STUDENTS PROTEST CAMPUS STIMULUS

columbia students and residents of west harlem rallied on may 2 against columbia university's intentions to seek funds from the federal stimulus package to finance its expansion project in manhattanville. for community leaders like nellie bailey, member of the coalition to preserve community, columbia is trying to use "bail-out tax dollars" to evict residents and businesses. the protest was organized by the coalition and another group, columbia's student coalition on expansion and gentrification. "we are extremely frustrated with the lack of transparency in this process," said andrew lyubarsky, a columbia student, in a statement. "i have been in contact with several local politicians, and even they don't know how columbia is trying to get the money or what specifically they will be using it for."