Today we were sent an email from our Student Union advertising election nominations for the next year’s Union board. When I read the list of officer positions, I honestly had to read it twice because I couldn’t believe that this was genuine. I’m listing them here for your own enjoyment and please try to think what would happen if all of the student government positions at Barnard or Columbia suddenly became these:

Secretary
Anti-Racism Officer
Black Officer
Womens Officer
Environment Officer
International Students Officer
Mature Students Officer
Entertainments Officer
Students With Disabilities Officer
Lesbian Gay And Bisexual Officer
Academic Affairs Officer

Now my question is do you have to be black in order to run for the position of “Black Officer”? Or gay to run for “Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Officer”? And what exactly are the qualifications for “Anti-Racism Officer”?

Also, if you don’t identify as any of the categories listed above are you not represented?

Is it weird that I’m kind of offended by this or is it just the American (specifically New Yorker) in me coming out?