If you don’t want to dwell on the nearby threat, you can always dwell on the one that’s further away!

As the University returns to in-person learning, both Barnard and Columbia’s administrations have announced the return of in-person dining and gatherings, as well as updates to visitor policies. Deputy News Editor Paulina Rodriguez contributed to reporting.

I’m reviewing the quarantine meals so that you (hopefully) don’t have to.

Some good, some bad, mostly somewhere in between.

Earlier this morning, Columbia Dining announced that indoor seating options for the CU dining halls will resume this Monday.

According to an email sent out today, students who test positive for COVID-19 will now isolate for five days if asymptomatic.

The Barnard Administration announced via email today a virtual start to the Spring 2022 semester and increased restrictions amid COVID-19 developments. 

In light of the Omicron variant and an uptick in COVID-19 case numbers, Columbia is implementing new restrictions on dining and social gatherings for all community members.

ZzzzZzzzz ZzzzZZZzzzzzzzz

As the Omicron variant spreads and COVID-19 cases rise, the University is now going to require a COVID-19 booster shot, as well as require masks to be worn indoors through mid-March 2022.

On the first day of finals week, following an increase in COVID-19 positivity rates and Barnard’s return to grab-and-go dining, CC and SEAS have strongly recommended that professors move all finals to an online format. Senior Staff Writer Grace Fitzgerald-Diaz and Staff Writer Victoria Melkonyan contributed to this report.

Starting next semester, Barnard will require all eligible students, faculty, and staff to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster. Additionally, beginning tomorrow, all Barnard dining halls will move to grab-and-go service entirely.

New York’s really dumping eight feet of landfill on top of a park?

Columbia University health officials held a forum to update faculty, researchers, and staff on the status of the pandemic, as well as the Omicron variant and guidelines for travel during the holiday season.

On December 2, Illustrator Ava Morouse attended an online panel titled “HIV & COVID-19: When Pandemics Collide.” Presented by the ICAP Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, the panel was a part of Mailman’s Centennial Distinguished Speakers Series and honored both Mailman’s centennial as well as World AIDS Day.