The end of the year is fast approaching—we know because Spotify Wrapped has been released already. For the remainder of 2022, you can listen to whatever you want on Spotify without worrying about everyone discovering your secret Midwest emo phase. Now that the days are shorter and colder, we can all do some off-the-record listening to Spectrum’s playlist to wallow in our December blues.

In the mid-1980s, Ferris Bueller cut class on a beautiful spring day to enjoy Chicago with his friends, a move which has inspired generations. Students in New York City can easily apply the movie’s philosophy to their own lives, if they have enough imagination. A thrifting day in Brooklyn is perfectly fine if your closet isn’t already full of clothes you only wear once a month, but if you’re going to be unoriginal, you should do it in a way that would make the coolest kid in school proud.

In the first episode of Columbia Dorm Tours, sophomore Lolo Dederer, CC ’24, gives a tour of her Broadway Hall double and an overview of a few of Broadway Hall’s unique building amenities, including the famed Broadway Sky Lounge with breathtaking views of the city. If you’re a sophomore looking to live in a spacious double or an upperclassman looking for a single in a corridor-style building, Broadway is a great option for you!

Rick Ross, Christina Li, and possibly more artists will take the stage next week for the first in-person Bacchanal since 2019. You wrangled a ticket, your outfit is planned out, and your bottomless plans have been confirmed, but you don’t know any of their songs. This playlist will give you an idea of what you might be hearing this weekend.

McBain Hall shaft this, “we got shafted” that. If you’re new to New York City and Columbia Housing, the notorious air shaft might not seem remarkable relative to other lewd-sounding campus locations like Taint Gate and the aptly-nicknamed penis fountains in front of Low Library. When housing season rolls around each spring, you start to hear of “the shaft” a lot more: why is everyone so averse to certain rooms in some residence halls? And why is there a whole website named after “the shaft”?

It’s now March, and you may have noticed some little green plants beginning to sprout around campus. Break is around the corner, and so is spring. It’s not hard to imagine what the change does for the general mood, and the fact that it coincides with St. Patrick’s Day can only contribute to the sense of good fortune.

Road trips are about more than just travel; they represent creating shared memories, the anticipation of arriving somewhere exciting, and, crucially, a tolerance for everyone else’s music taste. Spectrum’s Ultimate Road Trip playlist will bring back memories of scream-singing in the car and hopefully help you create new ones this spring break.

Happy Valentine’s Day! As everyone knows by now, when two people love each other very much, they walk around and point at things together. And there’s so much to point out near Columbia’s campus. If you take a walk through Morningside Heights, you’ll quickly notice how many ways there are for people to show their love for each other, for the community around them, and for life in general. These images of love’s many forms may inspire you to get out and take a look for yourself. All photos are by Jane Mok.

Studying for long periods of time is hard enough, but it’s even more daunting when you don’t have the right music to keep you motivated. Here at Spectrum, we find that a mellow playlist usually helps us focus, so we made one for you. Grab some headphones and listen here for good luck on your finals.

The end of the fall semester at Columbia feels particularly quiet—the birds have flown south for the winter and the cold weather has silenced the chirping crickets. With winter break approaching, you might be looking forward to reuniting with your barking dog or meowing cat at home. Whether you’re missing your furry friends or just want some background noise, Spectrum has the playlist for you. From Sheryl Crow to the Black Pumas, our playlist spotlights artists whose names feature your favorite animals.