dorm-life

We have all been through it: The semester begins, work accumulates, and our rooms begin to look like rats’ nests, making it impossible to find that one textbook we needed for the next class. Your reason for having a messy room may be different from others, but here are some tips that will help keep your room clean either way.

Between September 2018 and May 2019, six migrant children died in Border Patrol custody. In July of that same year, the New York Times reported on horrendous conditions at a Border Patrol detention facility in Texas: overcrowding; unsanitary conditions; children forced to sleep on concrete floors; parentless babies being cared for by migrant teens; and heartbreaking stories of children hearing their family members’ voices on the phone for the first time in months. This September, a whistle-blower report alleged that multiple women in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Irwin County Detention Center—operated by LaSalle Corrections, a private company—were pressured into invasive surgeries without proper consent. As recently as October, the country learned that ICE had lost track of the parents of over 500 migrant children. Despite its short history, ICE has managed to amass a significant record of human rights violations. In addition to the abuses detailed above, sexual abuse, violence, and family separation run rampant within the agency.

Content Warning: This episode of The Ear discusses sexual violence and rape.

I came to New York City when I was four. I spent the next seven years living in a flat in Gravesend. Perhaps the most aptly named neighborhood in the city, Gravesend is as weary and empty as its name suggests. I don’t remember much about those days besides that the winters were cold; sharing a room, my sister and I would sleep in winter coats because the heater was broken.

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.

After the police killing of George Floyd sparked greater scrutiny of anti-Blackness in organizations across college campuses, a wave of students has disaffiliated from Panhellenic sororities at Columbia—at Sigma Delta Tau and Alpha Omicron Pi alone, 60 members in total have disaffiliated.

As most students spend their college years living in Morningside Heights, it’s important to know all the supermarkets, office supply stores, and home decor shops nearby. Spectrum has put together a comprehensive list for convenient spots that will help make your dorm feel like home.