For their part, open-house representatives from Columbia’s departments of human resources, community employment programs and environmental stewardship emphasized the university’s outreach and efforts to mediate anger and misinformation.
The fury from student activists may arise in part due to their inclination to “push back, and not necessarily be informed,” said Francis.
“With any cause that you embrace, it’s important to fully understand what you are trying to represent,” said Francis, who argues that the research conducted by Columbia in the zone of expansion will ultimately benefit the surrounding neighborhoods through improved conditions and more jobs.
“We want to be very thoughtful about our hiring plan as we move North,” said Leonard Cox, executive director of human resources communications.
Harlem residents expressed concern that Columbia would come into the neighborhood, but that it wouldn’t do anything for the community. Cox explained that the new facilities will create 6,000 new jobs for those in need, but over the course of 25 years.
“You say 6,000 jobs, and people are standing around the block,” Cox said. “Everyone is always a bit dubious … ‘Is my uncle who has been unemployed for 20 years going to get a job?’ The answer is, we don’t know.”
Columbia hopes to quell the anger that has arisen from uncertainty through its Employment Information Center, where Francis works to improve hiring from the local community and provide access to resources for vocational training, GED and ESL education services.
But speaking to residents, Columbia has a lot to overcome if its expansion plan is to create community instead of contempt. (return to page 1)
|
