Events and Opportunities, 9/20 - 9/29

Dear Students, 

It’s Latinx Heritage Month, and there are some great events happening on campus! We hope you’ll join us on Thursday, September 29 at 5:00 PM for the The Art of the Latinx Rant, a conversation about Latinx identity and humor between Venezuelan-American comedian, writer, and actor Joanna Hausmann and Professor Frances Negrón-Muntaner.

Thank you to everyone who took part in Welcome Home Columbia over the last two weeks and read on for more great events!

Health Reminders

• COVID-19 Community Health Compact: Are you new to Columbia this year? The September 30th deadline is fast approaching to read and sign the Compact.
• Visiting Barnard? Please mask in all indoor spaces and review guest policies for academic buildings and residence halls.
• Take a moment to review Fall 2022 COVID-19 policies.

Events and Opportunities with University Life:

• Graduate Welcome (Hybrid). University Life invites graduate and professional school students from all programs and fields of studies to a one-day welcome event. Participants will have an opportunity to connect with faculty and administrators, and  build community with peers and mentors. 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. Friday, September 23, starting at 10:30 AM. Learn more and register here.
• Adult Education Center Ribbon Cutting / Community Impact Historical Retrospective (In-Person). Started by two passionate Columbia students, Community Impact (CI) has been serving the surrounding community for over 40 years. As the largest community service organization on campus, CI is excited to host a historical retrospective of the activities and events that have enriched the lives of thousands of students and community members and to celebrate the opening of a new Adult Education Center. Friday, September 23, 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM. Learn more and register.
• 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, September 27, 12:00 - 1:00 PM. Apply here by November 4.
• 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 the First Generation Roundtable with Columbia Faculty. Faculty will share their own experiences navigating higher education as first-generation college students. Wednesday, September 28, 6:00 - 7:00 PM. Learn more and register.
• 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. Thursday, September 29, 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Learn more and register.
• Stay Connected with Religious Life! Are you interested in learning about faith-related communities, upcoming holidays, and/or community building opportunities throughout this year? Religious Life's website and newsletter are the best sources for faith-based gatherings and events!

Columbia World Leaders Forum
This series of conversations with heads of state and other leaders spotlight pressing issues and offer Columbia students and scholars opportunities to ask questions of world leaders.

• Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (In-Person). Join Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Leader of Belarusian democratic forces, and Barnard College Professor Alexander Cooley for a conversation about the peaceful struggle for democracy in Belarus. Wednesday, September 21, 12:00 - 1:00 PM. Learn more and register.
• Dimitar Kovachevski (In-Person). Professor Alexander Cooley will speak with the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovachevski. Wednesday, September 21, 3:00 - 4:00 PM. Learn more and register here.
• Alok Sharma (In-Person). British Cabinet Minister and President of the 26th UN Conference on Climate Change (COP 26) Alok Sharma will reflect on the progress made in the historic Glasgow Climate Pact and urgent climate needs in conversation with Alexander N. Halliday, Founding Dean of the Columbia Climate School. Thursday, September 22, 10:30 - 11:30 AM. Learn more and register. 
• Gabriel Boric Font (In-Person). Join President Gabriel Boric Font of the Republic of Chile and Maria Victoria Murillo, Director of the Institute for Latin American Studies, for a conversation about how greater participation among women, youth, and indigenous peoples is transforming Chile. Thursday, September 22, 3:00 - 4:00 PM. Learn more and register.

Happening Around Campus

• Sex Is As Sex Does (In-Person). Join advocate and scholar Paisley Currah for a discussion of his new book, Sex Is As Sex Does, and a conversation about the precarious legal situations transgender and nonbinary people face when some government agencies do not recognize their gender identity on legal documents. Wednesday, September 21, 4:15 - 5:30. Learn more and register. 
• Public Humanities Skills Workshops (Virtual and In-Person). The Society of Fellows and Heyman Center for the Humanities will host a series of workshops exploring how the humanities can be shared with diverse audiences. Various dates and times. Learn more.
  • Join the hosts of Zora’s Daughters, 2021-22 Racial Justice Mini-grant recipients, to learn how to develop a podcast at the the first workshop on Wednesday, September 21, 2:00 - 4:00 PM.
• Anti-Racism Speaker Series featuring Dr. Tshaka Cunningham (Virtual). Join the School of Nursing’s Center for Research on People of Color for a presentation about how to personalize treatment for historically underserved communities. Thursday, September 22, 10:00 - 11:00 AM. Learn more and register.
• Inclusive and Affirmative Palliative Care for the LGBTQ+ Community (Virtual). Columbia School of Nursing hosts Dr. Noelle Javier for a seminar about how healthcare providers can affirm LGBTQ+ patients in their palliative care practice. Thursday, September 22, 12:00 - 1:00 PM. Learn more and register.
• Exodus from Afghanistan, One Year Later (In-Person). Join the Institute for the Study of Human Rights for a conversation about the Afghan Voices of Hope project, which is building community and cataloging stories of displaced Afghans. Thursday, September 22, 4:00 - 5:00 PM. Learn more and register.
• White Extremism, Antisemitism and Healing (In-Person). The Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights will host a discussion with the filmmakers of Repairing the World: Stories From the Tree of Life. The film and conversation will examine how the Pittsburgh community healed after the 2018 synagogue shooting and the ongoing threat of white supremacy. Thursday, September 22, 5:00 – 6:30 PM. Learn more and register.
• The Alums Behind The Daily Come to Barnard (In-Person). Founding producer, Theo Balcomb (BC ’09), and current co-host, Sabrina Tavernise (BC ’93), discuss The New York Times podcast The Daily and the role of audio journalism in helping us understand our most pressing challenges. Friday, September 23, 1:00 - 2:00 PM. Learn more and register. 
• Morningside Lights (In-Person). Celebrate with Columbia community members and neighbors at this outdoor procession of awe-inspiring handmade lanterns floating through Morningside Park to Columbia’s Campus. Saturday, September 24, 8:00 - 9:00 PM. Learn more.

Fellowship Opportunities

• Kraft Global Fellows Program. The Office of the University Chaplain is accepting applications for the January 2023 Kraft Global Fellowship Program to Nairobi. Fellows will work on a group research project, meet with community leaders, and visit religious and historical sites. Application Deadline: Today, Tuesday, September 20.
• Multi-Faith Fellowship (In-Person). Interested in building community across faith traditions? Apply to the Multi-Faith Fellowship for dinner and interfaith conversations every Wednesday with Religious Life. Students from all faith traditions are welcome. The first meeting and information session will take place on Wednesday, September 21, 7:00 - 8:30 PM. Learn more and apply. 

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