[Campus-columbia-staff] logistics for open source event

[Asheesh Laroia]

On Sat, 30 Mar 2013, Kathy Sun wrote:

> Hello Shauna!
> Sorry for the slow reply. The rooming situation was in limbo and I wanted to meet with the board to
> make sure we'd fully explored our options before replying.
> 
> It doesn't look like we can host the event this semester. Botnick 
> Laboratory isn't being cooperative and we don't have other suitable 
> spaces on hand. The event sounded incredible and there was lots of 
> excitement on the board about it. Open source software is definitely 
> something that many people in the CS department think that students 
> should better exposed too -- I'll be graduating but Dina (the other 
> contact person) as well as Melanie will still be on the WiCS board. If 
> you'd be interesting in running this event next semester, you should 
> definitely contact them! 
> 
> As mentioned before, space is always the limiting factor at Columbia. 
> Lerner has an option to pre-book rooms at the first couple weeks at the 
> beginning of the semester where clubs that want to host large or 
> recurring events can book rooms for the rest the year. That's why there 
> was absolutely nothing available in Lerner for the kind of time needed 
> for this event. If you'd be interested in hosting this event next 
> semester, it might be a good option to pre-book a room in Lerner.

Another suitable place to look for space might be Butler Library; I know 
Jonah Bossewitch there.

*adds him to CC: list*

Hi Jonah!

I'm working with Columbia Women in CS to possibly organize a 30-ish person 
event, with lecture and hands-on exercises performed by attendees on their 
own laptops and food, to help introduce students hands-on to the world of 
open source and teach how they can become more aware and involved.

It's part of this event series -- http://campus.openhatch.org/ -- if that 
helps you get a sense of it! In general, the structure is:

* Morning: Lecture and exercises

* Noon or so: Lunch (if necessary, we can do this out of the main room of 
the event, though I'd much prefer to at least have snacks available in the 
main room)

* Afternoon: Projects time, where we help students make contributions to 
real open source projects through bug triage, submitting patches, 
improving documentation, writing up their experiences as newcomers, and 
more.

We're shopping around for Saturdays or Sundays in April, either April 
13 or Sat Apr 20 or Sun Apr 21 or Sat 27 or Sun 28, that might have 
space available (and are good fits for our student contacts within 
Columbia Women in CS).

Do you think there might be space somewhere in Butler Library or some 
affiliated area that you can help the club use to host such an event?

Thanks! Either way, it'll be great to catch up when I'm in town!

-- Asheesh.