JiHoon Ko

Carl Hart, a neuroscientist and professor of psychology at Columbia, recently declared that he is entering his fifth year as a regular heroin user. This surprising public statement brought new attention to Hart’s long history of advocacy for the decriminalization and legalization of most drugs. Based on his research, Hart believes that illegal drugs, when used properly, have overwhelmingly positive effects on the human psyche.

Ask any New Yorker what they hate most about the city, and you will probably hear someone mention the price of rent. As of January 2020, more than 29 percent of all renters in New York City pay more than half of their income toward rent, including 78 percent of those who earn less than the “area median income” of New York City—about $96,000 for a family of three. These statistics reflect the unaffordability of New York City housing, a challenge that is felt at Columbia, where housing costs are part of the reason why the graduate student union’s strike demands include higher compensation from the University. As the union argues, the current compensation provided by Columbia does not account for the high cost of living in New York City. Most graduate students live in housing owned by the University and pay, on average, around $1,500 per month in rent. With a salary of around $30,000 per academic year and $3,884 per summer, many students pay more than half of their entire income toward rent.

“Human rights” is a term often thrown around in campus discourse. Yet for the past four years, this term was perhaps used most frequently concerning the Trump administration, as many students were dismayed at its frequent and flagrant violations of human rights. Now, following Joe Biden’s inauguration, many of us are breathing a sigh of relief.