Nigel Telman

After a tumultuous journey over the concert’s cost and location that led to one of the most popular and anticipated headliners Bacchanal has seen in recent years, the concert has officially been canceled due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Besides the general theme of space travel, one may be hard-pressed to say what, if anything, Star Trek and NASA have in common. However, by the close of the Athena Film Festival, the connection between the two was clear: Uhura—freedom.

Alexandra Waterbury, GS ’21, brought forward allegations of sexual harassment against New York City Ballet dancer Amar Ramasar in September 2018. Despite the ongoing court battle, Ramasar was cast in Broadway’s edgy revival of “West Side Story” as Bernardo, one of the central roles. On Thursday night, dozens of protesters gathered on the sidewalk in front of Broadway Theatre before the opening performance to protest his casting.

In deciding to move Columbia’s undergraduate spring concert to an off-campus venue, the Bacchanal committee cited the need to reserve funds for hiring the headlining artists. In response, students voiced concerns over the decision’s threat to Bacchanal’s culture as Columbia’s only undergraduate community-wide event.

The Strand, a historic East Village bookstore, is set to open its second storefront location, this one on the Upper West Side, according to a statement by owners released on Wednesday.

For years, Columbia’s annual spring concert, Bacchanal, has drawn thousands of students to the center of campus, filling the lawns and College Walk with a rare spirited energy. The annual spring concert has become a hallmark of community on a campus that often struggles to cultivate it.

Most students may only think of Bacchanal when reminiscing on Columbia’s biggest outdoor party each spring. This year, the Bacchanal Committee is making plans to change that.

“Take On Me” by a-ha and “thank u, next” by Ariana Grande do not sound like the songs typically played by classically trained musicians. For Popsicles, however, it’s all fair game.

“CUSH is for the kids!” chanted Columbia University Society of Hip-Hop cypher host Payton Johnson, CC ’21, as he led participants in a freestyle rap game. Passing the mic around the room, participants were encouraged to ad-lib any sound, word, or phrase on the beat.