Events Newsletter 2025-26

This Week at Columbia: Events & Opportunities 2/17 - 3/5

February 17, 2026
University Life Events & Opportunities

Dear Students,

We know how busy the semester can get, but we’d love for you to take a break and join us at one (or more!) of the events below. 

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

  • Success Workshop: A Culturally Competent Approach to Etiquette (In-Person). This session invites you to rethink etiquette beyond “unwritten rules,” exploring how professionalism, communication, and behavior are shaped by culture, identity, and position across academic and professional spaces. Thursday, February 19, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Grad Hangout: Art of the Vogue (In-Person). Category is: confidence, creativity, and community! Don’t miss this immersive workshop celebrating Black History Month through ballroom culture and voguing from The Graduate Initiative and Jonovia Chase, Executive Producer of the Netflix film I’m Your Venus. *Registration is full, but walk-ins are welcome if space permits. Thursday, February 19, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Du’Bois A’Keen: the Sacred Songs Suite (Hybrid). Visit St. Paul’s Chapel to listen to the composer and singer Du’Bois A’keen and embark on a sonic journey through jazz standards, timeless R&B ballads, and his own original works. Thursday, February 19, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Coffee, Conversations, and Spirituality (In-Person). Join Religious Life for coffee, breakfast, and exploration of big questions about life, meaning, and purpose. No beliefs required, just bring your sense of connection and curiosity. Friday, February 20, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Register here. 
  • American Folk Art Museum: Alexandria Eregbu (In-Person). Travel to the American Folk Art Museum to see Alexandria Eregbu’s exhibition Blue Magic, a sonic and textile experience exploring the deep histories of American quilting practices, oral storytelling, sound, and her own family history as a Nigerian-American. *Registration for this trip has reached capacity. We will reach out in the event of any openings. Saturday, February 21, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Painting with Strangers (In-Person). Pick up a brush and join University Life for a relaxing evening of meeting new friends, painting by numbers, tasty treats, and fun conversation. Wednesday, February 25, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Register here.
  • Legacy of New York – Morgan Library & Museum (In-Person). Step inside the Morgan Library & Museum to explore the exhibition Come Together: 3,000 Years of Stories and Storytelling. Learn how stories have been created and shared across culture and time, and gain new perspectives on how storytelling serves as a global tool for shaping community. *Registration for this trip has reached capacity. We will reach out in the event of any openings. Friday, February 27, 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Craftivism – Creating Change Through Women’s History (In-Person). Try your hand at a new hobby, including needleworking, paper quilting, assembling DIY boutonnieres, in celebration of Women’s History Month. Monday, March 2, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Register here. 
  • Community Connections: Bloom & Build for Women’s History Month (In-Person). Build LEGO designs with The Graduate Initiative and learn about the groundbreaking contributions made by women in STEM. Celebrate the legacies of icons like Mae Jemison and Janaki Ammal, and learn about those continuing to shape the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Wednesday, March 4, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Make Space: A Self-Care Crafting Series | #2 - Paint & Pause (In-Person). Enjoy a self-care break and a calming, creative moment as you paint your own mug or mini canvas. Thursday, March 5, 2:30 - 5:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Help Paws & Pause – Donate Fabric Scraps for Dog Toys (In-Person). Calling all animal lovers! We’re collecting clean cotton fabric scraps (old t-shirts, socks, and denim) to make DIY dog toys for local NYC shelters ahead of our spring study break event, Paws & Pause. Drop donations off in Kent 202 through April, and save the date to unwind with therapy dogs, crafts, and treats. More details coming soon! Learn more. 
  • Yoga Class Update: Religious Life’s weekly yoga class is taking a brief pause and will resume after spring break. We look forward to practicing together again soon.
     

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

  • Pop-up Concerts: Chico Pinheiro (In-Person). Listen to Brazilian guitarist Chico Pinheiro’s blend of Brazilian classics, jazz standards, and his own striking original compositions. TODAY, February 17, 6:00 p.m. Register here.
  • Things We Imagined Screening (In-Person). The Gordon Institute presents a special screening of Things We Imagined, a documentary directed by Dr. Charles H. F. Davis III, exploring the lived experiences and imagined futures of Black professors across the United States. The screening will be followed by a moderated discussion. TODAY, February 17, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Screening of Animalia (In-Person). Selected for the Sundance Film Festival, this French-Moroccan science fiction film follows Itto, a young pregnant woman who must find her strength while navigating a world turned upside down. TODAY, February 17, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Register here.
  • Audre Lorde Week: Free'd Between the Lines (a zine-making workshop) (In-Person). Explore and create your own zine in this hands-on workshop hosted by Multicultural Affairs, using it as a medium for expression and creativity while learning about the legacy of poet and activist Audre Lorde. Wednesday, February 18, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Register here. 
  • Reducing and Managing Stress | Well-being Workshop (Virtual). Join this workshop from Columbia Health’s Alice! Health Promotion to learn strategies for improving your stress management, sleep, and nutrition, as well as University resources that can provide support. Thursday, February 19, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Register here. 
  • Learn How to Learn to Code: Python (In-Person). Interested in learning how to code? Don’t miss this beginner-friendly session covering the basics of Python coding and additional resources that can help you continue learning. Thursday, February 19, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • MidDay Jazz – Free and Open to the Public (In-Person). Enjoy a student-led jazz performance of Louis Armstrong’s works at Lerner Hall. Friday, February 20, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Dr. Charles Drew Black History Month Blood Drive (In-Person). Donate blood to support lifesaving efforts across the NYC metropolitan area. Check your eligibility here, find a time that works for you, and be sure to bring your CUID. Monday, February 23, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Register here. 
     

Campus Resources to Support You

  • Take the Columbia LENS Survey. The 2026 LENS Survey is open until March 13! One student per day will be randomly selected to win a $100 Visa gift card upon completing the survey. After the survey closes, 50 respondents will also be randomly selected to win a $125 Visa gift card. Your feedback helps inform Columbia’s resources and services for current and future students, and is an opportunity to make your voice heard! Learn more. 
  • Need help with a paper or project? Schedule a one-on-one Zoom or phone-call research consultation with a librarian to get guidance on refining a topic, identifying strong sources, navigating databases, or developing a research strategy. With midterms approaching, take advantage of this resource to feel prepared and confident! Learn more. 


Wishing you all the best, 
University Life