Former editor of Bwog’s insides, UnboundBabes Rep, and designated Hot Girl blesses us with her wisdom.

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Zöe Sottile, Columbia College, Human Rights, Woodbridge, Connecticut (??)

Claim to fame: Went to study abroad junior spring and never came back, served honorably as Internal Editor for this here blog for a whole YEAR baby. Also, once I left a Beta party and I was so sweaty that the guy working the door grabbed me, pointed to the line of people waiting, and said “Look how sweaty this girl is. Now do you REALLY want to go inside?” Does anyone remember that?

Where are you going? Wherever the 💸 takes me.

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2025?

  1. If it’s halfway through freshman year and you haven’t made any friends and you have no idea what you’re doing and want to drop out: it’ll be okay. Go to therapy! Find something that brings you pleasure. I didn’t really feel like I had friends until some time sophomore year, and look at me now!
  2. If you get CAVA’d twice within a certain time frame you have to call your parents with a counselor present. This is as embarrassing as you expect!
  3. Be a part of your community. Blah blah blah the “Columbia bubble” is real and can make you lose sight of the fact that you are living in a vibrant crazy amazing city full of people who did not ask you to live there. So be a good neighbor! The most well-adjusted people I know from Columbia are those who found a real-life tether to the city outside of Columbia: volunteering for a food bank, working at a bookstore, etc. Learn about the issues affecting New Yorkers and see how you can help (usually it is giving money. Give as much money as you can, all the time).

“Back in my day…” The Bwog website was ugly, Bacchanal was in person, fried mac and cheese bites at JJ’s were the best part of my week.

Favorite Columbia controversy? Who poked holes in the Carman ceiling? Why were there thumb tacks in Ferris potatoes?

What was your favorite class at Columbia? Gender and Power in Transnational Perspective—a mind-blowing class that made me wish I took more in the WGSS department. Rirkrit Tiravanija’s Making Without Objects class where you learn to make really good Thai food. Cannabis and Culture (the MESAAS department is full of hidden gems like this). Also, Spatial Research Methods—I spent six weeks making maps and it takes up all your time but is a really cool skill to have.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? Isn’t veganism good for the environment?

Whom would you like to thank?

My parents, group therapy at CPS, Bwog for giving me a chance to write and all of my Bwog family (Zack, Jenny, Sarah, Amara, Youngweon, Cole, Jordan, Idris, Ramisa, and all the new baby chicklets now running this site). The team at the SVR office who taught me so much about giving care. And 548 West 113th street for giving me the best NYC apartment I’ll ever have, private balcony, and near-death experiences running from Public Safety on the roof included.

One thing to do before graduating: Tell someone you have a crush on them (Senior Scramble doesn’t count). And use ZoesVibes for 15% off at unboundbabes.com xoxo.

Any regrets? Not starting language classes sooner! Not texting my friends back enough (sorry). Also, working too much. We’re all headed to a capitalist hellhole, you don’t have to speed up your way there. 

The Coolest Person You Will Ever Meet in a Far Off Land via Zöe