student-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.”

Welcome back to The Ear, The Eye’s podcast dedicated to documenting, detailing, and excavating Columbia’s history!

The Athena Film Festival, in partnership with the Sloate Media Center at Barnard College, screened three short films written and directed by current and former Barnard students as part of the “Student Short Film Showcase.” Held at the Glicker-Milstein Black Box Theatre on Feb. 28 student filmmakers Hannah Ahn, BC ’19, Emma Noelle Buhain, BC ’20, and Iris Sang, BC ’21, had their films screened for a full audience. Ahn and Buhain also joined postbaccalaureate fellows Ruby Mastrodimos and Kory Louko on a panel following the screening.

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.

As we lead up to the 2020 election, Spectator’s new series, The Student Vote, will continue to highlight perspectives from students between the ages of 18 to 24 regarding candidates, policy issues, and more. Follow our editorial pages for more content like this.

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.

The profitability of athletics can hinge on a small but important factor—the game schedule. While many Division I schools have begun to place more games on weekdays to ensure more viewership and thus greater revenue, the Ivy League has decided to extend its basketball season to primarily single-matchups on weekends to accommodate the academic needs of student-athletes. However, this move may mean a decline in the profitability of Columbia’s program, according to experts.

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.

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!