Former Bwog finance chair Sarah Dahl dishes on philosophy, letting go, and how to completely drop off the face of the earth.

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Sarah, Barnard, Philosophy and Human Rights, Boston, MA.

Claim to fame: I disappeared senior year.

Where are you going? I’m getting a master’s and interning at Michelin.

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2023?

1. The word “recignore.” Don’t do this. It’s dismaying the way people recognize each other on the street or at Ferris or whatever and then…keep…walking….you both remember meeting each other at that Beta party; just say hello!
2. Philosophy! Why don’t American schools require it? Idk. But please, take at least one philosophy class, at Barnard or Columbia, before you die.
3. How to let go, and how to not. Sometimes you do need to go to 1020 on a Tuesday night. Other times you have to spend the night in the library writing a paper on solar panels. I guess you could call this “time-management”…Figuring out when and how to do the obligatory also helps you figure out what it is you want to do that isn’t obligatory. I’m not saying I’ve mastered this, but I think it’s really important, especially for life after graduation.

“Back in my day…” Cannon’s existed!! And it was fun!! It was the only place you could go to dance in Morningside Heights. These days, kids are going all the way to Piano’s…or like…Tao…

Favorite Columbia controversy? I guess this is my favorite not because of what it’s about but because I helped expose it…the wrestler scandal.

Justify your existence in 30 words or fewer: Mitski once touched my arm (and had a conversation with me).

What was your favorite class at Columbia? This is really hard. I loved Philosophy and Feminism with Christia Mercer, I also loved Metaphysics with Achille Varzi…also my senior philosophy seminar with John Morrison.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? I’ve been in Paris for the past 8 months so, obviously, oral sex.

Whom would you like to thank? Honestly like every single one of my professors, you were each so passionate and taught me so much. Academia is such an insane world that I have a lot of admiration for y’all and your commitment. Also philosophy/human rights department assistant Maia Bernstein, the dining hall and cleaning staff, and anyone who ever provided Shake Shack or Insomnia Cookies at an event.

One thing to do before graduating: Take advantage of other universities’ libraries you have access to as a Columbia student! For example, you can get a year-long guest pass to Bobst, which gives you a free bathroom on Washington Square Park whenever you need.

Any regrets? Not doing all the readings, and not going to more campus events (free food isn’t a big thing outside American universities). There are some really cool readings (and profs can track whether or not you download them on courseworks…). Also not inviting more people outside my social circle to do more things. A lot of Columbia/Barnard students are very aloof. Asking someone new to get food or go to a concert doesn’t make you crazy.

Aphrodite in Paris via former Bwogger Timmy Wu!