The beginning of the year brings with it a pursuit of growth. A new beginning. A blank slate you can decorate however you choose. More often than not, it manifests in New Year’s resolutions that you hope will shape the next 365 days. If you were running low on motivation this new year, here are some 2026 resolutions from Spectrum’s staff to ease you into the new year.

Welcome back, Lions! We hope the winter chill hasn’t affected your excitement for the new semester. The shopping period is a crucial time for you to make the most of your semester. This time is a trial run of sorts, allowing you to attend the classes you are considering enrolling in. You should use this time to gain you a better understanding of the workload and expectations for different courses beyond what the syllabi entail. Spectrum is here to answer the most frequently asked questions you might have during the first two weeks of school.

It’s that time of year again: sweater weather has settled in, the sun slips away a little too early, and suddenly your walk to Butler Library feels like the opening scene of a coming-of-age film. As finals inch closer and the air grows sharper, there’s nothing like the perfect playlist, show, or movie to make fall in Morningside Heights feel a little warmer.

October is finally over, which means that your grueling midterm season is finally over. But, let’s be honest—at Columbia, midterms don’t really end, do they? As you head over to Butler to study for your next round of exams, you see the sun already setting at 4 p.m. The exhaustion continues to hit as you have already lost hours of sleep and drank multiple caffeinated drinks in one day. At least you’re mentally prepared for finals, right?

Whether you are a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed first-year or a senior taking a last crack at finding love in college, Marriage Pact season is a fever dream. You’ve answered around 50 odd questions about intimacy, trust, kids, and communication styles, and have ended up emotionally invested in a form.

Whether you’re a Columbia College student or a down-on-your-luck engineering major with a Hamilton Hall recitation section, we’ve all faced the infamous Hamilton elevators. There is no right time to wade into the battlefield of making your way up to a seventh-floor Hamilton class with the elevators moving at a glacial pace.

Fall brings a crisp wind and an unwavering want to be anywhere other than within a library.