University Life Weekly: Discover what's here for you!

Dear Students,

We hope that you’re settling into your Columbia routine with ease. As you navigate classes and meet new people, we encourage you to join us for more fun and events through Welcome Week. We look forward to seeing you there!

University Life Events & Opportunities 
All events listed below are in Eastern Time (ET), free, and open to all students across all schools and campuses.

• Sacred Music at Columbia (Hybrid). Join Religious Life at St. Paul’s Chapel for the first Sacred Music concert, which kicks off a free, weekly concert series featuring artists and musicians from across the globe. Thursday, September 17, 6 p.m. Learn more about Sacred Music at Columbia. 
• Student-Parents: Come Connect and Celebrate! (In-Person). Connect with the Center for Student Success and Intervention (CSSI) for an opportunity to meet fellow student-parents who are navigating the unique experience of balancing academics, family, and campus life while building a supportive community. Friday, September 18, 12 - 1:30 p.m. Register for Student-Parents: Come Connect and Celebrate!. 
• Let’s Kick Off SGARB Year 2! (In-Person). Learn more about the Student Group Accountability Review Board (SGARB) policy and the resources our team offers. Join us for themed games, prizes, and refreshments, and ask any questions you may have. Friday, September 18, 2 - 4 p.m. Register for Let’s Kick Off SGARB Year 2. 
• Food Pantry 101: Student Sign-On Support (Online). Looking to access pantry services but don’t know where to start? This session from CSSI will help you to confidently access and navigate the system. *The session will be recorded and posted to the Food Pantry website. Students can also reach out to [email protected] for additional food pantry sign-up support. Monday, September 21, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Register for Food Pantry 101: Student Sign-On Support.
• Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration (In-Person). Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most widely observed traditions across East/Southeast Asia and Asian diasporic communities around the world. Enjoy mooncakes and dumplings, lantern painting, and time in community. Monday, September 21, 6 - 8 p.m. Register for the Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration.
• Navigating Columbia Resources Workshop (Online). Join CSSI’s Student Support Team to learn about resources available to all students. Tuesday, September 22, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Register for the Navigating Columbia Resources Workshop.
• SNAP and the Food Pantry (Online). Explore resources that assist with food insecurity, including CSSI’s Food Pantry, as well as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and other community-based options. Monday, September 28, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Register for SNAP and The Food Pantry.
• Grad Hangout: Roots & Rhythm Bachata Workshop (In-Person). Explore the foundational steps of one of Latin America’s most beloved dance styles, Bachata and enjoy an evening of dancing and light snacks. Wednesday, September 30, 5 - 7 p.m. Register for the Grad Hangout: Roots & Rhythm Bachata Workshop.
• Volunteer with University Life this Year! Get involved with University Life through a variety of volunteering opportunities this year, including: supporting events, sharing in focus groups, participating in campaigns, and more. With no minimum time commitment, this is a great way to engage with the broader Columbia community. Sign up to Volunteer with University Life.
• Have questions about policies or guidelines? CSSI is available. As the year begins, we encourage you to take time to review the University’s policies and your individual school’s guidelines. CSSI is here to answer questions and support you during your time at Columbia regarding any policy concerns. Learn more about CSSI. 

Waitlisted Events
Registration for these events has reached capacity, but you may still be able to attend! You can join the waitlist, and we’ll be in touch if a space opens up. Questions? Reach out to the email listed on the registration page.

• Find a Friend: Film Fanatics (In-Person). Swap Letterboxd recommendations and discuss your favorites with fellow film-lovers. Decorate your own popcorn bucket and test your film knowledge with trivia featuring cult classics, recent releases, international cinema, and iconic movie quotes. Wednesday, September 16, 5 - 7:30 p.m. Join the waitlist for Find a Friend: Film Fanatics.
• Grad Networking: Lattes and Creative Connections (In-Person). No matter where you are in your Columbia journey, you’re invited to Dear Mama to meet graduate students from across the University whose work is shaped by creativity and innovation. Through guided conversations, explore how ideas and perspectives from one discipline might spark possibilities in another. Thursday, September 17, 5 - 7:30 p.m. Join the waitlist for Grad Networking: Lattes and Creative Connections.
• Wind Down Weekdays: Paddling Pals - A Kayak Excursion (In-Person). Looking to explore NYC’s outdoors? Join us and Manhattan Kayak at the Pier 84 Boathouse for a fun-filled excursion on the Hudson River. Friday, September 18, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Join the waitlist for Wind Down Weekdays: Paddling Pals - A Kayak Excursion.

More Events and Opportunities Happening Around Campus
The events below are only some of the free, University-wide events open to all students unless otherwise noted. For a full list of events, visit the University Events Calendar.

• Ride Your Bike to Campus (In-Person). Join Public Safety at CUIMC’s Haven Plaza for free bike tune-ups, device protection, safety consultations, transportation resources, and more. Wednesday, September 16, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Learn more about Ride Your Bike to Campus. 
• Pet Therapy (In-Person). Join Student Health on Haven and Zoe the lab from the Good Dog Foundation at Hammer Health Sciences Knowledge Center, Room 101, for a pet therapy session! All Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) students are welcome to drop in throughout the session. Friday, September 18, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Learn more about Pet Therapy. 
• Learn How to Learn to Code: Python (In-Person). Learn the basics of Python in this hands-on workshop where you’ll code along with the instructor and leave ready to continue your programming journey. Friday, September 18, 1 - 3 p.m. Register for Learn how to Learn to Code: Python.
• 15th Annual Morningside Lights: A Common Thread (In-Person). Venture outside to watch the annual procession of awe-inspiring handmade lanterns floating through Morningside Park to Columbia’s campus. Saturday, September 19, 8 - 9 p.m. Learn more about the 15th Annual Morningside Lights: A Common Thread. 
• Time Management | Well-Being Workshop (Online). Making informed choices about how to use your time can set the stage for academic success. Discuss factors that impact how you choose to spend time and discover tools to help you develop a balanced schedule. Thursday, September 24, 4 - 5 p.m. Register for the Time Management | Well-Being Workshop.
• Gatekeepers: Barriers to Gen Z Representation in Public Office (In-Person). Listen to Samuel Moyn, Chancellor Kent Professor of Law and History at Yale University, and Daniel HoSang, Professor of American Studies and Political Science at Yale, discuss the age division in American politics, with Suzanne Goldberg, Herbert and Doris Wechsler Clinical Professor of Law at Columbia Law School, moderating. Wednesday, September 30, 5:30 - 7 p.m. Register for Gatekeepers: Barriers to Gen Z Representation in Public Office. 
   

Campus Resources to Support You

• Get active this fall with Wellhub! Through the end of September, Wellhub is offering $50 off across all plans for three months, giving you access to discounted gym memberships, wellness apps, and other fitness resources all through one centralized plan. Learn more about Wellhub. 
• Utilize your CUID for Flex Dining. All enrolled students have access to Flex, a dollar-for-dollar declining balance account that you can use to pay for goods at all dining locations as well as a number of off-campus merchants. Learn more about Flex. 

Questions, ideas, or just want to say hello? We’re here to help! Reach out anytime at [email protected].

Wishing you all the best, 
University Life