Music blared in the Lerner Piano Lounge as CCSC candidates socialized with students to gain the support of potential voters. With the Campaign Kick-Off, prospective council members launched their campaigns and discussed their plans for gaining support from their peers.

"To prepare for these elections I think has been probably the most grueling task I've had for the three years that I've been at Columbia."

"I really want to bring the energy and perspectives that I have had for the past three years into CCSC for next year."

"This is something you've been building up for three years you've been working on, projects you've been doing, things you've been accomplishing."

"I'm just going to talk to people. Flyering is one thing, but people really need to get to know you just by canvasing when people are out on Low sun bathing, dorm storming, and going to John Jay and shaking hands."

Many groups emphasized the need for more student input in CCSC decisions and the need to build a stronger community on Columbia's campus.

"One thing I really hope to do is continue a relationship with the students. I want them to know that CCSC is not just a group of 20 students making decisions for everyone, but literally them making the decisions, and the 20 students just executing them."

"The first thing that we want to do, and I'm talking in a more abstract conceptual idea, is really transform the culture of CCSC. We don't look at it anymore as a club or a clique. We want to look at it as more of a community, and a community that will actually include student groups and student organizations that feel neglected and overlooked from Student Council."

Students will cast their vote on April 13th. Because voting is just around the corner, the candidates strive to attract student support with persistence and enthusiasm.