to the updated expense management platform.

03/02/2023

OPINION: Eric Adams must keep his promise to fund our parks in 2023

“Underinvestment in parks and tree cover is inherently a social issue.”

🖊️: Ezekiel Maben (MPA-ESP ‘23)
📷: Melanie Vaz/Unsplash

Ezekiel Maben (MPA-ESP ‘23) argues that Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign promise to imbue the New York City Parks Department with more than $1 billion in operational funding is crucial to social equity.

02/27/2023

POLITICS: France recognizes Seyfo Genocide of 1915

On Feb. 8, an Assyrian-Chaldean Genocide recognition bill was approved shortly after presentation to the French Senate. The bill was drafted by Senators Valérie Boyer and Bruno Retailleau.

🖊: Maryam Ishaya (MIA ‘23)
📷: Senator Valérie Boyer

On Feb. 8, an Assyrian-Chaldean Genocide recognition bill was approved shortly after presentation to the French Senate.

02/21/2023

OPINION: Don’t ban ChatGPT, embrace it

"Interactions between students and ChatGPT, particularly those using English as their second language, can be beneficial. Students can learn from their writing mistakes through direct feedback from ChatGPT, which is both quick and free [...] In fact, this technology can help students become more independent learners, as they have instant access to information and can ask questions without being limited by the knowledge of their teachers or peers."

🖊: Pachara Aungsusuknarumol (MIA ‘24)
📷: Marvin Meyer/Unsplash

"Interactions between students and ChatGPT, particularly those using English as their second language, can be beneficial. Students can learn from their writing mistakes through direct feedback from ChatGPT, which is both quick and free [...] In fact, this technology can help students become mor

02/14/2023

VINTAGE TMP: Did you know that The Morningside Post once had an advice column? This Valentine’s Day, learn from the love woes of past seeples with a lighthearted excerpt from April 17, 2006.

02/14/2023

SIPA STORIES: I worried so much about my future. My aunt taught me to let go.

“I’m done finding the right way to live. […] I dedicate this drastic yet positive change in mindset to my aunt. My life no longer revolves around the future, but around the relationships I have right now. I strive to give my all to my loved ones each and every day, because I never know when they’ll leave.”

🖊: Kat Sewon Oh (MIA ‘23)

“I’m done finding the right way to live. […] I dedicate this drastic yet positive change in mindset to my aunt. My life no longer revolves around the future, but around the relationships I have right now. I strive to give my all to my loved ones each and every day, because I never know when th...

02/08/2023

NEWS: On Feb. 3, Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, a shaman and spokesman for the Yanomami people, came to Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) to discuss Yanomami self-determination and sovereignty.

Davi’s visit came a week after the Brazilian government opened an investigation into a potential genocide against the Yanomami caused by years of neglect by the Bolsonaro government and aggressive actions by illegal gold miners.

“I brought you this message so that you can feel it. So that you can recover the will to heal the health that has been destroyed. My children need medicine. Without it, we will not get well. The authorities in Brazil have responsibilities. They have a responsibility to take care of us,” Davi said.

🖊: Ezekiel Maben
📷: Institute of Latin American Studies at Columbia University

On Feb. 3, Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, a shaman and spokesman for the Yanomami people, came to Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) to discuss Yanomami self-determination and sovereignty.

01/18/2023

"International development is an underappreciated tool in American foreign policy," Justin DesRochers (MIA '23) writes.

"Investing in international development today means that diplomats tomorrow would not have to expend time and energy reacting to such a challenge, the military would not have to intervene, and the taxpayer would not have to shoulder the burden of a crisis that could have been avoided otherwise."

Justin DesRochers (MIA ’23) warns that failing to adequately invest in international development may impose too high a cost.

12/23/2022

"Universities claim to educate students for success, but they fall short of helping students with disabilities reach their full potential," writes Kat Sewon Oh (MIA '23).

"I’ll bet that most students with disabilities not only earned their education and degrees, but they worked even harder than many non-disabled students to reach their goals."

Kat Sewon Oh (MIA ’23) urges Columbia and other universities to expand how students can access disability accommodations.

12/21/2022

"The links between the dominance of internet companies and the demise of journalism are clear," writes Kendal Gee (MIA '24).

"Americans who have heard 'at least a fair amount' about the debate on major technology company regulation are more likely to support policy action: 69% versus 42%."

Kendal Gee (MIA ’24) writes about global efforts to regulate tech companies and sustain quality journalism.

12/13/2022

As the annual Palestine Trek (PalTrek) and Israel Trek (itrek) approach, bringing a few hundred SIPA students to the region, we urge our classmates to reflect on the moral and ethical questions that arise from traveling to a country that continues to occupy Palestinian territories in direct violation of international law.

The decision to publish an editorial is not taken lightly. But the facts speak for themselves. In the face of such clear and deafening injustice, neutrality and silence are not acceptable.

As the annual Palestine and Israel Treks approach, the Editorial Board urges our classmates to reflect on moral and ethical implications of traveling to the region.

11/04/2022

"I don’t know if I, or other sexual assault victims, would have gotten an abortion," Kat Sewon Oh (MIA '23) writes.

"But at least give us the choice."

Kat Sewon Oh (MIA ’23) shares why she believes in abortion rights.

10/31/2022

"Attacking affirmative action is not the solution to equitable college admissions," Cassidy Pearson (MPA '23) writes.

"Only 27% of Vietnamese Americans and 17% of Hmong and Cambodian Americans hold a bachelor’s degree. In addition, Mongolian Americans, Burmese Americans, and Bhutanese Americans all earn at least $15,000 below the national average income."

Cassidy Pearson (MPA ’23) argues that attacking affirmative action is not the solution to equitable college admissions.

10/29/2022

"I worry not about who will win, but what irreparable damage my family members will inflict on each other in the name of politics," writes Julie Souza (MA '23), a Brazilian American.

"Don't send me this sh-t," her uncle said, after one of her aunts shared a video accusing former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of being a communist. "I'd rather die than vote for Bolsonaro."

Julie Souza (MA ’23) worries not about who will win, but what irreparable damage her family members will inflict on each other in the name of politics.

10/17/2022

"We are witnessing a political group that does not aim to inspire crowds to new moral high grounds, but to manipulate them through expert marketing," Matteo Chiadò Piat (MPA-ESP ’23) writes.

"These political representatives are no longer leading by example, but are toeing with the lower limit of what is acceptable."

Matteo Chiadò Piat (MPA-ESP ’23) argues that any story can now be spun enough to be rendered insignificant.

10/13/2022

"I want issues of race, identity, and class not to be just discussed in one course, or one dedicated to it," says Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo, who began her new role in July 2022.

"I want it to be across the board. I want it to be in the research, the syllabi, the topics, the speakers we bring, the events we do. I want it to be an inherent part of the fabric of SIPA."

"How do we teach our students to do perspective-taking, empathy? That's something that, if we don't do this, we're not doing our job. If we don't do this, we will never create a sense of community."

The Morningside Post interviewed SIPA’s new Dean, Keren Yarhi-Milo, who began her term in July 2022.

10/13/2022

"No major retailer from luxury to sportswear can confirm that all workers in their supply chains earn a living wage," Meghan McLane (MS '23) writes. "Disappointingly, virtually none have public commitments to address this either."

"If even luxury brands — selling products at a much higher price point — are not paying living wages, this challenges the idea that fast fashion is to blame."

"The system seems to be designed to suppress wages, regardless of category. Luxury brands have no excuse, but even mass market or fast fashion brands could easily pay living wages by reducing wasteful overproduction with more efficient inventory management and reallocating that money to workers."

Meghan McLane (MS ’23) urges both clothing buyers and suppliers to take on joint responsibility to protect the 60 million workers across global supply chains.

10/12/2022

"It is odd to consider my asymmetrical resilience: COVID-19 killed and impoverished my loved ones, yet a simple subway ride with a bulky sports bag will subconsciously summon deep, immediate, and unexpected terror," Marielle Villar Martiney (EMPA '23) writes.

"In a post-COVID world, living under the threat of gun violence is not my definition of freedom."

Marielle Villar Martiney (EMPA ’23) writes about the pervasive terror of mass shootings.