The sage soliciting of Senior Wisdoms continues as Freida Steiner, who we can (sarcastically) say salivates over an inferior and less savory Diana pizza, shares a sample of her seeds of sagacity. 

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Freida Steiner // Barnard // Sociology // Ann Arbor, MI (Go Blue!)

Claim to fame: You ran into me in the Diana/Liz’s Place at least once in your time here, whether you know it or not.

Where are you going? Back to high school

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2020?

1. To spell bureaucracy correctly on the first try. And that it will take many semesters before that kind of feat is possible.
2. Diana BBQ chicken pizza will fix any bad day.
3. It’s the people you meet here who will make your experience a great one. While you may have beef with the admin or with the institution as a whole, don’t let that sour the amazing lessons you’ll learn and relationships you’ll form with other students and staff and faculty. I feel so lucky to have been able to share space with these people. It feels like a privilege to have friends who are also your role models.

“Back in my day…”

• Magnolia and a lawn and eBear and happiness at Barnard
• No/few gender neutral bathrooms at Barnard (shout out Maddy Popkin!)
• Alex was still driving the Barnard shuttle and was still an eligible bachelor. (Congrats on your wedding and beautiful baby, Alex!)

Justify your existence in 30 words or fewer. Sophomore year I had to take an in-class written essay final only two days after Beyoncè’s Visual Album dropped and I still got an A- in the class.

What was your favorite class at Columbia? While the most bizarre class (in a mostly positive way) that I have ever taken was Queer Theories and Histories with Professor Povinelli, there is no way that I’m ending my Barnard career saying that a Columbia class was my favorite, come on.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? Well, I’m queer and masochistic, but I’m also lactose intolerant.

One thing to do before graduating: Get good at going to office hours and just talking to professors. My first year I was so intimidated that I went to one office hour once and was probably shaking the whole time. Last week I went on a road trip with a professor.

Any regrets? During my first semester Mistress America was filming in the room across the hall from mine and Noah Baumbach asked if he could borrow my hairdryer. But I didn’t own one at that time in my life. I regret not owning a hairdryer.

“A beautiful image of DSpar looking pained to stand next to me” via Freida Steiner