Events and Opportunities, 9/27 - 10/6

Dear Students,

We hope you’ll join us on Thursday, October 6th from 12:00 - 1:30 PM for Awakening Our Democracy: What’s At Stake in the Midterm Elections? in Pulitzer Hall. Columbia experts from a range of disciplines will discuss the Dobbs vs. Jackson ruling, its potential impacts on the November midterm election, and how we can meaningfully engage around these topics. Lunch will be provided to registered guests.

You can register and submit questions for panelists here.

Health Reminders

• Get your flu shot! Columbia Health and Student Health on Haven will host vaccination fairs for Morningside/Manhattanville students and CUIMC students. Just walk in to get your shot; this is how we stay healthy together!
• Are you new to Columbia this year? Sign the COVID-19 Community Health Compact by this Friday, September 30th. The deadline is fast approaching–take action now!
• Questions about monkeypox? Columbia Health will host a webinar for students on Friday, October 7th from 1:00 - 2:00 PM.  Learn more and register.

Events and Opportunities with University Life:

• First Generation Roundtable with Columbia Faculty (Virtual). University Life, in partnership with the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement, invites you to join us for a roundtable discussion where faculty will share their own experiences navigating higher education as first-generation graduate students. This event – part of the Graduate Initiative – was designed with the needs of students from historically marginalized communities in mind, including BIPOC and first-generation students. All students are welcome. Wednesday, September 28, 6:00 - 7:00 PM. Learn more and register.
• Art After Five: Fall Edition (In-Person). Create Fall-themed crafts while meeting students from across campus! Activities will include button making, decorating a free tote bag, and glow in the dark painting. Friday, September 30, 5:00 - 6:00 PM. Learn more and register.
• Yoga Class (In-Person). Take a break to relax with yoga in Earl Hall, hosted by Religious Life every Thursday. Please bring your own mat and arrive 5-10 minutes early to sign in and set up. Thursday, September 29, 7:00 - 8:00 PM. Learn more.
• Social Justice Mini-Grant Program. University Life invites you to apply for the Social Justice Mini-Grant Program and share innovative ideas to address social injustices, including efforts to bring awareness to racial, economic, accessibility and educational inequities. Learn more at the next information session on Tuesday, October 4, 4:00 - 5:00 PM. Apply here by November 4.
• University Life Events Council Leadership Team. Are you interested in planning events to bring the Columbia community together? Apply to the University Life Events Council! Applications for leadership, committee members, and school liaisons will be accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply here.

Community Citizenship Initiative Events

The following events fulfill one of the requirements for the Community Citizenship Initiative (CCI).

• The Art of the Latinx Rant (In-Person). Join Venezuelan-American comedian, writer, and actor Joanna Hausmann and Professor Frances Negrón-Muntaner for a far-reaching conversation about Latinx identity and humor. This event is co-sponsored by the Institute of Latin American Studies, Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement, Center for the Study of Ethnicity & Race, and University Life. This event fulfills the Inclusion & Belonging component of CCI. Thursday, September 29, 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Learn more and register.
• Bias Reduction Theory & Training (Virtual and Open to All CUIMC Students). This presentation by Dr. Dana Crawford raises awareness about how bias gets activated and manifests, and it teaches concrete, bias-reducing skills. This event fulfills the Inclusion & Belonging component of CCI. Monday, October 3, 12:00 - 1:30 PM. Learn more and register.
• Rethinking Sex – Better than Consent (In-Person). How can we make our sexual encounters not just consensual, but actually good? Join Christine Emba for a conversation about her first book, Rethinking Sex: A Provocation. This event is sponsored by Religious Life and fulfills the Sexual Respect component of CCI. Monday, October 3, 6:30 - 8:15 PM. Learn more and register.

Happening Around Campus

• NY State Senator Jessica Ramos: Understanding Voting Rights (In-Person). At this Q&A, Senator Ramos will share her journey to becoming a State Senator and discuss local and federal voting rights. Tuesday, September 27, 6:30 - 7:30 PM. Learn more and register.
• The Long March of Incarceration (Hybrid). This conversation hosted by the Society of Fellows and the Heyman Center for the Humanities will discuss the history of prisons and their roots in ancient slavery. Wednesday, September 28, 6:15 - 8:00 PM. Learn more and register.
• Complex Issues – Constructing a Nervous System: A Memoir (In-Person). Writing professors Margo Jefferson and Deborah Paredez discuss Jefferson’s new memoir, Constructing a Nervous System. Wednesday, September 28, 6:30 - 8:00 PM. Learn more and register.
• Justice and the Developing Brain: Revisiting People Incarcerated as Youth (In-Person). Law, science, and justice experts will discuss how research findings about brain development support reforms to the youth justice system that prioritize education, healing, and rehabilitation. Thursday, September 29, 5:00- 6:30 PM. Learn more and register.
• Being There, Being Here: A Celebration of Maurice Ebileeni's New Work (In-Person). This conversation with the Maurice Ebileeni will explore how a new generation of Palestinian writers and artists are bringing stories of their heritage into a variety of languages beyond Arabic. Friday, September 30, 1:00 - 2:00 PM. Learn more and register.
• Situational Awareness Training (Virtual). Public Safety presents a training on Situational Awareness: being aware of where you are and what is happening around you. Learn to be alert to potential threats to your health and safety and be cognizant of emergency exits and other paths to safety. Monday, October 3, 4:00 - 5:00 PM. Learn more and register.
• Self Defense Class (In-Person). Join Public Safety and the Shotokan Karate Club for a free self-defense class. Monday, October 3, 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Learn more and register.

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