Awakening Our Democracy: Building Community & Advancing Equity in a Digital World and Other Events and Opportunities, 4/19-5/3

Dear Students,

We hope to see many of you at Wednesday’s in-person event, Awakening Our Democracy: Future Present: Building Community & Advancing Equity in a Digital World! Join us in Low Library at 3:30 PM to hear from a panel of experts tackling the most challenging questions around digital citizenship, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), the rise of social media, and the ways in which our choices online impact the world around us. Register and submit questions here.

All events listed below are free of charge and open to all students unless otherwise noted.

University Life Events (All events in ET)

• Campus Conversations (In-Person). Connect with students from across the University and engage in meaningful, student-facilitated dialogue about identity and inclusion. Make friends, have real conversations, and build community. Snacks and University Life swag will be provided. Register here for Wednesday, April 20 and here for Thursday, April 28.
• Drag Bingo (In-Person). Join the University Life Events Council for a fabulous night of Bingo hosted by Lagoona Bloo from RuPaul’s Drag Race and The Voice. Learn how to play the game, compete to win prizes, and enjoy the show! Program partners include GS Alliance and Columbia Queer Alliance. Tuesday, April 19, 7:00-8:00 PM. Register here.
• IGB Executive Board Applications. Get involved and make an impact at Columbia! All students are now eligible to run for positions on the The Interschool Governing Board (IGB) Executive Board. The IGB is dedicated to supporting student organizations in their efforts to bridge gaps between various academic disciplines at Columbia by creating a dynamic sense of community that facilitates multi-disciplinary programming and dialogue. Apply by Sunday, April 24 at 11:59 PM.
• Women of Color Roundtable with Columbia Faculty (In-Person). Faculty will share their experiences navigating higher education as women of color. This workshop is part of the Graduate Initiative for Inclusion and Engagement. Tuesday, April 26, 6:00-7:00 PM. Register here.
• Art After Five: 90's Edition (In-Person). Stop by to relax and create crafts while meeting students from across campus! Activities will include button making, velvet art, and beads. All students are invited to take a moment to craft and reflect on multiple aspects of their well-being, with a 90's vibe this time! Friday, April 29, 5:00-6:00 PM. Register here.
• Night at Butler (In-Person). Join the University Life Events Council and the Columbia Libraries for their 4th annual Night at Butler: a night of relaxation, escape games, crafts, caricature artists, giveaways, and more! In partnership with Alice! Health Promotions. Sign up as a volunteer! Monday, May 2, 6:00-8:00 PM. Register for the Escape Room: 6:00-6:45 PM and 7:00-7:45 PM.
• Student Conduct Navigators - Applications Now Open. Are you interested in supporting fellow students going through the University's student conduct process? If so, consider becoming a Student Conduct Navigator. Learn more and apply here. 
• Yoga Class (In-Person). Religious Life offers free yoga classes in Earl Hall every Tuesday evening this semester. No pre-registration is required. Please bring your own mat and arrive 5-10 minutes early to sign in and set up. Tuesdays, 7:00-8:00 PM. Learn more.

Racial Justice Mini-Grant Program Events:

• Financing and Measuring in Global Health: A Case Study Discussion on Racial and Social Myths in Practice (Virtual). This three-part seminar series will grapple with the racial and social myths that underlie global health education and their practical implications. At each event, DrPH students Joanne Michelle Ocampo and Alejandra Paniagua-Avila will moderate a conversation focused on a practical case study. April 20 and 27, 12:00-1:00 PM. Register here.
• Genealogies of Revolution and the Struggle for Racial Justice in Sudan (Virtual). In this webinar, participants will hear about the ongoing revolution in Sudan from scholars and artists who are active on the ground in Khartoum. Thursday, April 28, 4:00 PM. Join here - no registration required.

University-wide Events and Opportunities

• Communicating Your Credibility (Hybrid). This interactive conversation, part of the WIT@CU Forum discussion series, with international author and communication specialist Laura Katen will provide practical tips and information around how to increase your visibility in a virtual environment. Wednesday, April 20, 12:00-1:30 PM. Register here.
• Unpacking the Man Box: Masculinity and Leadership (Virtual). This session, part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month programming, focuses on how leadership is expected to be performed, and how to use that expectation to transform spaces with harmful power structures. Wednesday, April 20, 4:30-6:00 PM. Register here.
• Women in the Digital World (In-Person). In this two-day conference from the Technology, Media and Communications specialization at SIPA, scholars, journalists, and activists from around the globe meet to discuss women's speech online, combating the racial and gender bias of algorithms, digital violence, regulating big tech and disinformation in Russia's war on Ukraine. Thursday, April 21 - Friday, April 22. Learn more.
• Music, Math, and Mind: The Physics and Neuroscience of Music (Virtual). Columbia Global Centers presents this conversation with author David Sulzer, whose book offers a lively exploration of the mathematics, physics, and neuroscience that underlie music in a way that all readers can follow. Thursday, April 21, 12:00-1:00 PM. Register here.
• Such Sweet Thunder: A Columbia-Harlem Concert Dance (In-Person). Founder of CityStep Sabrina Peck will lead a campus-community dance collaboration celebrating Such Sweet Thunder through movement. Thursday, April 21, 7:00-9:00 PM. Register here.  
• Ride Your Bike to Campus Day (In-Person). Public Safety’s Ride Your Bike to Campus Day is back! Attendees will have access to free bike tune-ups and registration, discounted bike accessories, and more. Manhattanville: Friday, April 22, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM and CUIMC: Friday, April 29, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
• Responding to the Invasion of Ukraine: The Impact of Feminist Foreign Policies (Virtual). Join policymakers, analysts, and practitioners to discuss concrete measures for feminist responses to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Hosted by Permanent Missions of Sweden and Ukraine to the UN and Columbia’s Women and Gender in Global Affairs Network at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights. Friday, April 22, 10:00-11:30 AM. Register here. 
• Reclaiming Your Community: You Don’t Have to Move Out of Your Neighborhood to Live in a Better One (In-Person). How can we solve the problem of persistent poverty in low-status communities? Majora Carter argues that these areas need a talent-retention strategy, just like the ones companies have. Monday, April 25, 6:00-7:30 PM. Register here.
• She Opened the Door… to Entrepreneurship (In-Person). Since 2018, the She Opened the Door initiative has aimed to enlighten, educate, elevate, and empower self-identifying women from across the University. The Columbia Alumni Association is excited to announce a new all-day in-person event for those interested in learning from Columbia entrepreneurs. Saturday, April 30, 9:00-3:00 PM. Register here by April 25.
• Spring Clothing Drive (In-Person). Join Columbia Community Service for their annual spring clothing drive to donate gently used clothing, professional attire, socks, shoes, belts, hats, jackets/coats, bags, and unopened travel-sized toiletries to help our community. Now - April 30, Monday - Thursday. Locations vary. Learn more.
• 2022 Human Rights Advocates Program Applications. The Program is designed for human rights activists working with NGOs on a variety of issues. Apply by May 12.

2022 Commencement Opportunities. 

• Share Your Columbia Memories. Submit a photo or video of your favorite Columbia memories for a chance to be part of the University’s Commencement celebration!
• Volunteer for Commencement. The Commencement Office is looking for volunteers to help celebrate the success of Columbia’s graduates! Volunteers will receive a special commencement volunteer t-shirt and hat. Interested? Visit the Commencement Volunteer page for more information or email [email protected].

Visit University Life’s website, Instagram and Facebook for more information and events, and please reach out to [email protected] with any suggestions or questions.

Take care,

Joseph Defraine Greenwell, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
University Life
Gender Pronouns: He/Him/His

Ixchel Rosal
Associate Vice President for Student Life
University Life
Gender Pronouns: She/Her/Hers