About the CPU

See also: The CPU Constitution & How to Get Involved

The Columbia Political Union, organized for and by the students and faculty of Columbia University, seeks to enhance involvement in the political process, domestic and international, and draw every member of the campus community into an ongoing discussion of political ideas. As a nonpartisan group, we collaborate with other groups on campus, working to incorporate all points of view and voices from a variety of political backgrounds.

We have brought activists, political dissidents, journalists, top-level political advisors, and leaders from all levels of government to campus. In addition to hosting speakers, the CPU organizes expert panels and student debates. The CPU also publishes the Columbia Political Review and voter education guides (see Publications). The Columbia Political Union continues to be one of the major groups on campus, staying on the cutting edge of all sides of political discussion.

Speakers We Have Hosted:

Governor Howard Dean
Senator Orrin Hatch
Vice-President Al Gore
Senator Hillary Clinton
Senator John McCain
Bill Bradley
Secretary Robert Rubin
Ralph Nader
Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres

See the Events section for a more extensive list of the speakers and events we have hosted.