SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

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Student Organizations at SIPA

Student Group Governing Board

Registered SIPA Student Organizations

Asia-Pacific Affairs Council (APAC): is a forum for Columbia graduate students interested in East Asian affairs (including both East and Southeast Asia). Founded and run by students, APAC serves the entire university community by organizing events, distributing information, and coordinating East Asia-related activities while building a community for students interested in East Asia.  APAC works with the Weatherhead East Asian Institute to fulfill its mission. APAC is shaped by its members. The organization can be the vehicle through which to share your interests in East Asia, and we invite you to make use of it.

Columbia Iranian Network: Unlike the 1979 revolution, which caused long term worldwide reflections, the dynamics of the 1997 reform movement in Iran has not been fully understood and studied in the international community.

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Conflict Resolution Working Group (CRWG): to bring together students from all concentrations who are interested in Conflict Resolution (CR) by:
• Hosting CR events for SIPA students, so as to provide insight into current issues and strategies in the field
• Introducing students to key thinkers, leaders and practitioners in the field
• Providing career-networking and support
• Running hands-on skills training events
• Integrating CR into the wider SIPA and Columbia University community
• Exploring the intersections between CR and other fields of International Affairs

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Education and Development Working Group: The mission of the Education & Development Working Group is to support the interdisciplinary exploration of the role of education in development and conflict resolution.

EMPA Forum: to enhance interaction and support the student experience, promote professional development, and facilitate social and policy-oriented events relating to public and international affairs, and the Picker Center.

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Eurasia Initiative (EI): is the Association of students born in USSR or with academic interest in the USSR / Eurasian studies. EI seeks to raise awareness about the independent successor states of USSR & their integration into the democratic community of nations. EI organizes events and celebrations.

EU/European Student Association (ESA): As SIPA students, we are here because we have decided that the diversity, the cultural exchange, and the multi-ethnic environment are dimensions that cannot be renounced in our life. As Europeans, we arrived here, crossing the Atlantic to experience something completely different from what we are coming from, and we feel deeply enriched in our souls. Inspired by the good example brought by the other SIPA students from all over the World, we, too, would like to contribute and to enhance this sparkling environment bringing ideas, culture and themes from where we are from: Europe.

Therefore, the ESA has a twofold goal: We would like to share with the SIPA community what are the new values, which the new enlarged Europe Union has produced and will produce. After centuries of wars, our Continent has finally found an equilibrium, which is a miracle of legal, economic and ethnic union that we want the SIPA community to be aware of. The EU/European Student Association wants to also provide a venue for European students and interested students from around the world at SIPA to meet, exchange ideas and debate about their respective regions and their relations with Europe. To achieve this ESA will offer academic, career and social activities, and serve as a liaison between students, Columbia's Institute for the Study of Europe, as well as outside research, the academic community and interested companies.

ESA, thereby addresses the current lack of a European Studies related student platform, and further promotes this region at SIPA.

Follies: general shenanigans and tomfoolery; incessant mockery; artistry of the most sublime class; witlessness; etc.

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Gender Policy Working Group: Gender is a cross-cutting international policy issue that deserves acknowledgement and participation. The Gender Policy Working Group hopes to facilitate the integration and exposure of a gender perspective at SIPA and promote useful discussions and events.

Grassroots Social Policy Network: believes in progressively impacting social and political equity through education and solidarity action on local, domestic and international issues. We strive to recognize the effects of societal oppression on the formation of communities and policy development.

Greater China Initiative (GCI): The Greater China Initiative at Columbia University aims to promote interaction and discussion among students interested in the economy, politics, business, and media of the Greater China region. It also aims to serve as a resource center for students.

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Human Rights Working Group (HRWG): Established in 2003, The Human Rights Working Group is a student group based out of Columbia University’s graduate School of International and Public Affairs. The HRWG is dedicated to promoting, educating, and mobilizing in support of human rights.

Humanitarian Affairs Working Group (HAWG): seeks to bring together all those students interested in Humanitarian Affairs, as well as raise interest among other students by raising issues that are critical to the understanding of development, aid, and human rights in today’s world. We invite humanitarians from the field to provide us with a practical perspective on these issues, but we also promote theoretical debate with guests that are professors or writers, as well as practitioners.

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Korea Focus: serves the SIPA student body by enhancing the level of student relations and understanding of Korea-related issues. Korea Focus is open to all members of the community, who share a strong interest in Korean culture, politics, economy, and language; and the Group is committed to providing a forum for discussion and promotion of Korean culture through lecture series, language tables, film nights, internship panels, and various social, cultural and educational events. Korea Focus takes advantage of the talents and various perspectives of our membership and organizes events throughout the year in hopes of sharing aspects of Korean and Korean-American culture with the larger community around us. Korea Focus also seeks to actively network with professionals and alumni, as well as student organizations both within Columbia and other universities to provide our membership with a wealth of resources beyond the Columbia community.

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Latin American Student Association (LASA): LASA's primary goals are to:
• Inform the academic community of events that pertain to Latin America
• Analyze the current political, social and economic situation of Latin America by organizing academic events, such as conferences, roundtables and workshops.

Media in International Conflict: By exploring the role of communications/media in international conflict, MCWP seeks to equip the Columbia community with the tools necessary to become more accurately informed on matters of conflict, and ultimately better advocates for peace.

Microfinance Working Group (MFWG): The Microfinance Working Group at Columbia University is comprised of some 500 members drawn from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and the wider Columbia community, other universities, alumni and those working in the microfinance and microenterprise sectors around the world. Our goals are: to promote the practice of microfinance to future policy makers, donors and practitioners; to serve as a vehicle for members to gather and exchange information about microfinance; and to open access to experts that increases knowledge of best practices in microfinance.

Migration Working Group (MWG): The Migration Working Group aims to promote dialogue, awareness, and community involvement in national and international migration issues across regions through:
a) advocacy
b) volunteerism
c) networking for careers and internships
d) brown-bags and conferences

Net Impact: Net Impact’s mission is to improve the world by growing and strengthening a network of new leaders, who are using the power of business to make a positive net social, environmental, and economic impact.

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Nihon Benkyokai/Japan Exchange Forum (NBK): Nihon Benkyokai/Japan Exchange Forum is open to all who are interested in Japanese politics, economy, culture and language. The goal of the group is: to establish mutually beneficial friendships between Japanese students and those from other countries.

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Queers of International and Public Affairs Student Association (QUIPASA):
§ To organize events at SIPA that promote awareness of issues related to sexual orientation, homophobia and AIDS.
§ To provide a safe setting in which lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students can meet and socialize with their peers and colleagues.

Scandinavian Society: The mission of the Scandinavian Society is to raise the profile of Nordic countries at SIPA and to develop and maintain ties between students that are either from or interested in the Nordic countries by organizing lectures, film screenings, and other social events during the academic year. The Scandinavian Society furthermore seeks to establish relations with Nordic organizations and companies in the New York City area, so that students interested in work related to Nordic countries get the opportunity to interact and network with people already working in or closely connected to the region.

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is to raise the profile of Nordic countries at SIPA and to develop and maintain ties between students that are either from or interested in the Nordic countries by organizing lectures, film screenings, and other social events during the academic year. nasa furthermore seeks to establish relations with Nordic organizations and companies in the New York City area, so that students interested in work related to Nordic countries get the opportunity to interact and network with people already working in or closely connected to the region.

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School of International and Public Affairs Student Association (SIPASA): represents the diverse interests of students on a school wide basis. It serves as a liaison between the student body and administration, and enhances the quality of life of the SIPA student body through the promotion of social activities, which occur during orientation and throughout the year. Moreover, SIPASA supports student initiatives sponsored by other groups at SIPA, promotes community outreach, and represents the student body in regard to curriculum issues through the Committee on Instruction, semiannual town meetings, and semiannual open forums. Lastly, SIPASA provides educational guidance by producing course evaluations and offering peer-advising sessions.

SIPA Energy Association (SEA): is dedicated to connecting SIPA students with practitioners in the energy sector and educating students about career opportunities in the field. SEA's activities include arranging visits to SIPA by actors in the private, nonprofit, and public sectors, as well as trips for students to see aspects of the energy industry in person. The organization aims to aid its members in finding jobs and internships within the energy sector, while building a network of SIPA alumni working in the various facets of shaping the world's energy future.

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SIPA Finance Club: The SIPA Finance Club is a student-led organization at the School of International and Public Affairs of Columbia University, created to give students interested in finance a venue for interacting, learning, mentoring and socializing. The club's objectives are to educate our members about the financial services industry, to help them gain practical experience, and to make them part of a strong social and professional network.

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SIPA Pan-African Network (SPAN): As its mission, SPAN: Creates a vibrant community of support for students within SIPA and Columbia concerned with Africa and its Diaspora; organizes the annual flagship event, the African Economic Forum, held in the spring—exploring various themes.

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SIPA Turkish Initiative: SIPA Turkish Initiative is a student organization committed to fostering intellectual exchange about Turkish politics, history, culture, and role in international affairs, both at Columbia University and within the greater New York community.

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South Asian Association (SAA): is an organization dedicated to promoting, analyzing, and sharing South Asian traditions, culture and issues throughout SIPA and Columbia University. The organization is committed to fostering interaction among students with an interest in South Asia, and providing them a forum to exchange ideas, critically examine relevant issues, and enhance their passion for and knowledge of the region. More specifically, the objective of SAA is to:
1) promote cohesion among students with an interest in South Asia at SIPA,
2) create awareness of South Asian issues and culture, and
3) promote cooperation (including networking) with other organizations interested in South Asia.

Southeast Asia Student Initiative (SEASI): is a student-run organization that serves as a forum for interaction among members of the SIPA community who share an interest in the Southeast Asian region. We are committed to promoting awareness, understanding and dialogue on the region’s culture, politics and economics through activities, such as brown bag discussions, internship panels, movie screenings and lecture series.

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Taiwan Focus: Taiwan Focus aims to foster understanding and awareness of this island country, and to encourage dialogue and research on Taiwan-related issues in the Columbia University community. Taiwan Focus also serves as a platform to provide resources for those who are interested in studying and/or traveling in Taiwan. We organize and promote events including movie nights, brown bag talks, cultural events, and art exhibitions both on- and off-campus, on a variety of topics including Taiwanese society, culture, politics, economy, and history.

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UN Studies Program Working Group (UNSPWG): United Nations Studies Program Working Group is a student body, working in close relation with the United Nations Studies Program (UNSP) at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). It aims to connect students, and the entire SIPA community, to issues on the United Nations (UN) agenda and to build a better understanding about the functioning of the organization itself, based on the pillars of International Security, Human Rights, Humanitarian Affairs, Development and Environmental Change, as well as other areas relevant to the work of the UN and the UN System as a whole.
• The UNSPWG serves as a platform for delivery and exchange of knowledge, ideas, thoughts and reflection, debates and discussion on issues related to the United Nations and the UN Family.
• The UNSPWG works to foster a close relation between SIPA and the UN; to prepare conferences, seminars, discussion panels and groups, invite speakers and prepare presentations, organize student debates around relevant and current issues related to the UN.
• The UNSPWG aims to maximize opportunities for SIPA students to be involved with the UN and the greater UN family; through meetings with officials, visits to the UN Secretariat and UN agency headquarters, inviting speakers to SIPA, organizing internships, career panels and support for individual initiatives related to the UN.
The UNSPWG members are dedicated to principles of worldwide cooperation for peace and prosperity and other main goals of the UN. Its members are dedicated to professionalism, honesty and to representing in a fair and decent way the Working Group, as well as SIPA and Columbia University.