Credit card companies are no longer allowed to operate on campus because they were found to be preying on students’ financial woes. Isn’t that the same case with the U.S. Career Center, which looks to attract customers suffering from poverty by offering allowances if students enlist? How does that practice enrich our campus?
Finally, if the U.S. Career Center is to be kept on campus simply because it has a “right to exist,” what is mandating that existence? In lieu of the fact that those enlisting in the military are being trained right now to dehumanize human beings, torture, and disregard rules of engagement by killing innocent civilians including women and children, why should Columbia College support the existence of an organization that perpetuates dehumanization, torture, and senseless killing?
When considering that Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States of America is an institution that upholds the Constitution like all institutions in America, a Constitution which calls on this nation to follow ratified treaties, and when considering that the continuing occupation of Iraq violates the U.N. Charter, a ratified treaty, isn’t it our duty as Americans on this campus to do our part to uphold the Constitution even if our government is not and insist this U.S. Career Center, which is recruiting for an illegal war, leaves? Might the unconstitutionality of this war they are recruiting for negate any right it has to exist?
In closing, I ask that those present at this meeting find the answers to these questions.
I ask that you take note of Columbia College’s mission statement, which states that Columbia College students will “author the culture of their times.”
I ask that you consider that phrase and ask yourself if the U.S. Career Center is helping students author a culture students can be proud of or if the U.S. Career Center is hindering efforts to author a culture Columbia College and the surrounding Chicago community can be proud of.
It is my understanding that the SGA “represents the student voice” and not the “administration voice.” The administration may not have the capacity to take action to evict the U.S. Career Center, but the body can ask questions that are a result of student concerns on campus, and if those questions yield answers that show the career center is a stain on Columbia College’s campus, it can take an action that shows students do not support the presence of a U.S. Career Center on campus.
Thank you. I yield the floor.
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