The Barnard Image Crisis

As a Barnard student having just finished my first year of college, I returned to the Morningside Heights campus in late August as an orientation leader, ready to spread obnoxious levels of school spirit, get free t-shirts, and take advantage of the early move-in.

The tension that often exists between Barnard and Columbia students disappeared as orientation leaders from both schools spent days sitting in Roone Arledge Auditorium, eating pizza and tying balloons at ungodly hours. As the general move-in day drew closer, the feeling was bittersweet. As anxious as I was to see my friends, I was not looking forward to returning to the Barnard-Columbia dynamic that was all too familiar to me. My entire outlook changed, however, after hearing a speech that proud Barnard alumna Anna Quindlen delivered at the convocation for the class of 2012. She emphasized that a young woman’s experience at Barnard is exactly what she makes of it.

I feel that the beauty of Barnard stems from its ability to attract many different types of people, each of whom is looking for something different out of the college experience. Though Barnard is identified first and foremost as a women’s college, many of its students do not list that as a reason for applying—some even consider it a negative trait. What, then, draws women to Barnard? What encourages them to donate, to remain connected, and to actively seek out the next generation of “Strong Beautiful Barnard Women” to carry on their legacy? Barnard hired an outside image consulting firm to try and answer these questions. However, I feel the answer lies in three of Barnard’s most alluring qualities—its single-sex student body, its location, and its partnership with Columbia University.

Though some students are uncomfortable with the idea of a women’s college, it is undoubtedly one quality that draws in applicants, ties alumnae to the institution, and infiltrates almost every aspect of Barnard student life. For those women who come from male-dominated cultures, Barnard offers a safe place in which to learn, grow, and be independent. Some religious students benefit from the single-sex dorms, finding both safety and comfort in a home they can call their own, without compromising their beliefs. It is not, however, just those women who benefit from Barnard’s female-oriented programs. Barnard’s Office of Career Development offers enough internships for almost every undergraduate student, and programs such as Well-Woman and the Furman Counseling Center offer free counseling and mediating. One would be hard-pressed to find another institution where women can stop in, have an inspiring chat about body image while sipping tea, and leave with free condoms and mini screwdrivers. Though other women’s colleges may offer similar programs, Barnard sets itself apart by appealing to more than just the women’s college crowd.

Barnard’s location plays a large role in attracting potential students and maintaining lifelong bonds with its alumnae. Many students hail from the tri-state area, unable to leave their beloved city, while others venture far from home to experience the magic of New York. Wherever their origin, students at Barnard feel oddly tied to Manhattan. Whether through the museums, the art, the fashion, or any of the city’s other attractions, Barnard students take advantage of all that Manhattan has to offer, especially when it involves the opportunity to see a free show. Opportunities are endless in New York City, which is the reason many choose to apply to Barnard in the first place. Though Barnard does not boast an active campus life, the whole of Manhattan is open to students, and they can immerse themselves in one of the most amazing cities in the world.

Though Barnard is its own institution, it is still a part of Columbia University and has been since its inception. The Barnard-Columbia relationship is a complicated one, but it is one that is beneficial to all students. Cross-registration allows students to take advantage of each school’s areas of expertise, and University-wide programming creates a feeling of unity among the four undergraduate colleges. Barnard students have the ability to become as connected to, or disconnected from, Columbia as they wish. The Columbia history is a rich one, and Barnard students should feel bonded to it, especially since Columbia did not admit women until 1983. Columbia University is an active and prestigious institution, of which any student should feel honored to be a part.

The combination of these three qualities makes attending Barnard a unique college experience for any woman who chooses to be a part of the lifelong sisterhood. It is this sisterly bond that keeps Barnard women connected not only to each other, but to their college, their city, and their university. It is this bond that encourages them to remain active in the Barnard community, to donate, fund-raise, and remain invested in the future of their school. Barnard does not need its image changed or polished by outsiders. It simply needs to accentuate its good qualities and remind the world what it stood for, and still stands for—the education of women who aspire to excellence.

The author is a Barnard College sophomore. She is SGA’s sophomore class treasurer.