Karaoke, anyone?

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Caroline Crowell, Barnard College, Political Science, East Chatham, NY

Claim to fame: Captaining the nationally acclaimed Columbia alpine ski team, being in the top four of the CU Senior Assasin game, ending as many nights as possible with karaoke, participating in general tomfoolery and goofiness in and around Morningside Heights for the past four years. 

Where are you going? Next year you will find me all the way across the street for one more year at the School of International and Public Affairs to complete my MPA (Masters of Perfect Awesomeness). 

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2027?

1. You might make your best friends for life during NSOP, but it’s much more likely that you won’t, and that’s totally fine. You’ll feel like everyone else around you has found themselves and found their people and you are behind, but don’t be fooled! Give yourself time and things will fall into place. 
2. Try out as many activities and societies and clubs as you want, but once you find one or two that you really love, no need to juggle five clubs with weekly meetings that you don’t really care about. You’ll get much more out of your experience by committing to fewer groups- better to whole-ass one thing than half-ass more.   
3. Go to Kikoo with your rowdiest crew for a night full of bottomless sushi, sake, friendship, and fun. 

“Back in my day…” Fumo Sunday/ Monday pasta nights were $10 not $12 and nobody knew what Zoom was. It was the end of the sixties, ya know, the late sixties, and everybody was happy, and we were all so excited. It was just the best of times. 

Favorite Columbia controversy? The speakers projecting fake bird noises on campus. I’m pretty sure they projected cricket noises, too, but nobody has joined me on that theory… 

What was your favorite class at Columbia? My first-year seminar was Tipping Points with Margaret Vandenberg and I have thought about it and referenced it in pretty much every single class I’ve taken since freshman fall. She is SO good. 

Every class I took with Professor Lacombe was phenomenal, but sadly he left us for Case Western, so if you have any friends there, tell them to take his classes!! 

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? I’d give up both in exchange for world peace. No need to thank me, it’s just the type of hero I am.

Whom would you like to thank? Couldn’t have done it with out my parents. I love you Mom and Dad!! Thanks & adoration to my big brother. My eternal love goes to my roommate, Anissa, with whom I am codependent and wouldn’t want it any other way. Kisses to Emily and Grace for always being silly and kooky with me. Hugs to all of the members of the ski team for being simply the best. I love you all to the moon & back at least seven times!! 

One thing to do before graduating: I’ve still never been to Rockaway. Go to Rockaway! I’ll go this week and let you know my reviews. 

Any regrets? No regrets. The class of 2023 had an extremely unprecedented experience at this institution, but I truly feel #blessed to have attended Barnard College at Columbia University in the City of New York. I will miss it dearly. 

Okay actually, one regret is not doing more karaoke. If anyone is reading this and wants to do karaoke soon, say the word. 

Caroline Crowell via Caroline Crowell