Residential-Life

The day after Columbia canceled class last Sunday, Low Steps were packed with people in summery outfits creating Instagram stories and enjoying spring picnics in the sunshine. Some of those students might have enjoyed the previous night’s “cancelation of class” parties, while others planned more activities for the break. Some may have complained about the catastrophic stock market decline and the suspension of their internships while setting up coffee chats.

“No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here.”

We already know that Columbia’s intense stress culture can make mental wellness difficult and that our administration aims to fix this but the issue still persists. The “Columbia bubble” can often feel like a fishbowl due to its isolating effects; there is a certain loneliness that comes from being overwhelmed with work and needing to study instead of attending social events or practicing self-care.

Prem Thakker is a junior in Columbia College studying history, hailing from Grand Forks, North Dakota. If you would like to hang out, he’d love to take a walk in Morningside Park, share a meal at a dining hall, or toss a Frisbee with you. You can also find him on Twitter @prem_thakker. His column, Colon, Closed Parentheses, runs alternate Mondays.

Just through the front door of the brownstone at 542 West 114th Street, strings of lights run along the walls of the room on the right, casting a warm glow through the windows and onto the sidewalk below. A print of a Gustav Klimt painting is tacked up above the fireplace, and the room is full of a hodge-podge of furniture. In this front room and throughout the brownstone, residents host club meetings and Friendsgivings, cook alongside each other in the kitchen, and chat over homework. Here, Columbia’s transfer student community has found a home. The residents trade in corridor-style living for a living room shared with neighbors who can relate to their path at Columbia. On a campus where almost every inch of space is claimed before they arrive, here is a house that has been set aside for them—but only for this year.

At nearly $80,000 a year, Columbia’s tuition is one of the highest in the country. How can we, as college students, navigate the big city where tourism inflates the price of a sandwich? Read on for these top tips on how to lead a New York life while keeping your wallet happy.

The countdown to winter break has started, and we’re only a couple more finals away from packing up our bags and heading home without the stresses of work for the month. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Dongzhi, or just the comfort of a restful winter, you’ll probably have a generous amount of time on your hands for a cozy late-night movie screening. If you’re seeking a different sort of winter story, look no further!

An array of colorful couches and lounge chairs provides a comfortable meeting space in the Sulzberger Lounge on the second floor of the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life. Photos of smiling students are hung along the walls and polaroid pictures are displayed near the kitchen of Kosher eatery Café Nana.

Columbia Housing, Residential Life, and the Residence Hall Leadership Organization announced the transition of housing selection to a completely online platform on Thursday afternoon. This will occur alongside other changes to the process, including the restructuring of group selection and the extension of the timeline to help lessen the stress of room selection for students.

When I asked my mentor to look over my admissions essay to Columbia, I remember her circling the paragraph about my depression.