Bwog’s editorial board has taken the liberties of summarizing this semester. 

September:

Bwog started off the semester with exciting news: Columbia Dining introduced a new dining option, The Fac Shack food truck. A few days later, our News team reported on the repossession of the 1020 Bar by the New York City Marshal after several reports of the owner’s alleged inappropriate behavior.

To begin the academic year, Bwog staffers sought out friendship and showed us places they inhabited over summer in our Houses and Homes series. We also endured some minor struggles like being registered under interesting names in SSOL. 

Classes began and we attended some exciting on-campus events: Science Editor Emily Yi went to discover what the end-Permian event can tell us about climate change and Bwog’s Ads Manager Charlie Bonkowsky attended an event with Meduza, an independent journalist organization in Russia. Deputy Science Editor Elisha Dura attended the NYU talk about Mexico’s history in space exploration, “Mexico in Orbit: Modernity, Nationality and Satellite Fetishism.” Meanwhile, Bwog News reported on two major updates—Barnard Provost and Dean of the Faculty Linda Bell’s resignation and Columbia’s introduction of minors and ousting of concentrations. 

Later in the month, Bwog explored sillier ventures. We invited students to look for love with the new series, “Bwind Dates.” Staff Writer Maren Frey opened up about being the star of the Barnard president’s convocation speech. 

Our events coverage remained strong as we attended and wrote about Columbia’s annual World Leaders Forum—this year featuring the President of the Dominican Republic, the president of Romania, and  Matt Damon. We continued our extensive event coverage in September with Deputy Arts Editor Isa RingswaldEgan attending a Barnard Research Center for Women talk with Iranian feminist scholars titled “Feminist Revolution in Iran: Reflections on Year One.” Staff Writer Tara Lago explored Kafka-inspired paper mache, and Staff Writer Clara Goldberg attended a lecture by award-winning author Nafissa Thompson-Spires. Staff Writers Mila Noshirvani and Maren Frey investigated a Columbia campus cultural phenomenon—Sidechat.

We ended the month with a turn to nation-wide events. Staff Writer Adria Martin attended Barnard’s discussion “Studying the Now: Affirmative Action” to gain more insight on Barnard’s approach to the US Supreme Court striking down Affirmative Action through a ruling on two cases. 

Overall, September proved to be an eventful month for Bwog as we onboarded new Staff Writers, Daily Editors, Bureau Chiefs, and Illustrators and covered several events to kick off the start of the academic year.

October:

Spooky season was upon us with midterms quickly approaching. The most reliable Barnumbia advice-givers, Daily Editor Nikki Nambiar & Social Media Editor Tal Bloom, launched the first article of their immaculate advice column helping all of us make our way through this stressful time. Adding on to this, Staff Writer Lauren Woodroffe provided us with a transfer’s guide to surviving their first month at Barnumbia. We ranked and reviewed many spots on campus like classrooms for the left handed, dining halls based on whether or not our parents would unenroll us, and our local coffee shops.

In campus news, October gave way to many on campus protests and rallies that called for Columbia to make changes to their policies, beginning with President Minouche Shafik’s inauguration. Protests at the investiture of President Shafik call for University accountability in the sexual assault cases against Robert Hadden. On October 16, student organizations Students Supporting Israel (SSI) gathered to show support for Israel and condemn Hamas. After several days of rising tensions, Columbia’s campus was closed to visitors and guarded by NYPD as the Call to Action for Palestine protest by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), and a simultaneous protest by Students Supporting Israel (SSI) mounted on Butler Lawns. Amidst this, the Barnard Resident Assistants Union rallied for fair compensation, after eight months of bargaining with the college for equitable compensation. In addition, Columbia’s Postdoctoral Researchers Union announced their November 1 strike deadline for Columbia to respond to their demands. Later on in the month, Columbia students participated in a National Walkout For Gaza, while “Doxing Trucks” that displayed the names and faces of current students surrounded campus. Members of the Columbia community gathered for “Stop Doxxing Now,” a protest against the doxing of students by the organization Accuracy in Media. Barnard President Rosenbury released a statement on policy changes regarding the doxing on campus and received criticism from student organizations in support of Palestine for her condemnation of anti-Zionism and lack of acknowledgement for Palestinian casualties in the war. The University faculty also released a response to Rosenbury’s policy changes offering critiques of Rosenbury’s email “A Call To Action” and listing specific demands and policy changes to “de-escalate the situation.”

We attended the many events that our campus has to offer. Staff Writer Olivia Chiroiu reviewed Dancing At Lughnasa held at the Lenfest Center of the Arts. Staff Writer Ashna Shah learned more about Cillian Murphy’s method acting in Interdisciplinary Ethics: Oppenheimer’s Legacy In Science, History, Storytelling And Energy Policy. Staff Writer Maren Frey conversed with Hillary Clinton and other esteemed guests in Making Human Rights Come Alive, to discuss the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and its relevance today. Amateur Jazz enthusiast and Daily Editor Nikita Nambiar squished herself onto a little sofa in ADP house for the bi-weekly Jazz Night. Staff Writer Lauren Woodroffe came home and celebrated Columbia’s annual homecoming game. Columbia lost again.

To make an already spooky season even spookier, we had a very dairy forward month. We sought to replace the drinks with milk in all of Columbia Dining’s soda machines. Staff Writers Maren Frey and Riley Stacy taste tested Diana’s new F’real milkshake machine. Did our stomachs survive until November, who knows?

We ended off our month with Halloween festivities. Bwog used their knowledge of pop culture to investigate what halloween costumes we would see this year. We gave our opinions on Halloween costumes that are out this season. Finally, and if not most importantly, we determined what slutty costumes different Barnumbia statues would wear. Bwog awaits for the day when Alma dresses as sexy Sophocles.

November:

November was another exceptional month for on-campus demonstrations and collective action. The beginning of the month saw organizing extend throughout and beyond the undergraduate student body—students at Teachers College organized a walkout for Palestine, while students at the School of Social Work organized a sit-in. On November 9, College Walk once again became the site of heightened tensions when two demonstrations, one to support the hostages of Hamas and one to show solidarity with Palestine, both mounted, drawing increased NYPD presence and closed gates.

Then, on November 10, the University sparked major controversy when administrators announced their decision to suspend Students for Justice in Palestine and BC/CU Jewish Voice for Peace, two student organizations responsible for a number of recent protests on campus. The response was swift among students and faculty alike; over the next two weeks, a group of Jewish students published an open letter condemning the suspension, the Palestinian Student Union (DAR) organized a protest on Columbia’s campus, a group of about 140 faculty members protested on Low Steps to demand the University reaffirm its commitment to free speech,  and finally, Columbia alumni staged a “denouncement ceremony” outside of Columbia’s main gates. Outside of the student body, community organization Within Our Lifetime (WOL) led a city-wide protest on Broadway between the gates of Barnard and Columbia, while 21 elected officials penned an open letter to President Shafik, asking her to reinstate the two groups.

In labor news, Columbia’s Postdoctoral Workers Union narrowly avoided a strike when it announced it had reached a contract with the University less than 24 hours before its stated strike deadline. Meanwhile, both of the University’s RA unions—the Barnard RA Union and CURA Collective—continued bargaining with their respective colleges. As negotiations ramped up, current and former RAs sat down with Bwog to reflect on the last year in union organizing.

Finally, Columbia announced its long-awaited plan to support the victims of former CUIMC gynecologist Robert Hadden’s decades of abuse. As part of the announcement, President Shafik also issued the University’s first public apology to victims, two months after over 300 victims filed suit against Columbia for its handling of the abuses. 

Outside of news, November was possibly the busiest time of the semester for arts, with Bwog covering three straight plays, one musical, and two dance performances. Barnard’s Glicker-Milstein Theatre opened its doors to two moving dramas, the CU Players’ The Boys in the Band, followed by CMTS’s harrowing production of Next to Normal. Meanwhile, in Lerner, KCST mounted a fresh new take on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, while off campus, the Sti Cazzi Players staged a one-act play, Zoo Story, at ADP. On the dance side, Staff Writer Maria Chemodanova escaped from reality at CUBE’s production of Giselle, while Staff Writer Jack Rado had a rootin’ tootin’ good time at RodeOrchesis. Meanwhile, Staff Writers Luken Sloan and Helen Chen attended Third Wheel Improv’s annual Spare Tires Festival, while Luken also covered the annual Philolexian Society Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest.

Beyond arts, Bwog also attended plenty of campus events. At Barnard, Managing Editor Alison Hog and Staff Writer Elisha Dura attended the annual Grace Lee Boggs ‘35 Lecture, which featured a speech from activist Mariame Kaba. Meanwhile, Staff Writer Maren Frey attended a panel discussion with designer Stuart Weitzman, who shared his insights on fashion, branding, and creating the “Million Dollar Shoe.” In Milstein, Staff Writer Megan Rivera attended a teach-in on the New York Young Lords Party, hosted by Dr. Jorge Juan Rodríguez, Visiting Assistant Professor of Historical Studies at Union Theological Seminary, in collaboration with the 116th Initiative. Finally, Staff Writer Tara Lago celebrated fluid Filipino culture at the 23rd Annual Mr. Philippines pageant, hosted by Columbia’s Liga Filipina and NYU’s International Filipino Association. 

Naturally, November also brought plenty of Thanksgiving content. Heading into break, Bwog premiered its first-ever podcast, Bwogcast, in a Thanksgiving-themed episode co-hosted by Internal Editor Jess Tsang and Staff Writer Rory Collins (keep an eye out for their second episode, coming soon!). After the break, Bwoggers reflected on the trials and tribulations of Thanksgiving, while Staff Writer Riley Stacey shared her insights on bringing a Barnumbia friend back home. In keeping with the month’s food theme, Deputy Arts Editor Isa RingswaldEgan graced us with an updated ranking of her illustrious spoon collection, while Staff Writers Erika Avallone and Avery Baumel took a chance on Joe Coffee’s seasonal Fig Balsamic Latte.

December:

December had a lot of news. Columbia University Apartheid Divest Organized Protests On Low Steps And College Walk during Tree Lighting, and a few days later, a coalition of student groups, including Barnard-Columbia Abolition Collective, Student-Worker Solidarity, and Columbia-Barnard Young Democratic Socialists of America, announced plans to mount a tuition strike ahead of the Spring 2024 payment deadline, calling for divestment and transparency. Columbia University Secretary Jerome Davis announced his retirement at the end of the 2023-2024 school year, as did Christian Stohler Stepping Down As Dean Of The College Of Dental Medicine. Following controversy surrounding the University’s event policies, Columbia issued a Statement Regarding Campus Safety And Event Policy. On December 12, students gathered in a “Barnard 4 Palestine” Emergency Protest, despite Barnard sending out a message that this event was unauthorized and students could be “subject to the potential consequences.” On December 16, though, Barnard’s RA Union reached its first contract with the College’s administration, making it the third of its kind to reach a contract with its administration. 

Bwog’s staffers reported on equally important news this December, including Staff Writer Sania Hammad’s NYC December Disappointment, featuring the overwhelming mess that is December in New York. Bwog also reported on Liz’s Place’s Pads and Tampons, an uh… insightful article for anyone desperate for a snack. On December 11, Bwog professed its love for the Milstein Mouse—hey, you can choose disgust or love, I guess. Most importantly, though, Staff Writers Chancey Stefanos and Maren Frey investigated the Diana Smoothie-Gate. A real travesty.

December saw an insurmountable amount of arts at Barnumbia, including NOMADS’ Fall Mainstage Production, Latenite’s Fall Anthology, Barnard/Columbia’s Dance Department Show At New York Live Arts, Ratrock’s Fall Featured Artist Showcase, Inspired By French Cinema, and XMAS!18: The Meltdown. This school’s artists are way too talented. 

We ended the semester with Columbia and Barnard’s Early Decision Results for the Class of 2028. And our favorite albums. And perhaps bed bugs? Who’s to say. We hope you had a beautiful semester, and we’ll see you in January!

Sahmaya Busby will lead Bwog’s 2024 Editorial Board as Editor-in-Chief. Alison Hog will assume the role of Managing Editor, and Jess Tsang will be the Internal Editor. The Board would like to express its appreciation for all Bwog staff members and their dedication to our publication. We would also like to thank our readers for trusting us as a BARNUMBIA news and humor source. We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season, and we will see you in January. 

Much love and appreciation,

Bwog

Morningside Heights via Bwog Archives.