Columbia’s Residence Halls and Histories of Racism and Enslavement, SAAM, and Other Events and Opportunities, 4/26-5/10

Dear Students,

Even as the term concludes, there are a number of important events in the next two weeks. We particularly hope to see you at Libraries’ Columbia Residence Halls and Histories of Racism and Enslavement, Sexual Assault Awareness Month programming with La Bruja, and Say It Loud: Poets, Preachers, and the Politics of Black Faith. Find details and registration info below!

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

University Life Events (All events in ET)

• Women of Color Roundtable with Columbia Faculty (In-Person). Faculty will share their experiences navigating higher education as women of color. This event is part of the Graduate Initiative for Inclusion and Engagement. Tuesday, April 26, 6:00-7:00 PM. Register here.
• 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. Thursday, April 28, 1:00-2:30 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 90s 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. Final session: April 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.
• Practicing Zora (Virtual). In this roundtable, academics and artists will discuss how Zora Neale Hurston inspires their work and the phenomenon of Black women’s use as the “sliding glass door” that opens up new conditions of possibility. Participants will reflect upon the instrumentalization of Black women to ask: How can we tend to Black women’s memory and legacy with care? Wednesday, May 4, 4:10-6:00 PM. Register here.

University-wide Events and Opportunities

• 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 TODAY, April 26.
• The Infodemic: An Assault on Truth in the Time of COVID-19 (Virtual). Columbia Global Reports director Nick Lemann will moderate a conversation about censorship and the pandemic. TODAY, Tuesday, April 26, 6:00-7:00 PM. Register here.
• Denim Day. Wear jeans or denim on this day as a visible sign of support for survivors of sexual assault. You can also use a Denim Day background (white and denim versions) for your Zoom calls that day or update your social media profile icon with a Denim Day icon. Wednesday, April 27. Learn more.
• Hoping, Healing, Inspiring – A Collective Art Installation (In-Person). Join SVR for a community-created collective art installation and performance by NYC-based spoken word legend LA BRUJA in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Thursday, April 28, 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM. Register here. 
• Energy with a War Next Door: Europe’s Balancing Act (Hybrid). The Center on Global Energy Policy will host a fireside chat with the European Union’s Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, to discuss Europe’s plans to manage the current crisis. Thursday, April 28, 12:00-1:00 PM. Register here.
• Columbia Residence Halls and Histories of Racism and Enslavement (Virtual). Hear a presentation of research findings from the Columbia and Slavery Project and discuss and give feedback on proposals. Thursday, April 28, 4:00-5:00 PM. Register here.
• All In on Games! Bridging the Digital Divide Through Play with Dennis Morgan (Virtual). In this Bundles Community Scholars Lecture, Dennis Morgan, creator of Harlem CoLab, discusses how he connects Harlem-based school-age and adult learners with technology through game design in order to become tech-fluent and career-ready. Thursday, April 28, 4:00-5:30 PM. Register here.
• 2022 Climate Business & Investment Conference (Virtual). This conference—a joint effort by the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise and Columbia Climate School—brings together climate academics and business leaders to understand how new advances in research and practice can inform investments in specific sectors of the global economy. Friday, April 29, 8:00 AM - 12:00 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. CUIMC: Friday, April 29, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
• 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, times and locations vary. Learn more.
• Say It Loud: Poets, Preachers, and the Politics of Black Faith (In-Person). This evening, hosted by Josef Sorett, will feature a combination of live performance and conversation about the history and cultural politics of the spoken word: the connections between Black poetics and preaching, religious tradition and the literary arts, and performance as a practice of freedom. Friday, May 6, 5:30-7:00 PM. Register here by May 1. 
• 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