Clubs

With most classes and club meetings being held according to Columbia’s East Coast time zone, international students have been left to study or find community during the wee hours of the night. Most first-years and transfers haven’t even had the opportunity to explore campus or experience college life in daylight.

Being rejected by student clubs can be hard, as they are an important part of the college experience. While it’s OK to mourn that, there are also other ways to participate in the community. It’s important to realize that club rejection isn’t personal, and that there are many factors that go into a decision beyond an applicant’s control. With that being said, if you’re in a situation where you are faced with rejection, you might find these tips helpful.

As a pre-med, Black, female student attending a highly competitive institution, I was able to find solace in joining the Columbia University Marching Band. However, the numerous Columbia Confessions posts detailing personal student accounts of disturbing interactions with the band as a whole and with individual members forced me to reconsider my position as a band member.

The first few weeks of a new school term are always stressful, especially if you partake in the tedious process of sifting through the countless clubs and teams on campus just to find the select few that interest you. Whether you have just started your club hunting journey or are already taking a break from the hubbub of it all, here is a list of clubs and organizations that might interest you. This list includes those that are still recruiting in the third week of classes as well as ones that are open to new members all year round.

This semester, teachers aren’t the only ones struggling to interact and engage with students over Zoom. Clubs throughout all four undergraduate schools now face the challenge of recruiting and hosting events virtually.

As the 2020 general election approaches—in 47 days to be exact—it increasingly infiltrates conversations, turning playful banter into political discourse. It’s making everyone sit on the edge of their seats as they contemplate how the election results will impact our society. As you consider which clubs to join this semester and prepare to vote in the general election for possibly the first time, here are some on- and off-campus political organizations to keep in mind.

Whether you’re an incoming first-year, transfer, or a returning student, everyone wants to know the secret to finding your community on campus. Hint: It’s by joining clubs and finding peers who share your interests. Besides providing a great environment to de-stress, clubs are where you can be yourself. Here are some tips we’ve compiled for you based on clubs you may be interested in.

Columbia and Barnard are both known for being politically active campuses. With the primaries in full swing and the presidential election right around the corner, you might be looking for how to get involved with political organizations on campus. Let Spectrum’s list guide you!