Bwog’s current Board members, Rania, Henry, and Sofia, summarize the whole semester and, boy, was Spring 2022 a doozy or what?

January

The year started off with a bang as Bwoggers hopped on the breaking news, covering the tail end and fallout of the Student Workers’ strike, a bunch of changes to COVID-19 policy, and a lawsuit naming the University in a scheme to limit financial aid. 

The first two weeks of the semester were held on Zoom, and News Editor Victoria Borlando took us through the highs and lows of a 2020 redux. Staff Writer Linus Glenhaber and Science Editor Kyle Murray brought us some snow-related posts just before The Big Storm of the season swept the city, while another Bwogger ran the numbers on that… unique New York snow. Bwog also did a definitive taste test at breakout Columbia dining hit Chef Mike’s Sub Shop. 

In the final week of January, we recruited our freshest batch of Bwoggers and kicked off student government coverage for the semester. Staff Writer Alice Rodi showed us the best places to cry on campus based on our Zodiac signs, and Daily Editor Vicky Melkonyan reported on the Student Workers’ ratification of their contract with the University.

February

Staff Writers Charlie Bonkowsky and Simon Panfilio started the month off by covering an event called “What Does Putin Want?”, a theme which would only grow in significance over the next several weeks. Staff Writer Jake Torres then took us along for the ride of a lost sock. Events Editor Ava Slocum taught us how to think like the ancient Babylonians, and Daily Editor Elizabeth Walker had a chat with the admin of @barnardfits.

Later in the month, we both bimbofied and found the worst items in the Columbia bookstore. At some point along the line, we decided via e-democracy to drop “Barnumbia” as the collective term for both Barnard and Columbia in favor of “Cumnard.” And, at the peak of the Wordle craze, Daily Editor Sahmaya Busby compared the four schools of Cumnard to recent Wordle words. 

The Super Bowl came and went without a peep for Staff Writer Mia Ogle, while Staff Writer Eli Knodell ranked all of Columbia’s soups. Kyle Murray delivered his first eulogy of the semester in remembrance of the Low Steps tent, and Staff Writer Sydney Wells taught us how to go green. 

Tragedy struck toward the end of the month as Russia invaded Ukraine. Thank you to all of our Daily Editors for covering these events with sensitivity and tact. 

March

Here at Bwog, March was madness. The month began with the announcement of major changes to the University’s COVID-19 policies; Eli Knodell and and Deputy News Editor Bannon Beall reported Barnard and Columbia’s plans to lift their indoor mask mandates, along with steps for Barnard to begin phasing out their weekly testing program. The lifting of the mask mandate meant that CU students would finally be able to see the bottom halves of their peers’ faces, a prospect that terrified some.

Of course, the most terrifying part of March was actually midterms. Bwoggers recommended snacks to get us through, contested the very phrase “midterms,” and wrote verses dedicated to the tribulations they endured. In the Bwog-osphere, midterms do not just mark the middle of the term—or, for some courses, an endless stream of assignments integral to your final grade—but, also, the beginning of prospie season; mostly, we contemplated how to make touring students remember us and only us.

Then, we signed off for Spring Break. (We were in our YOLO by The Lonely Island era.)

Bwog Staffer Catherine Beckett welcomed us back from our week-long spring vacays with her PeopleHop of two recipients of Columbia’s Scholarship for Displaced Students, Sara Wahedi and Dr. Ajmal Sabawoon. In the interview, they spoke with Catherine about their respective experiences getting to and attending Columbia. The interviewees were not explicitly awestruck by the outfits CU students absolutely slayed in March, but Bwog was; we were amazed by how well everyone at this University dressed every day.

As the month came to a close, Staff Writer Linus Glenhaber covered Columbia College’s announcement that Dr. George Yancopoulous, CC ‘80, was going to be the 2022 Class Day Speaker, and Bwog proposed additions to the Prohibited Items List.

March ended with Eli Knodell and Senior Staff Writer Ella Diaz reporting on Columbia and Barnard admissions decisions for the Class of 2026, proving that though crazy shit happens here, students still want to attend this lovely University.

April

Kyle Murray started April off by reporting on some Very Important News (that just happened to coincide with April Fools’ Day). Dr. George Yancopoulus pulling out as Columbia College’s Class Day Speaker, however, was very much not a prank. Neither was Bacchanal, which brought controversy regarding its decision to host the concert during Ramadan. The concert also highlighted student performers like Christina Li, as profiled by Staff Writer Gigi Silla. (Yes, this technically was announced in March, but did you know Rick Ross was the headliner?) Shortly after Bacchanal, Columbia reinstated its mask mandate in classrooms. 

April also saw the end of Barnard’s housing lottery and the entirety of Columbia’s as shown through Bwog’s housing coverage. And while picking into housing may have seemed like a circus, Deputy Arts Editor Grace Novarr covered an actual circus, writing about the captivating performance of Hamlet put on by KCST and the Circus Collective. Speaking of the arts, Deputy News Editor Paulina Rodriguez attended Orchesis’ first in-person performance since 2019. And to round it out, Ava Slocum witnessed the magical charm of CMTS’s Cinderella.

In addition to attending wonderful plays and performances, Bwog also engaged in some investigative work this month. News Editor Victoria Borlando dared to ask the question “whatever happened to the Beginner’s Mind Institute?” Paulina also reported that President Bollinger would be stepping down as president in June 2023. Interestingly enough, a different kind of president(ial candidate) was also present at Columbia, as Staff Writer Marino Bubba attended a talk given by the one and only Marianne Williamson. 

But then course registration happened and things got weird. Bwog begged to know why classes were being held at the Worst. Possible. Hours. We also decided to list 101 things that are totally *not* indie at Barnumbia. But perhaps one of the most cursed things of all was our Harry Style fanfiction. Oh yeah, and Staff Writers Simon Panfilio and Kate Mekechuk reviewed Surf, Turf ‘N’ Earth. Cowabunga. 

April ended with some important announcements, like that astronaut Sunita Williams would be Columbia Engineering’s Class Day speaker, as reported by Elizabeth Walker. Columbia also released its Phi Beta Kappa inductees. 

The month ended with Staff Writer Charlie Bonkowksy asking one very important question. 

May

May kicked off with an overview of the CCSC’s Expansion Survey results, as reported by Charlie Bonkowsky. Grace Novarr also reviewed the 128th Varsity Show. And soon came Star Wars Day, as Jake Torres shared with us the best places to have lightsaber duels on campus. 

It wouldn’t be the end of the semester without a little insanity. And needless to say, Bwog lost our minds a bit when one Bwogger overtly professed their love for Dean Chang. Or when Bwog pleaded with the sophomore housing waitlist. Or, you know, that time Bwog made the case for mandatory laxatives. 

We did have our more practical moments—like when Sydney Wells attended an exhibit on the intersection between archaeology and the arts and sciences. Or when Senior Staff Writer Grace Fitzgerald-Diaz reported on Columbia’s changes to its financial aid policies. Bwog also reported on how GSSC and CCSC spoke out when the plan to restructure Arts and Sciences was put to a faculty vote. We also shared that Deogratias “Deo” Niyizonkiza would be the General Studies Class Day speaker. Finally, Elizabeth interviewed Layla Faraj, a New York Times College Essay winner! 

Towards the middle of May, Bwog began posting Senior Wisdoms, a semesterly series where graduating seniors have the opportunity to pass their knowledge onto their peers. These seniors, especially those in Bwog, have made a lasting impact on the staff here and hold a legacy that will continue on for years to come. Congratulations to all graduating seniors—we will miss you. To the rest, see you in the fall! 

Rania Borgani will continue leading Bwog’s 2022 Editorial Board as Editor-in-Chief, with Henry Astor as Managing Editor and Sofia Fontaine as Internal Editor. Information about our fall publishers is forthcoming. 

The Board wishes to thank everyone on staff for their sincere commitment and enthusiasm for Bwog over this past semester. Regular content will resume in mid-summer with FreshLetter and NSOP-themed coverage. Bwog Staff Writer and Daily Editor applications will be available in the fall. In the meantime, please email editors@bwog.com to guest write. We thank our readers for their continued support and wish all students a relaxing summer. 

Campus via Bwarchives