In the heart of the financial district, a New School community is reaching out to those in need. The residents of the William Street residence hall have set a goal to raise one dollar, one can of food and one volunteer hour per student resident in aid of the homeless. As part of this initiative, Residential Advisors Iskander Ahmed and Charlie Leibel held a black tie auction on November 21, 2010, to provide residents with the opportunity to volunteer at organizations that provide help to the homeless. A festive atmosphere and fun prizes - often with a practical component, such as lessons in photoshop use - encouraged students to commit to volunteering their time. The event raised $122 in cash contributions and a further 24 volunteer hours. This brought the community very close to its monetary target of raising $400, and as the program continues, the possibility that the community might even exceed its target has been raised.In addition to rallying material aid, the ‘Help for the Homeless’ program has had the intangible, but perhaps even more enduring effect of increasing awareness amongst the William St community about the situation of some of New York’s most vulnerable residents. The New School is an institution which takes pride in its long tradition of thinking about and promoting social justice, and at William St, students have shown themselves to be worthy inheritors of that social justice tradition.
Submitted by Simone Gubler- Major in Philosophy at The New School for Social Research
· In order to vote in New York State, you must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you apply, and live at your present address at least 30 days before an election.
· You must complete a voter registration application that can be hand-delivered or mailed to the Board of Elections.
· Hand-delivered voter registration forms must be received by the Board of Elections no later than October 13, 2010.
· Mailed voter registration forms must be postmarked by October 8, 2010 and received by the Board of Elections no later than October 13, 2010.
Midterm elections often do not have the same excitement as Presidential elections but the implications and importance are just as great. The 2010 elections will shape the next two years of the Obama presidency and will also set the tone for the next two years in Washington! As you know, every vote counts so please do your part and register in your hall now!
Beginning the week of September 20, voter registration efforts will be underway in the residence halls for all resident students. If you are registered to vote back home and wish to do so by absentee ballot, that is great! If you wish to vote here in New York, voter registration forms will be available in all residence hall offices. Stop by your hall office starting on Monday 9/20 to pick-up your voter registration form! If you have any questions, just ask a residence life staff member.
