Welcome to Columbia! As you settle into the neighborhood and get to know your classmates, we are honored to welcome you to campus. You are joining our community at a turbulent time in Columbia’s history, with uncertainty clouding the future of the coming months and years here in Morningside Heights. At Spectator, we take seriously our duty to shine light on the stories that matter and make sense of this unprecedented moment for our community. We hope your journey as a Lion is off to a roaring start and that this special edition helps acquaint you with your new home.

Every February, Spectator dedicates a special edition in celebration of Black History Month, recognizing the lives and legacies of Black Americans throughout U.S. history. This year, like every year, our special edition seeks to highlight the voices, stories, and contributions of Black Columbians and Black residents of Morningside Heights and West Harlem—in history, today, and in the years to come.

Days after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the onset of war in Gaza, hundreds of Columbia protesters packed campus on opposite sides of South Lawn. The demonstration marked the beginning of the University’s emergence as the nation’s epicenter of student activism and sparked lasting debates over divestment, free speech, antisemitism and Islamophobia, academic freedom, and more.

It’s that time of year again—alumni and parents flood onto campus and Columbia students make their annual trek up to Wien Stadium by shuttle bus or subway. For one weekend, we embrace the spirit of sports and the ways it can bring us together in celebration and community.

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This page describes the terms of use that apply when you use our sites, mobile and tablet apps, and other online products and services. The Columbia Daily Spectator’s Digital Products include the website (www.columbiaspectator.com), the Columbia Daily Spectator mobile app, newsletters and other content we deliver via e-mail, and any other site or service that links to this Terms of Use (collectively, the “Digital Products”).

Welcome to Columbia! As you immerse yourself in the University community and settle into your new home, you will encounter a campus facing a pivotal moment in its history as you, too, undergo significant change. You probably have lots of lingering questions about what the years ahead will look like and how to navigate all of Columbia’s different facets. Inside this special issue, you will find everything we at Spectator think first-year students should know as you acquaint yourself with campus life.

Throughout its “storied history,” Columbia University has stood at the forefront of national student movements. At each turn, Spectator was there to platform the voices of both activists and their critics. “After 1968” is a retrospective of Spectator content from four critical eras of protest on Columbia’s campus.