On-campus

Spectrum’s back with its newest batch of monthly playlists. Discover new songs and artists or rediscover old favorites you might have forgotten!

Until quite recently, I had never really been anywhere. New York is a cluttered place where everything I could ever need is in the palm of my hand.

Just as first-years and sophomores were preparing to move to campus last summer, Columbia abruptly announced the cancellation of all semester-long housing contracts. Students and their families were forced to cancel plane tickets and hotel reservations and reconsider their plans for the semester ahead.

Thousands of Columbia and Barnard students are returning to New York after Columbia partially reopened on-campus housing this semester. For the majority of these students, it has been almost a year since they’ve lived at Columbia, and for some, it will be their first time stepping foot on campus. While students are eager to return to a “normal” college experience, some Morningside Heights and West Harlem residents worry that Columbia’s reopening plan may put Morningside Heights residents at higher risk for COVID-19.

Columbia College sophomore Vivian Jackson shares a one-bedroom apartment in Hell’s Kitchen with her family. When Columbia went remote last spring, she struggled to attend Literature Humanities while her mother, a ballet teacher, taught plies and how to stand en pointe a few feet away from her laptop. While the commute would have been easy, the opportunity to have her own room, reliable Wi-Fi, and an on-campus job compelled her to live in the dorms this fall. As one of many students who requested on-campus housing this fall, Jackson identifies as a first-generation, low-income college student. On August 14, Columbia reversed its initial decision to bring up to 60 percent of undergraduates back to campus and instead opted for a semester entirely online. Only students who needed on-campus housing to “pursue their academic programs successfully” were provided dorm rooms; Jackson was one of them.

Finding and creating lasting memories with your roommate(s) is one of the most exciting parts of college. During a pandemic, it is especially important to be cautious about whom you decide to cohabit with. Roommates can make or break your experience. Murky boundaries can lead to unpleasant exchanges. Based on our own highs and lows, here are tips for choosing a roommate or getting along better with current ones, and a sample roommate contract for you both to talk through!

As the fall 2020 semester comes to an end, we’re all looking forward to enjoying our winter break. However, as much as we are excited for next semester, many of us are still questioning whether it is safe to return to campus and the city. Although it is ultimately your own decision, here are some questions to consider while you prepare for next semester.

The Black Lives Matter movement has ushered in an era of reexamining policies and practices of police departments across America. While the movement primarily examines municipal precincts, Columbia’s Department of Public Safety has also come under scrutiny. From the Alexander McNab incident to the University’s practice of hiring former police officers, members of the Columbia community have been protesting Public Safety’s connection with the New York Police Department. The goal of Spectator’s newest project, DIY Policy, is to attempt to create policy alternatives—supported by argument and evidence.

Every roommate comes with their quirks. These TV shows present the best (and worst) kinds of roommates you might have, from comedians and party animals to neat freaks and grouches. Whether you’re searching for a roommate now or you’ve had the same one for the past four years, take a look through these iconic roommates and find out which one you vibe with.

With Barnard already sending out housing applications, students are starting to think about their living options for the upcoming semester. If you’re considering moving off campus next spring, then you’re better off starting your apartment search as early as possible, as apartment hunting in New York is notoriously difficult.