CPU Newsletter

September 26, 2004

In this week's CPU Update:

CPU EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. Panel Discussion: Russia at a Crossroads (9/29)

2. CPU Election Guides

3. Upcoming Event – Congressman Charles Rangel (10/10)

4. CPU Voter Registration

OTHER EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

5. Democratic GAIN Campus Tour at Columbia (10/9-10/10)

6. Columbia Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) Hosts the
Northeast Regional Conference (10/2)

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CPU EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. Panel Discussion: Russia at a Crossroads

9/29 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Roone Arledge Cinema, Alfred Lerner Hall

Recently generating headlines around the world, Russia has
experienced some of the most brutal terrorist attacks of the past
decade and is now going through unprecedented governmental reforms.

In light of these dramatic developments, the CPU has organized a
panel discussion entitled "Russia at a Crossroads". Take a break
from the election and Iraq media frenzy and learn about important
developments in another part of the globe that is nonetheless
closely tied to American foreign affairs in Europe and the Middle
East.

While speakers are subject to change, you can expect to see
Nina Khruscheva, Core faculty member with the Graduate Program in
International Affairs at the New School, Senior Fellow at the World
Policy Institute, and granddaughter of Soviet leader Nikita
Kruschev; Mark von Hagen, professor of Russian, Ukranian, and
Eurasian history; Padma Desai, Gladys and Roland Harriman Professor
of Comparative Economic Systems, Director of the Center for
Transitional Economies, and expert on the Russian economy; and
Dmitri Glinski, visiting scholar at Columbia University's Harriman
Institute and Senior Associate at the Institute of World Economy
and International Relations, Moscow.

The panel will be in the Roone Aledge Cinema in Alfred Lerner Hall
on Wednesday, September 29 from 7:00pm until 8:30pm. All are
encouraged to come and participate in the
question and answer segment.

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2. CPU Election Guides

Be on the lookout for our Presidential and local election guides in
your mailbox and around campus!

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3. CPU Upcoming Event – Congressman Charles Rangel

10/10 at 2:00 pm
Satow Room, Alfred Lerner Hall

Congressman Charles B. Rangel is serving his 17th term as the
Representative from the 15th Congressional District, comprising
East and Central Harlem, the Upper West Side, and Washington
Heights/Inwood. Congressman Rangel is the ranking member on the
Committee on Ways and Means, Deputy Democratic Whip of the House
of Representatives, a Chairman of the Board of the Democratic
Congressional Campaign Committee, Dean of the New York State
Congressional Delegation, in addition, Congressman Rangel is a
founding member and former Chairman of the Congressional Black
Caucus.

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4. CPU Voter Registration

Are you interested in helping register people to vote? The Columbia
Political Union will be conducting massive nonpartisan voter
registration efforts. Email Alexia Koritz at adk2003@columbia.edu
if you would like to be involved.

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OTHER EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

5. Democratic GAIN Campus Tour at Columbia

10/9 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm
10/10 from 9:30pm to 4:30pm
Alfred Lerner Hall

Aimed at young activists, the Democratic GAIN Campus Tour will offer
training sessions and panel discussions with some of the nation’s
top political professionals on how youth can make a difference in
November. This will be an intensive one and a half day training
that will help students reach out to individuals on their campus
and in their community. The Democratic GAIN Campus Tour will
specialize in training participants on Get Out The Vote (GOTV),
Voting Rights, Promote & Protect, Election Day Operations, Advance
and Attacking The Issues!

To register go to www.democraticgain.org, call 202-863-GAIN or email
campustour@democraticgain.org

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6. Columbia Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) Hosts the
Northeast Regional Conference: Locked Up: Drugs, Prisons and
Privilege

10/2 from 11:00 to 5:00 pm
5th floor, Alfred Lerner Hall

Students for Sensible Drug Policy has put together a full day of
speakers, panel discussions, and break-out sessions to address the
social, economic and political aspects of the War on Drugs.
Notable speakers include Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the
Drug Policy Alliance and Carol Schapiro, executive director of
Family Justice. New York state elected officials and candidates,
including Assemblyman Jeff Aubry and Democratic candidate for
District Attorney in Albany county, David Soares, will speak as
well. Breakfast and lunch will be served. The conference is free.
Come learn more about the one subject that isn't being discussed by
the presidential candidates (but should be) and how it affects all
of us.