<p>Hey guys, I am Class of 2014, starting at Columbia in the fall. I have tons and tons of questions about classes, what dorms are like etc. and I was just sitting yesterday and thought it would be a good idea to make like a website where all Columbia students can talk and discuss. </p>
<p>I know that this Columbia subforum serves that purpose, but it is not very categorized and does not target most actual students at Columbia.</p>
<p>Thus, I registered ColumbiaForums.com, in which I will put up a forum with bunch of categories such as Academics, Class Feedback, Professor Feedback, Current Campus Events, etc. (open to ideas, so if you have any, let me know). I will post this in the Facebook groups for admitted students and then try to target more current students once on campus in september. </p>
<p>I just want a place where we can discuss campus stuff and connect students all around campus with information about events, latest activities, student politics, jobs and internships, happenings in NYC relating to Columbia, and all about Columbia University and its students. What do you current students at Columbia or the new to be students think about this? Do you think it will work? Does anyone have better ideas? </p>
<p>Thanks and looking forward to some feedback.</p>
<p>I think its a good idea, and id be willing to help. CULPA is such a great site and that was basically just started unofficially and by someone with a great idea…so yeah i think its a good idea.</p>
<p>Why not just utilize the facebook group for accepted Columbia students? It has its own discussion threads where accepted students and current students can talk about Columbia and ask questions about classes, extracurriculars, etc.?</p>
<p>@pwoods…at first i thought that between college confidential and facebook theres enough advice and this new site would kind of be redundant. My understanding of this is that this would be a website where everyone from freshman to senior year could get advice, hear about events ect right throughout the year. In other words this would not just be for the couple months before freshman year or only for pre-frosh…paki786…you can tell me if this understanding is right.</p>
<p>@paki786 …I think it will probably easier to come up with stuff once the site is up…but maybe stuff on clubs etc, info for housing selection,</p>
<p>lizzy, your understanding is totally correct…but, as I was thinking more about it, can there be some legal issues with this? I am essentailly making money using the columbia name to attract visitors. I think they could probably sue me on those grounds…any thoughts?</p>
<p>So you’re using multiple profiles? Isn’t that against the terms of service of the website? You know that’s prosecutable under criminal statutes in some states, right?</p>
<p>That being said, a google for “Columbia” results in - Columbia Sportswear, Columbia Records, Columbia College (Chicago), Columbia Restaurant Group, etc. Yeah, I don’t think you need to worry too much. Unless you start incorporating Columbia trademarks, like the fonts, color scheme, logos, etc.</p>
<p>^This is not legal advice.</p>
<p>What makes your “forums” superior to Facebook? GChat? Email? Twitter? Any of the hundred other ways people communicate? Why will your hub suceed when so many others fail? Forums tend to attract small communities, not large gatherings that you’re thinking about. I doubt you’ll get the critical mass you’re looking for. But good luck!</p>
<p>OP (medicaldoc23/paki768),
I think that Confucius brought up the primary problem with your idea. There are already many sites where everyone from pre-frosh to seniors and alums can discuss Columbia. The problem is that not enough people use them. And, with all due respect, upperclassmen won’t even know about a site started by a pre-frosh. I think it’s best to stick with the Facebook group and CC because the former is run by students in the new students’ welcoming committee and the latter has some great, dedicated upperclassmen and alums like adgeek, C02, karot, and many others I’m forgetting.</p>