Spring-break

Even though midterm season has just finished, finals are right around the corner. If the upcoming exam season feels overwhelming, here’s Spectrum’s guide to separating yourself from finals and taking them one step at a time.

Registering for classes is always a daunting process, and next semester seems particularly stressful. With the delayed registration process and many departments still finalizing next semester’s courses, it seems harder than ever to find classes that are interesting, relevant, and new.

On Monday afternoon, University President Lee Bollinger sent out an email announcing Columbia’s preliminary plans for spring 2021. This follows an email that Barnard President Sian Beilock sent to the Barnard community on Oct. 26 detailing the school’s tentative spring 2021 plans.

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.

The Ivy League is considering multiple schedules for football’s return as schools across the country attempt to put together opening plans for the fall semester. As the number of COVID-19 cases rises across the United States, the conference may potentially delay intercollegiate football games until April 2021, and practices may not start until March.

Senior spring was never supposed to be like this. I had 14 experiences left on my senior bucket list, like dining at a professor’s home, modeling nude for an art class, and sneaking onto the roof of Mudd Hall to watch the sunrise. And then there’s Commencement. I would have walked proudly across a stage to receive my diploma: Jordan Allyn, Barnard College of Columbia University, class of 2020, majoring in american studies with a concentration in visual and performing arts.

“We stay here for you. You stay home for us!!!” I see the viral Facebook post for the fourth time today: a photo of 11 doctors in scrubs, gloves, and masks holding signs. The first 10 each have one word; the final doctor has three exclamation points. The message is clear, concise, and necessary: The men and women of the healthcare industry are risking their lives to save those of us who may have chosen to not take precautions during this epidemic, so the least we could do to thank them is heed the government’s warnings.

The Ivy League has decided to cancel all practices and competitions for spring sports, league administrators announced today. For winter sports and individual players in postseason competitions, individual institutions will have the jurisdiction to decide whether their athletes will participate.