Columbia University College Democrats

The Columbia University College Democrats is the arm of the Democratic Party at Columbia University in the City of New York. The group is an official chapter of the College Democrats of New York and, by extension, the College Democrats of America and the Democratic National Committee. In 2006-2007, the Columbia University College Democrats were awarded the Chapter of the Year Award by the College Democrats of America.

Organization
The general body is served by an executive board, elected annually by the entire body of membership at the end of the Spring semester. The Activist Council is responsible for planning and leading an annual campaign trip during the November election season, an annual lobby trip, and other on- and off-campus public events. Additionally, several "Umbrella Groups" function semi-autonomously within the organization.

Leadership
Currently, the board consists of the following eleven positions:
*President: Josh Lipsky
*Vice President: Chris Daniels
*Treasurer: Stephen Cox
*Secretary: Isabel Broer
*Membership Director: Anna Brower
*Outreach Director: Kate Redburn
*Media Director: Jonathan Backer
*Speakers Coordinator: Nathan Morgante
*Alumni and Social Affairs Director: Kevin McKenna
*Freshman Representative: TBD Fall '07 (Freshmen rep. elections)
*Freshman Representative: TBD Fall '07 (Freshmen rep. elections)

The Activist Council is led by four Lead Activists:
*Cassie Spodak
*Juan Lamata
*Sarah Leonard
*Mara Richard

Major undertakings
The most notable undertaking of the CUCD during the past three years has been the annual campaign trip, begun in 2004 by Seth Flaxman and Elizabeth Brown. In that year, then-Representative Sherrod Brown sponsored a large group of students to work on the John Kerry presidential campaign in Lorain County, Ohio. The following year, the group traveled to Virginia to work on the successful gubernatorial bid of Tim Kaine. During the 2006 election, the group returned to Ohio to work on Sherrod Brown's successful senatorial campaign in Cuyahoga County.

CUCD will host the 2007 state convention of the College Democrats of New York from April 14-15, 2007. In addition to speakers and other programming, the convention is held to elect a new executive board for the state organization. The current president of CDNY, Josh Bolotsky, is a Columbia University student and past Public Affairs Director of CUCD.

External links and references

*Columbia University College Democrats
* Vielkind, Jimmy, "College Democrats Return to Ohio," Columbia Spectator, November 03, 2006.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?vU58qohVY8hc&featurePlayList&p02D5EE01230A23AA&index0 Promotional Video for 2007 Number the Lives campaign event]

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