Dec/Jan 2019/2020

a letter from our editors Dearest Readers, As the days draw shorter, the nights grow colder, and the city remains rooted in its bustle and buzz, finding stillness in the solitude and the scuttle is ever so important. With this installment of the Bulletin, we bring to you pieces that calm you, that warm your hearts, and that hopefully bring you a little bit of light amidst the fuss of returning to campus this spring semester.

From Health & Style, we’ve got you covered on mental health tips & tricks, the meaning of ‘winter blues’, and on spending some quality alone time - making or using your own sex toys! With Arts & Culture, we cover all your holiday favorites - films, books, music - as well as how to discover the winter wonderland that is NYC all on your own. In Politics & Opinion, we bring you pieces on inspiring new leaders with spotlights like “Women in Washington” and “The Youth are Rising” to light the fire inside you.

Finally, with this issue’s centerpiece, we look back on 2019 for all of its highs and lows. For all our triumphs and our failures. For all we have let go of and all we have learned. With the new year comes new reflection, and we hope that you are able to find warmth this month in the spaces you have built for yourself.

Readers, we have grown so much with you and from you. You have been our guiding lights, our best friends, our partners, as we have moved through the changes in weather and the changes brewing inside us. There’s no one else we like to cozy up to near the fire but you. Everything we do, we do for you. Know that as you turn the pages of this issue, we are here for you should you ever need or desire the support and love of community, of belonging, of solidarity.

With Tessa in our hearts and minds forever.

Love, love and more love, Kalena & Sara THE BULLETIN -

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SSUE IN THIS ISSUE 3 // letter from the editors 5 // behind the scenes 6 // Trending & Playlist

HEALTH & STYLE 8 // Crowdsourcing Calm 10 // Too School for Juul 12 // Sex Toys: Batteries Not Included 14 // More than ‘Winter Blues’ 16 // Screen queens

FEATURES 18 // bb book club the namesake 20 // "Mo-om, I'm home" 22 // BC Gifts for Everyone on Your List 24 // Senior Reflection: The Final Fall Semester 26 // Family, to You 28 // Centerpiece: Turning the Page on 2019

POLITICS & OPINION 34 // A Fight for Democracy 36 // Women in Washington 38 // Gentrification in our Backyard

ARTS & CULTURE 40 // Louis C.K.'s comeback: a #metoo rejection in Isolation 42 // Hanukkah in NYC 44 // Movie Review: Last Christmas 46 // Spotlight on Star Wars: The Finale of the Skywalker Saga 48 // Winter Reading List 50 // Holiday Film Classics: Ranked!

52 // Student Musician-On-Campus Spotlight 54 // Your Holiday Playlist 56 // Holiday Traditions 58 // It’s Cuffing Season… But I’m Still Cold!

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B EHIND BEHIND T HE THE S CENES SCENES

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Parasite

Taking up news sources and the Oscars is this thrilling Korean film that touches on class discrimination

The Wing Coming to a location on the Upper West Side soon, with a beauty bar, a fitness room, Perch cafe, and plenty of work space to get things done!

Sustainable & E thical FAshion & Apparel Some brands we love are tentree, Everlane, Outdoor Voices, Indigo Luna, and Revolve!

Heeled B ooties Perfect for winter weather, but avoid wearing in the snow!

Ear M uffs Let’s be real.

We hate hat hair.

Ear muffs keep us warm and feeling like a snow baby angel all winter ‘round.

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1.

Harry Styles Adore You

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2.

Billie Eilish everything i wanted

3. brockhampton Sugar

Odie Slowly

5.

Frank Ocean In my room

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4.

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H&S

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By Kylie Tangonan

ometimes we have a tendency to feel too self-indulgent when practicing relaxation and self-care during our busy weeks at college. However, taking breaks to stay sane is arguably the best method to clear your mind, separate academics from your personal life, and increase your productivity! Here are some ideas of how you can alleviate the stress of college and your never-ending to-do list.

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Illustration by Ketaki Krishnan

Crowdsourcing Calm

1. Do your laundry

A clear mind starts with a clear physical space. Start your laundry, tidy your room, or wash your dishes. Even though cleaning won’t necessarily solve your stress, being in an orderly space will allow you to relax and recharge while still being productive!

2. Start a journaling habit

Getting your thoughts onto paper is an underrated practice. Pick up a pen and paper and write as much or as little as you want about anything that’s on your mind. Dumping your emotional baggage will help you feel lighter by allocating some headspace to focus on unwinding.

3. Read a book

Adding on more reading to the pages and pages of assigned reading almost seems counterintuitive, but picking up a book that doesn’t have anything to do with school work is actually refreshing. Get cozy and grab a book, even if it’s that Harry Potter book that you’ve already read eight times.

4. Get moving

Layout by Hilda Gitchell

You don’t need to commit to an intense workout regimen to reap the benefits of movement! Squeeze a few fitbear classes into your schedule, practice yoga in your dorm, go for a walk down the block or a run in Riverside Park. If you’re feeling especially committed, take advantage of Barnard’s renowned dance program and register for a dance class for next semester!

5. Escape the Barnumbia bubble

If you have a few hours to spare, take the subway with a few friends and escape Morningside Heights. Grab something to eat, go thrift shopping, sit on a park bench and people watch, see a movie, or gawk at tourist attractions. Remember, you live in New York City - the bustling city is at your fingertips!

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Too School to Juul

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By Swati Madankumar

f you’ve been on campus for more than a few hours, you’ve probably noticed people with USB-looking devices in their mouths– on the street, at parties, or in class. Maybe you’ve been offered a ‘hit’, or even decided to purchase one yourself. E-cigarettes, commonly known as vapes or vape-pens, are insanely popular among students, mainly Juul.

How are e-cigarettes different from traditional ones that burn tobacco?

E-cigarettes heat a liquid that contains nicotine– or other drugs like marijuana– and other chemicals to produce an aerosol, liquid droplets suspended in air, that can be inhaled into the lungs. One Juul pod contains the same amount of nicotine as a twenty-pack of traditional cigarettes, making them cheaper. Juul pods are also more attractive to users because their nicotine salts cause less irritation to the throat than freebase nicotine, they have less odor, and are known to reduce users’ exposure to chemicals compared to cigarettes.

While the advantages of electronic cigarettes over traditional ones are certainly attractive, e-cigarettes are not completely harmless. Over the past few months, outbreaks of illnesses and deaths linked to e-cigarettes have dominated the news. Across the country, people– including teenagers– suffering from symptoms like coughing and vomiting found themselves hospitalized for pneumonia and acute respiratory illnesses that shunt oxygen from vital organs. According to the CDC, there have been at least 39 vape-related deaths across 24 states since October.

Juul released the vaporizer, an e-cigarette with a tank rather than a cartridge, as early as 2007, so what explains the recent epidemic? The Food & Drug Administration tested the lung fluids of many of the recent victims and reviewed patient histories. The federal agency has implicated THC, the primary psychoactive component in marijuana, as well as vitamin E acetate, a chemical that street sellers have used to thicken THC and dilute its concentration.

The demographics of the e-cig victims is surprising, considering that the product was originally intended for people who wanted their nicotine fix without the damaging effects of tobacco smoke– long-established smokers. Thus, the extent to which e-cigarettes are being designed and advertised towards the youth has been investigated, especially by Juul. Juul is overrepresented among the vaping products used by younger demographics.

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Children and young adults are more vulnerable to the intrigue of e-cigarettes because their decision-making and impulse-control regions of the brain are still developing. Not only that, they are also more susceptible to their harms because the synaptic connections between neurons that are formed to promote learning, memory-formation, and addiction, form faster at this stage in development than later on. Vaping is increasingly being viewed as a ‘gateway’ or ‘habit-forming’ drug because the addiction it fosters can cause users to turn to additional methods of acquiring nicotine, such as traditional cigarettes.

This is appalling, considering that e-cigarettes were designed to wean people off of traditional cigarettes.

Juul has been under fire for claiming that its products are safer than traditional cigarettes without sufficient scientific evidence and approval from the FDA. The company has been asked to provide justification for the composition of its product (i.e. nicotine salts, 5% nicotine content) as well as prove that its products pose less risk than traditional cigarettes. Opponents of e-cigarettes argue that they should be available only by prescription to those who are unable to quit traditional smoking by other means. Defenders argue that banning them would create a black market for them, which would increase the risk of the suspected causes of the recent epidemic. Nevertheless, Juul has since stopped its selling of flavored varieties, which largely increased their appeal to our generation.

As for the general public, health officials currently recommend abstaining from e-cigarette usage while deeper investigation into its health effects continues. It’s critical to not underestimate the effects of Juul.

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11 - Dec. 2019/Jan. 2020

Sex Toys:

Batteries Not Included

By Sophia D'Urso

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t’s the most wonderful time of the year— chilly weather means cozying up underneath your Twin XL comforter with your partner or Tinder date. But it also means your trip to Babeland inevitably keeps getting postponed. How will you experiment with consensual kinky sex if you can’t book it down to SoHo? Don’t cry, bold beautiful Barnard babe— the Design Center has got you covered! Whether you’re looking for some new toys for you and your partner or just want to get rid of your dorm room fever with some kinky crafts, here are some project ideas for DIY sex toys you can make with Design Center tools that won’t break the bank.

Flogger

--What you’ll need-★ Paracord, 4mm diameter, two 8’ pieces ★ 1-2 Large jump rings ★ Scissors ★ Lighter ★ Cylindrical piece of balsa wood, 4-5” long x .25” diameter ★ YouTube Tutorials: “Mini Paracord Flogger by Paracord Guild”; “Square (Box) Stitch - Starting”; “Square (Box) Stitch - Finishing” If you’ve ever been to summer camp, you already know how to make one of these. The flogger is essentially the R-rated version of your favorite lanyard friendship bracelet pattern. You’ll start by cutting two pieces of paracord to size and threading them through the jump rings until the rings are halfway between the two ends of paracord. Fold the paracord in half so you can hold the four strands between the thumb and index fingers of your non-dominant hand. Start looping— I used a box pattern because I thought that would be easiest, but you can also do barrel, Chinese Staircase, or any fancy knotting pattern you prefer (if you don’t know how to do these, ask the Design Center staff or consult Google).

Once you’re two knots in, put the piece of wood (I found my piece in the scrap wood drawer) in the center of your knots, and continue knotting around it. When you reach the end of the wood, cast off your knot— this is the handle of your flogger. Then, cut the strips of paracord to equal length, knot the ends, and use your lighter to singe the ends of paracord together so they don’t fray. Kachow!

Congratulations on your new flogger. Be sure to first test the strength of your flog on your partner, so you both can have a pleasurable S&M experience!

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Breathable Gag

Wrist Restraints

--What you’ll need-★ Long leather strip, measured to taste ★ Smaller leather strip ★ Scissors ★ 6 Large jump rings (same variety as Flogger) ★ 1 practice golf ball (like a wiffle ball, but

golf ball-sized)

your dominant hand, if you’re ~hardcore~)

--What you’ll need-★ 2 yards of satin fabric (best if it has a

★ 2 pairs of pliers (or 1 pair of pliers and ★ YouTube Tutorial: “DIY Ball Gag - Create Your Own BDSM Toys” Begin by cutting your leather strip to size— you want it large enough to fit around the back of your head to the front of your mouth, with some room for the ball (a little excess is okay because you’ll be making the back adjustable). Make a hole on one end of the leather strip (about 1/16th” away from the edge) and put the first jump ring through the hole, using the pliers to open and close it. Thread the second jump ring through the other end of the leather, only about an inch of the way. Take the end of the strip that has the second jump ring, thread it through the first jump ring, and then fold it so you can thread it back through the second jump ring (like those neat belts that have rings instead of actual buckles). This will be the back of your breathable gag.

On the side of the strip opposite the two jump rings, cut the strip in half. Make two holes— one on both ends (about 1/16th” away from the edge), and put the third and fourth jump rings through these holes. Before closing the jump rings, place another closed jump ring on each one (fifth and sixth jump rings) so that you have two jump rings connected to each other on either side, but you still have two separate ends of your leather strip. Make two more holes on either end of the smaller leather strip, thread it through the practice golf ball, and finally connect the ends of the strip with the fifth and sixth jump rings.

Wow! A breathable ball gag, just as easy as that.

When using this toy, you won’t be able to say a safe word— establish a signal instead, such as snapping your fingers, so you and your partner can have the best time possible!

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little bit of stretch)

★ Sewing Machine ★ YouTube Tutorial: “Bondage Tutorial: Single Wrist Restraint” Even if you’re a beginner at sewing, I guarantee you can make these with some help from the Design Center staff members. Start by cutting six 1” strips lengthwise, so your strips are one inch by six feet. Fold the strip in half widthwise so the shiny side is on the inside and not showing. Sew the edges of the strips together (you’ll end up with a tube of fabric) and then turn the tube inside-out so the shiny side is outside again. Take three of the strips and sew the tops of them together, braid them together, and then sew the ends— repeat for the other three strips.

The result should look like two pieces of cute, stretchy braided rope. Following the Single Wrist Restraint tutorial, you’ll be able to shape your rope into a comfortable knot around you or your partner’s wrist, and then you can tie the excess to the bed. Remember to establish a safe word with your partner and set boundaries beforehand, so both of you can have fun with bondage!

I hope you all feel inspired to check out the Barnard Design Center— whether kinky sex is your thing and you want to experiment with new toys or you just want an excuse to use the stunning space. When using these toys, remember to establish boundaries, keep it safe, and, most importantly, enjoy yourselves. Happy kinking!

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More than ‘Winter Blues’

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By Erika Chan

oving to New York can be a difficult transition, especially in the winter where the days are short, and it’s always cold. As you move farther from the equator, people are more likely to get seasonal affective disorder, otherwise known as SAD. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that comes and goes with the seasons,” most often affecting people in the late fall or winter. Some common symptoms are “having low energy,” “hypersomnia,” also known as excessive sleeping or having trouble falling asleep, overeating and weight gain, and loss of interest in activities and social withdrawal. Many factors can increase your chances of having SAD, such as gender, location, and age. Women are diagnosed 4 times more than men are, people in New England are 9x more likely to have SAD than people in Florida, and young adults are at a higher risk of having SAD.

There are treatments such as psychotherapy, medication to increase serotonin, lightboxes, and vitamin supplements. Lightboxes, also known as SAD lamps, light lamps, and light therapy boxes, mimic the sunlight and help realign your circadian cycle, although they can be expensive. They average around $70, but you can find them on amazon for as low as $30. Although many have found Vitamin D supplements helpful, there have been mixed findings on whether it truly helps. Buzzfeed also complied a list of things people that suffer from SAD do during the winter to feel better or happier:

1) Plan events in advance to look forward to, whether that be a cute ice skating date or a fun movie night

2) Make a SAD box with items such as coffee vouchers, bath bombs, and new candles, and pick an item every week to treat yourself

3) Pick up a new hobby to stay social!

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And of course, Furman Counseling Center is an amazing resource.

They have individual therapy session, counseling groups, and listening hours.

Counseling groups are great for expressing emotions to others, and can help people feel less alone knowing others have similar experiences. Listening hours are low commitment drop-in sessions to chat with a counselor, and are held on Monday and Thursday nights. In this difficult season, be sure to keep an eye out for your friends and those close to you, and to help and support one another.

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Screen Queens

By Swati Madankumar

I

f you have an iPhone, your phone can now tell you the amount of time you spend on screen each day, what your most used apps are, how many times you pick up your phone, and what app you usually use right after you pick up your phone. Talk about invasive.

The growing consensus is that social media and screen-time = bad, but how founded is this claim?

Should our phones wield the power to possibly instill guilt in us for the amount of time we spend on them and what we do on them, or should we be thankful for them for doing this? A cost-benefit analysis of social media is one way to formulate an answer to this.

First, regarding our mental health, which encompasses our psychological and social well-being. Social media helps you form and maintain friendships.

While people often question the truth and depth of these relationships compared to those that are in-person and also their ability to develop one’s interpersonal skills– according to the Child Mind Institute, they are definitely much needed when you find yourself losing touch with friends who attend other universities, missing family members, or studying abroad and feeling lonely– all situations in which you would not otherwise be connecting with these people besides over phone, email, text, or regular postage mail. Additionally, on social media, you can discover circles of people who share a common interest or identity.

On a more individual level, it’s easy to find positive, inspirational quotes or messages on social media that can lift your spirits when you’re feeling down.

At the same time, seeing the existence of clubs or groups that you may not be able to join, or friends bonding, can increase feelings of loneliness or isolation. It’s easy to forget that photos and videos can be distorted by filters, photoshop, and the sheer autonomy that people have over what they post and how representative the content they share is of their actual college experiences.

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towards perfectionism, and other mental health issues that many college-age students face.

Yet, according to the Huffington Post, a few colleges have harnessed the reach of social media to improve the mental health of their students.

Drexel University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania have used social media as a way to connect students and peers to mental and emotional support services in response to cases of high stress and suicidal ideation.

Next, physical health. Many people have earned money by running accounts that educate and motivate others on healthy lifestyle changes, in areas such as exercise and nutrition. On the flip side, there can be inaccurate information and content that can lead to unhealthy attitudes and habits surrounding body image and diets. Regarding the physical usage of one’s phone, the glow or light from one’s phone can inhibit the release of melatonin, a hormone that is produced in darkness and promotes sleep. The result could be worsened quality in deep sleep, which is when memory formation takes place and is crucial to optimal academic performance.

The bottom line is that it’s important to remember that all of the effects that social media has on you are really within your control, due to the amount of time you choose to spend on it. Maybe it’s worth considering slowly weaning off the screen by setting goals as to how much time to spend on social media– balance is key. Recognition of how your usage of social media could be affecting your self-perception and confidence is a critical first step.

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Features

the namesake

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he act of naming, a cultural tradition that exists almost universally, is one that is often explored as a dichotomy in literature. You may recall reading excerpts from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in 10th grade English, or still get confused between the characters Macbeth and Macduff while taking Shakespeare I at Barnard. Either way, having read these texts or not, all of us have some sort of relationship to our names which is usually highly personal and sometimes conflicting with who we imagine ourselves to be.

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birth name, Jhumpa Lahiri engages with the struggle of a personal identity at odds with a hand-me-down name torn from a Russian book on the Ganguli family bookshelf. The Gangulis recently moved to Boston from Calcutta, India in pursuit of prestigious jobs at MIT. The couple impulsively decide upon the name Gogol for their unborn son because Ashoke, Gogol’s father, believes that the Russian author’s book of short stories helped save his life many years ago.

As Gogol grows older, he realizes that his given name subscribes neither to his Indian roots nor to the conventional “Jacobs” or “Michaels” many of his classmates call them-

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Design & Illustration by Galiba Gofur

By Emily Talpey

selves by. Gogol’s impression of not belonging causes him to withdraw both from other Indian-American students and white urban New England from which he feels increasingly estranged. Per consequence, Gogol makes an official, legal change to Nikhil, the Russian author’s first name, as he feels it more closely matches the American name “Nick.”

Yet as time goes on, Lahiri’s protagonist cannot seem to shake the sense that he has somehow betrayed his parents, as Nikhil develops a new persona—one who “grows a goatee, starts smoking Camel Lights at parties and, while writing papers and before exams, discovers Elvis Costello and Brian Eno and Charlie Parker.” These brands and activities, which help Nikhil feel as though he fits in, in many ways do help him to succeed: he goes on to complete an Ivy League education and work as THE BULLETIN -

an architect under the guise of this new persona. Meanwhile, Gogol’s parents, although also successful in their careers, describe their foreignness as “a sort of lifelong pregnancy—a perpetual wait, a constant burden, a continuous feeling out of sorts,” which is shared by Nikhil/ Gogol.

In this riveting narrative which deals with notions of cultural identity, tradition, and familial expectation, Lahiri creates a world which delves into the intricacies of a family’s life caught between the discordant perceptions of themselves and from others. Yet beneath these complex anxieties lies the story of something much more simple—the hopes, desires, and regrets mirrored in both a son and his family as they all head forward in time, immigrants of their pasts, grappling with an urgency of a present identity which can perhaps exist in multiple time signatures.

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“Mo-om, I’m home!”

By Julia Betancourt

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nlike most Barnard students, I am fortunate enough to be able to say these words every day, as I let the apartment door slam shut behind me and walk into the living room to greet my parents. Commuting to school is a vastly different experience from that of other Barnard students, for whom packing a lunch, hugging parents “hello” after school, and carefully planning every day to make it home at a decent hour all seem like archaic customs. For Barnard’s commuting population, however, this is an everyday experience.

Most students don’t realize that it is even possible to live at home for these four years. I can understand why—when applying to college, my high school insisted that “everyone dorms” and I was pushed to apply to two out of state schools despite knowing even back then that I would commute. For me, it made more sense to live at home, where I could enjoy my parent’s cooking every night, than to spend $10,000 a year or more on a dorm. If I didn’t dorm when I went to high school four miles from home, then why should I dorm at a school a quarter of the distance away? I knew the adjustment to college would be difficult and that changing my living space would only make that more stressful.

This is not to say that commuting is never stressful—there are days when I wish I could roll out of bed at 8:30, still in my pajamas, and still make it to an 8:40 on time, or that I could THE BULLETIN -

snuggle up in my bed and nap for the strange, two hour break between my piano class and my seminar. But my bed is too far away from campus to make this happen. I would also like not having to come up on a day in the middle of reading week to drop a hard copy of my final paper under a professor’s door, especially when email will suffice. This simple request that takes ten minutes for a residential student can take two hours out of a commuter’s day. This semester, I am taking a science lab that requires me to stay on campus after dark, something I usually try to avoid. Assuming the class ends on time, I could catch a bus that leaves me across the street from my building twenty-five minutes later.

However, on most days, more than half the class stays past the official end time to finish the work. If I stay after class and miss my bus, I have to wait at least thirty minutes for the next one or put myself in danger by walking through streets that are abandoned when the sun goes down.

The difference between a class ending on time and two minutes late makes all the difference in a commuter’s day.

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However, commuting has its benefits, such as built-in exercise as I walk to campus every morning and a mandatory break from school when I leave the immediate neighborhood to go to sleep every night. I am able to run to my mother for advice and support when college is stressful, instead of having to calculate time differences and hope that she didn’t go to bed early again. I don’t have to worry that, in addition to not studying for a quiz at 2:40, I forgot to pack my lucky sweater after bringing it home for the summer. The little things make all the difference, so that when the big challenges come up, like midterms and research papers, I feel more equipped to handle them.

Strangely, the people who seem to “get it” the most, besides other commuters, are professors. And I can’t help but wonder why, until they start discussing their own commuting experiences, either from their undergraduate days or now that they travel into New York from other towns. I believe that this lack of student understanding stems from campus culture, one which practically requires living on-campus to fully participate in late-night clubs and events. For commuter students, it just isn’t practical to stay on-campus for club meetings that start at 8pm. In my case, with classes that start at 8:40, I would be out in the world for more than twelve hours without a place to take off my shoes and rest awhile.

Skip-Stop, Barnard’s commuter organization, does help with this predicament. Housed out of the commuter lounge in 103 Diana, Skip-Stop serves to help commuters engage with the greater Barnard community. In my THE BULLETIN -

first semester, this group helped me to feel as though I belonged on a campus that ignored my need to get home at a decent hour. Through events such as Midday Breakfast and Little Sub, commuter-friendly alternatives to two of Barnard’s most beloved evening and nighttime traditions, Skip-Stop provides a place for commuters to exist without having to board an empty train late at night. Since sophomore year, I have been a member of the e-board, working with other commuters to advocate for commuter students and provide opportunities for them to enjoy events that don’t require leaving campus at unsafe times.

I admit, commuter life is not the easiest, nor is it for everyone. But there is something about the community that binds us together. Those of us who are left on the margins of Barnard’s club and social scenes have come together to support each other in ways that I can’t explain. We are able to discuss travel hacks and tips on how to schedule classes so that we don’t have to spend too much time on campus with nothing to do. There is an unspoken understanding, one shared between each and every commuter, that this is the right choice for us.

No matter what odd looks we get as we open the blue lockers in the basement of Barnard Hall, we will continue to walk, ride the bus, take the train, ride a bike, or carpool proud of our choice and in solidarity with one another.

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BC Gifts for Everyone on Your List

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By Sophia D'Urso

un out of time to shop for holiday gifts for your friends? Don’t want to brave long lines and frustrating crowds? Too lazy to put on all your layers? The Barnard Store has everything you need to spread holiday cheer— and if you take a cozy tunnel stroll, you don’t even have to go outside!

Check off everyone on your list with these gifts for every type of friend: The One Who’s Always Cold The Barnard beanie is perfect for your friend whose hands feel like they could freeze over hell. With a cozy knit and cute pom-pom, you can use this as a counter to your friend’s excuse for not wanting to come out to Mel’s (or anywhere, really).

Price: $20.00 (available in black and grey) The One Whose Motto is (or Should Be) “Hydrate or Die-drate” Tagging your friends in memes only goes so far in reminding them to stay hydrated. With this water bottle, they’ll have no excuse not to— and with added benefits like glowing skin and joint lubrication, who wouldn’t want to drink water out of this cute stainless steel vessel? Watch out Hydroflask, because the Barnard water bottle is about to steal ya VSCO girl.

Price: $24.00 (available in blue and silver) The Dad Coveted. Classic. Crisp. You’ve seen it in the Buy/Sell page and have cursed yourself for not commenting in time to cop. It wasn’t even in stock when we checked out the store for this article. But who knows? Maybe you’ll be gifted some good holiday fortune and catch the Barnard Dad hat on the restock so your Dad friend can pat you on the shoulder and say, “Thanks, kid.”

Price: $22.00 (also available in “Mom,” if you’re willing to settle)

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The One Who Teaches Fitbear Classes Cute and has a pocket? We ain’t lying, the Barnard Under Armour leggings are both stylish and functional. Your friend will thank you for helping them listen to music while doing their squat sets.

Price: $55.00 (available in navy and grey)

The One Who Craves Affection and Intimacy Help gently nudge your friend into the dating scene in time for cuffing season with this adorable Barnard Teddy Bear!

Everything’s better when it’s wearing a sweater.

Price: $22.00 (also comes in a smaller version if you don’t want to invest in a big boi)

Your Bestie: AKA, You The holiday season is all about spreading love, and what better way to do so than to treat yoself? Not only is the Barnard Hanky Panky underwear super comfy, but the rhinestones are durable and stay on after many a wash, according to a Barnard Store staff member. Secretly stuff your own stocking with this ego-fluffing treasure.

Price: $20.00 for thong, $32.00 for boyshort (available in vibrant blue, powder blue, and white) The Barnard Store’s hours are 10am-7pm Monday through Friday— be sure to stop by if you’re trying to check off a few more people on your holiday gift list, or you just want to chat with the awesome staff members!

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Senior Reflection:

The Final Fall Semester

By Samantha Shih

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he first day of my senior year, I pranced around all day with a face-splitting grin spanning from ear to ear. With a bright red t-shirt, and a pair of jeans that hugged just right, the entire year was mine for the taking. “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone bounced off my eardrums and put a little spring in my step that can be described as nothing short of cartoonish. Think Spongebob and Patrick delivering the Krusty Krab pizza on a bright Morningside Heights morning, as opposed to a pastel-colored afternoon in Bikini Bottom. I made it to my senior year a completely changed, yet still entirely the same, me.

Throughout the years, I have been challenged in such a variety of cruel, nuanced, and beneficial ways.

While there have been many valuable lessons learned within the four walls of the classroom, I have come to discover many crucials aspects of my identity in the most unorthodox places. Whether perched on the end of someone’s bed, wistfully plotting revenge schemes on the subway, or wandering through the West Village zillowing townhouses in the shrouded darkness of the night, I have grown beyond the boundaries of my wildest imagination alongside the other 8.623 million humans in this steely city.

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Senior year is a little bit different for me compared to the past few years at Barnard. Every day feels like the most pristine opportunity to get caught up in my feelings. If you know me, you know that isn’t too much of a stretch, but senior year can mean a lot of different things for different people.

I am not sure if we’re supposed to feel ages wiser as veteran navigators of this tumultuous system of academia.

If we wear the coveted crown of seniority, does that mean we are supposed to have it all figured out? While the near and distal future is a beast I am not quite ready to battle, this year is going to be about learning to define yourself by the grace and speed of the bounce back, not by the size of the success. Senior year is about hovering in the gray spaces of the unknown and terrifying. Spend time with the kind of people that love with such unconditional might that their mere words ground you to the earth like the ancient roots of the Daddy tree that all the kids climbed on in your neighborhood cul-de-sac. In fact, this year, for me, has been accentuated, complemented, and made utterly unforgettable by my experience as a senior interviewer.

In this role, a small cohort of us get to serve as representatives of the school, as well as of our own individual sto-

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ries and experiences, while interviewing current high school seniors. We try to gauge their potential to grow into bold, brilliant, Barnard women.

There is a rough skeleton structure that I have in the back of my mind when I am conducting interviews, but each one is as unique as the girls that I meet. Over the course of an entire semester pianists, authors, physicists, and wrestlers have all carved out a chunk of their day to share their story with me.

In a matter of seconds, I try to read as much as possible from that person in order to meet them at their level of energy and style of communication.

Above all, I work to make the interview a space for these young women to show off their origin stories. I know I am doing my job well when I see their eyes dance and hear their voices crescendo as their profess their most passionate ambitions. In return, I share my adoration for Barnard and my own musings on my journey. I have spent days in fogs of funk, numbness, and frustration and had my entire mood pivot during an afternoon in the office of admissions at Barnard.

Instead of a peer giving me a portion of their attention in passing, or having to struggle to articulate heavy emotions swirling around in my head, I dive head first into showing up completely for another person. I envelope myself in reading their cues, learning their story, and digesting all the concrete and abstract information they gift me. Under the best circumstances, the interviewees THE BULLETIN -

do the majority of the talking. I get to sit there and bask in what it feels like to sprint the 50 meters freestyle, travel to Scandinavia to sing at the induction of a political figure, or act alongside Kate Winslet in an HBO drama. I vibrate with giddy gratitude as I get to have that magic click with someone so young, on the precipice of such greatness, as I myself am nearing the end of this chapter in my life. This may be naive, but I chose to hold out hope that there will be opportunities—though much more rarely—to connect with another human soul in the vast unknown of the world outside of Barnard’s gates. Life is nothing if you don’t get to share it with family, friends, and even more importantly the young, wide-eyed hopefuls who dream of treading along the path you have paved so gallantly.

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Family, to You

By Gabriela Sanchez

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i familia is such an important part of my life. In fact, it has been hard for me to be physically away from them while being at Barnard. I have a tendency to stress easily and sometimes, all I need to feel okay is un abrazo de oso rompe costillas. My family will always have a special place in my heart. I feel safe, loved, and cared for when I am around them. Luckily, I live in the city so I am not too too far. But I can feel the emptiness when I am not around them.

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I think it’s funny to reflect on 16 year old me. I remember telling my high school and middle school friends how excited I was to apply for college outside of New York City so I could experience freedom in a different way. Yet, here I am trying to take any opportunity I can to head home.

There’s a different kind of cariño that I feel when I am at home. To begin with, apodos are a big deal in my family. Everyone has one. My name is Gabriela and for

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some bizarre, yet unique reason, my parents and siblings have come up with a myriad of nicknames for me. This is one of the many talents I would love to inherit when I have a family of my own.

My family provides a safe space for me to express myself however I would like without feeling judged. They allow me to express myself in easier ways because they know who I really am and what my intentions are. Now that the holiday season is around the corner, I am looking forward to seeing my primos, primas, tias, tios y mi abuelita all in the same room.

I don’t really get to see my entire family very often, but I treasure the times we do get together. We always have interesting conversations. The last time we reunited was on my little brother’s birthday.

That day we had a debate about whether we thought math was invented or discovered. We sat down until midnight trying to come with a definite conclusion but, of course, we had to just call it an even split because we felt passionate and certain about our respective assertions and beliefs.

La familia Sanchez-Torres remains loyal to traditions until this day. My favorite one is Thanksgiving. On that night, we all stand in a circle and say what we are

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grateful for; it’s a very unique experience to say the least. Some years I get emotional and my voice shakes a little because it’s hard to put into words what I am grateful for. Other years I know exactly what I want to say but when it’s my turn I blank out because there’s just so much in my life that I am grateful for. But, I usually end up saying that I am grateful to celebrate another year of life with my family and friends on this holiday.

Being part of la familia Sanchez-Torres has taught me how to be compassionate, loyal, caring, loving, and so much more.

I am so grateful to be part of this family and can’t imagine myself being elsewhere. We always aim to support each other and push each other to be our best selves. I only hope that one day I will be able to provide this same kind of environment for my children in the future.

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Turning the Page on 2019

By Lara Yener

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W

hen the clock struck midnight on 31 December 2018 in Istanbul, I made a silent wish among the shouts, cheers and fireworks painting the sky.

I wished that when I am welcoming 2020 a year on from that moment, my life will have been freed of the internal struggles that had traumatized my mind and turned my life upside down during the past two months.

It wasn’t Barnard itself that had tortured me so, but the institution had unfortunately triggered an internal turmoil within me and had, by that point, so many bad associations to its name that they almost drowned out the happy memories from my first month here. It had all started with one fearful thought during a First-Year Seminar class in late October—I still remember the THE BULLETIN -

way my mind tore through my heart and stomach like a dagger—and by December I was fairly convinced that I was suffering from OCD. I wished for the new year to whisk it away as abruptly as it had come.

Barnard got colder and so did I. January and February stormed by in a breeze; Barnard had snow days and I had more free time on my hands to mentally obsess over every fearful impossible scenario that seemed to get louder and closer by the minute. I stopped going to class; I had no desire to learn about the world when I was busy trying to keep my own from crumbling. I stopped calling my parents to tell them about my day because I was able to convince myself that I would never be able to share the true depths of my mind with them anyways. I remem-

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bered making an effort before to tell them about what was going on within me, but that train had already passed.

It got me nowhere and so I made myself at home in that numb void. I wandered into Riverside Park frequently and gazed over the Hudson, feeling myself longing for someplace I’d never been before.

I remembered being a fighter in November, and December, and even in January and February. Now I felt more like a veteran who can’t make home feel like home again— numb to the point where I’d lost vision of what I wanted for myself.

Formals and mixers came and went and I tricked myself into thinking that one night in EC would be powerful enough to whisk the bad little thoughts away (I will admit: it was fun while I was able to trick myself).

Bacchanal rolled around and I discovered that partying in the day could be more fun than forcing yourself to get pleasure out of being stuffed in a sweaty EC suite with fifty other freshmen in an attempt to “get your kicks” on a Saturday night.

A year went by, May came around and I started packing. That very last day at Barnard—it was actually a fine day, with the sun shining and my motivation to revel in the joy of existing somewhat restored—I packed up all my leftover food in my dorm and gave it to one of the homeless men I frequently saw at the entrance to Morton Williams. I don’t think I’ve ever been frozen in my tracks the way I was when I watched his reaction to taking the hefty shopTHE BULLETIN -

ping bag out of my hands. A sad mix of surprise and euphoria danced on his expression and he said, “This... this is a lot …” before raising himself up, looking me in the eye and through my soul and saying, “Is this coming from your heart? Because I don’t want it if it’s not.” I, with my propensity for ruining emotional moments out of nervousness, said, “Well, it’s never too

late!” and then he laughed and said, “I liked the way you said that!” before looking at me once more and promising me, “You’re going to be ok. You’re going to be alright.”

As my plane took off the cemented ground of New York City, I secretly wished that I’d be coming back a woman freed of everything

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that had tormented me during my first nine months at Barnard. But there were days in between that time and when I came back to NYC when I felt like I did nothing all summer but wait for myself to be myself again.

At the time it felt as if my entire plan of regaining my strength and life would collapse if I hadn’t beaten this demon by the time I circled back for my sophomore year. Looking back now, within the last month of 2019 (and the 2010s decade), however, I know that that wasn’t the way it was supposed to go, and that was alright, because I ended up learning invaluable things—both about what I was battling and, more profoundly, about myself—during this first semester.

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finding comfort in my own confusion and wilderness. It reminded me of a time when I was twelve and distinctly pondered about how I felt more at home out on an adventure because, as a cheesy Internet poet had put it, I was “never as free as when I am lost.” At first, it hurt to realize how my battle with OCD had torn that essential piece of my spirit apart from me and made me into a woman now afraid to be lost and free. As I was furiously trying to deny that this part of me had changed so, a rare calm— one that only really pays visit in my times of heavy trouble—took over to utter the words, “you may be afraid of exploring your world and getting lost, but you’re going to do it anyway, because your courage solely stems

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from your fears meeting your determination to not let them win over.”

OK, maybe she didn’t write those words out in front of my eyes, but it was enough for me to at least keep pushing on.

2019 is almost over and I’ve learned so much just in the past week. I made a new friend, in the truest sense of the word, and they helped raise me up from a place so dark I thought I must’ve been invisible. They changed my life in a matter of hours by simply being their authentic selves, and I realized just how much I’d missed that cozy feeling—it’s been so long since I’ve seen myself fully. (So thank you for all the times I heard you speaking to another person about me, and it was in affection, trust and admiration. Thank you for showing me what I could be when I was so lost within myself that I couldn’t even find it there.) I’ve lost myself this year and not yet found myself entirely, but as I’ve already said, I’m not afraid of being lost anymore. As I’m writing this in the wee hours of a Saturday morning, I’m able to feel Barnard encompassing and nurturing me and giving me a home here in NYC for the first time— not because it’s answered all my questions, but because it refused to let my hand go as I slowly restored my lifeblood running its course through THE BULLETIN -

me. 2019’s pages may have been battered, stained, ripped around the edges—but once the story grips you, that’s never enough to make the reader put down the book solemnly. My own story is one of the most beautiful things I can perceive, and I feel so good knowing that I’m doing one of the things I enjoy best—fierce rebellion—by choosing to turn my page over to 2020 instead of letting the book slip through my fingers.

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P&O

A Fight for Democracy By nomi weinberger

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s the fifth anniversary of The Umbrella Movement passes, it is important as young people to take note of both the significance of the movement and the key players involved. The Umbrella Movement was a series of protests in Hong Kong from September through December of 2014 in which people of Hong Kong took to the streets to fight for universal suffrage.

The predominantly youthled movement was triggered by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress announcing the implementation of a pre-screening of candidates for the election of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong on August 31st, 2014.

At the helm of said movement is Joshua Wong, who, at the beginning of the protests, was just 14 years old. For his work in promoting and spreading the resistance to anti-democratic policies enforced by the government of China in Hong Kong, Joshua has garnered both positive and negative attention: he suffered arrests but THE BULLETIN -

was also honored with global media attention including a Netflix Documentary, Teenager vs. Superpower.

The aforementioned anti-democratic policies primarily revolve around the election process of the Cheif Executive: a nominating committee would elect a few candidates who would then be subject to popular election, but ultimately, the Cheif Executive could only be appointed by the Central People’s Government - the government of China.

The current bout of protests was sparked by the controversial extradition bill which essentially would

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have given mainland China the ability to extradite criminal suspects.

The bill has since been suspended after millions of people in Hong Kong took to the streets demanding political reform. However, the demonstrations have spiraled into a larger movement that calls for greater democratic freedoms.

In order to understand the issue, holistically, it is necessary to consider the counter-argument: Hong Kong’s unique relationship with China. Specifically, in 1997, Britain withdrew from the region and signed a deal with the Chinese government that declared Hong Kong a “Special Administrative Region of China.” In doing so, Hong Kong thereby became a part of China, but under a different system. This “one country, two systems idea”, allotted certain freedoms to Hong Kong and certain levels of autonomy from the Chinese government, until the year 2047. Therefore, many feel that China is not acting undemocratically, because, ultimately, Hong Kong is under China’s rule and China has the authority to make the decisions and act in the way that it has.

To better understand this multifaceted issue, I spoke with Mahira Kumar, a First Year at Barnard and current member of the Hong Kong Students and Scholars Society (HKSSS). She was able to not only shed light on this complex issue but also the ways in which it affects members of our community. AcTHE BULLETIN -

cording to Mahira, for members of HKSSS, the Chinese Students Club (CSC) and the Taiwanese American Students Association (TASA), the issue hits close to home.

Mahira says whilst she can’t necessarily speak for all members of the club, she personally subscribes to the idea of, “a nonviolent peaceful demonstration that’s pro-democracy.” In fact, Mahira actually took part in the very first peaceful protest on June 16th. However, she acknowledged the complexity of the issue and states simply that “all of us are pro a peaceful resolution, but the issue being as convoluted as it is, makes it such that there is no clear solution and no clear end in sight - it is not black and white.”

Mahira’s sentiment, regarding the delicacy, complexity, and sensitivity of the political turmoil in Hong Kong is important not just whilst considering the movement for universal suffrage in 2014, but in looking at the current political situation in Hong Kong.

We can look to Joshua to understand that power does not necessarily need to be equated with age, we can look to Mahira and other members of HKSSS to understand that the turmoil is not just a news headline, it is people’s reality. As Mahira said, “for all of us, Hong Kong is home.” And, finally, we can look to ourselves to stay informed, to be active and to fight for what is right, whatever that may mean to us.

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Women omen

in in Washington ashington

By hadassah solomson

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nown simply as “The Squad” the self-titled members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez have certainly made a name for themselves within congress, the country, and the media at large.

Elected in 2018, Ilhan Omar is the first Somali-American, and one of the first two Muslim women (along with fellow squad member Rashida Tlaib) to serve in Congress. A member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which touts its “Progressive Promise-Fairness for All” agenda, Omar proudly advocates for universal healthcare, and the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which she views as a “militarized, brutal, and unaccountable” entity according to a July 2, 2018 tweet.

Elected as U.S. Representative for Michigan’s 13th Congressional district, Rashida Tlaib became the first Palestinian-American woman in Congress after winning her election unopposed. Tlaib is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America which seeks to radically transform societal structures such as the government and the economy in order to create a more just society through greater economic and social democracy.

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With her campaign slogan, “Change Can’t Wait”, Ayanna Pressley is the first black woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts, currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Massachusetts 7th Congressional District.

After defeating the chair of the Democratic Caucus, Joe Crowley, in the primary, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez went on to be elected as the US Representative for New Yorks’ 14th congressional district. Also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Ocasio-Cortez views her election as a mandate for her progressive platform headlined by the Green New Deal.

After posting a picture of herself, Omar, Tlaib, and Presley on Instagram, with the caption, “Squad” Ocasio-Cortez’s label has come to define these women who are redefining what it means to be a progressive politician in today’s political climate.

Many see these four women as long-awaited voices for historically marginalized communities.

While some have hailed their policies and political stances as the inevitable future of the democratic party, not everyone is quite as enthusiastic about what their success signals for the caucus.

Since joining Congress, the squad has clashed with more moderate, mainstream democratic personalities like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over issues such as the emergency border funding bill.

In an article published by the New Yorker entitled, The Pelosi-versus-Squad Paradigm, American historian, Rick Perlstein uses their disagreement to define a broader trend within the democratic party: namely, the fundamental conflict between the establishment liberals and the more radical progressive wing. According to Perlstein, Pelosi conceives of herself as a consensus builder -- an integral component of advancing the liberal agenda within a divided congress.

Meanwhile the so-called squad sees compromise as complicity and demands total denunciation of any policy that violates their precepts.

Whether the squad is the future or merely a passing fad, only time will tell.

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Gentrification in our Backyard By vivian todd

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arnard’s campus, composed of approximately 39 percent students of color, is situated just south of Harlem, a historically Black neighborhood. In the 1920s, after the Great Migration filled the overdeveloped area, Harlem became the center of the eponymously named cultural rebirth, the Harlem Renaissance.

Today, established West Harlem residents are predominantly of West African descent. West Harlem has been nicknamed Le Petit Senegal, or Little Senegal, because of the Harlem residents that line the streets selling traditional West African garb. We, as students, are advantageously walking distance away from the Apollo theater and the Cotton Club. However, Barnard, along with the entirety of Columbia University, could not be further away from this Black cultural mecca.

A quick Google search of “West Harlem” displays that some of the most frequently asked questions about the neighborhood are regarding how dangerous Harlem is. “Is West Harlem Safe?” and “Is Harlem still dangerous?” are commonly asked on websites like Quora and TripAdvisor, with most forums

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replying that Harlem is not safe. One Quora commenter writes, “From 125th up to 155th lies multiple Housing projects and other NYCHA owned complexes. So there is a lot of gang activity and a lot of crime still happening.” I have even spoken with some students whose parents had advised them not to venture north of the Morningside Heights campus.

But is Harlem actually as dangerous as its reputation makes it seem? The 26th Precinct, which encompasses Morningside Heights and Manhattanville, the neighborhood of Harlem directly north of Morningside Heights, has about 1.151 crimes per 1,000 residents. This rate is far lower than that of popular tourist areas, such as the Times Square area, which has a crime rate of about 9.055 crimes per 1,000 residents.

With the stigmas associated with the area populated predominantly by people of color, it makes sense that so many students do not understand the historical and cultural significance of the neighborhood in relation to blackness. Furthermore, Columbia University plays a massive role in the gentrification of Harlem.

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The University continues to encroach into Manhattanville as it builds its new Manhattanville campus. This new campus has sparked outrage from both Harlem residents and Columbia students alike. Although many students are against gentrification, the university continues to spend tuition dollars to develop the Manhattanville campus and make the campus more accessible to students.

The Columbia University Housing Equity Project attempts to offer a solution. They operate under the mission that “as Columbia students we are required to give back to our local Morningside Heights community and serve our neighbors.”

Avah Toomer, CC ‘20, a coordinator for the CU HEP, says that apart from students from the West Harlem and Washington Heights area, “it is very easy for most Columbia students to ignore the effects of gentrification, because we are not harmed by, but actively benefit from it.”

While simultaneously benefitting us as students, the gentrifica-

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tion continues to disadvantage and displace Harlem residents. I spoke with Harlem resident, Logan Solis, who said, “in the past five years, I have seen the detrimental effects of gentrification, from increased rents to a higher police presence in my neighborhood.”

So how can Barnard and Columbia students amplify the voices of the established Harlem residents?

Toomer notes that it is important that we, as students, “constantly ask ourselves if what we do actually helps or just assuages our own guilt.” And to enact actual change, Toomer continues by saying, “Students should instead pay attention and listen to members of the Harlem community who are already acting on these issues. Mobilizing to vocally uplift and support existing community initiatives and local organizations is one of the more responsible ways for us, as students, to work en masse against the University.”

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A&C Louis CK’s comeback: A #MeToo Rejection in Isolation

By Grace Stone

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hese stories are true,” says Louis CK in response to accusations of sexual misconduct. Unlike many other men accused in the past two years (Harvey Weinstein and Brett Kavanaugh are among the most recognizable figures), he admitted to partaking in sexual misconduct throughout his career. Because of this admission, his fans were forced to face the reality of the situation: that this renowned comedian had committed sexual assault. Furthermore, they thought that Louis CK would fade out of the public eye, settle down in an extravagant mansion, and eventually, everyone would forget him.

This was not the case. Just nine months passed before Louis CK was out in the public again with a surprise performance at New York’s Comedy Cellar. According to Vox, after a 15-minute set, he received a standing ovation from the stunned audience. Howev-

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er, at the same time, neither the Comedy Cellar’s owner nor the audience knew he was coming.

Additionally, it has since been reported that during this show, he cracked jokes about his sexual misconduct. The audience was then essentially forced to watch a show centered on testimonies of sexual assault from the assailant himself. Regardless of the standing ovation he received, Louis CK’s appearance on stage that night, nonetheless, most likely stirred discomfort in the audience.

Louis CK’s fame continues to prevail. In early November, NBC published an article that the comedian had began an international tour beginning in Virginia and traveling as far as eastern Europe. Just a week later, Fox News disclosed that he had sold out his shows in Rome, Tel Aviv, and Bratislava, Slovakia.

This news was shocking to many.

What made it permissible to have

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Louis CK, who admitted to sexual misconduct, go on tour?

The point here, though, is that Louis CK clearly does not care about how the media, survivors, or the public overall will react to his “comeback.” As long as he continues to sell shows and receive standing ovations, “cancel-culture” will not affect him.

These situations play out similarly to many abusers accused with in the #MeToo movement. Brett

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Kavanaugh still got his Supreme Court seat, and Donald Trump remains president. Hollywood personality Ryan Seacrest still remains an important figure in the celebrity realm.

Louis CK is another burning example of the work that proponents of the #MeToo movement still have to do, and the steps they still have to take to fully hold abusers accountable.

While #MeToo has made significant changes to the attitude and rhetoric around sexual assault, and there is now more accountability, we need to keep moving towards justice and let abusers know that we will not stand for even a comeback tour.

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Hanukkah in NYC

By Rachel Meyer

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anukkah Hanukkah time is here! Time for joy and time for – Well, what is it time for?

Hanukkah is the festival of lights. It commemorates the rededication of the Jewish temple and a miraculous victory protecting the people’s freedom to practice religion.

This calls for an eight-day long celebration, filled with candle lighting, gifts, dreidels and lots of fried food.

So, how can you celebrate, aside for treating yourself to a seasonal latke?

(That’s a traditional fried potato pancake – can I get a “yes, please?”)

This year, Hanukkah begins on the 22nd of December and ends on the 30th, which means we will be on break, and you’ll have eight nights to celebrate and light up in the New York area!

Here’s 8 celebration suggestions for Hanukkah (and the month leading up to it!): 1. A Very House of Yes Hanukkah – House of YES, Brooklyn – December 22 Ring in the first night of the holiday with a candle-lighting ceremony, live performances, aerial dancers, latkes and jelly donuts, gogo dancers, DJs and dancing! *21+ event 2. Exhibition: Lighting the World: Menorahs Around the Globe – Museum at Eldridge Street – December 6 to the end of the month Tap into your artistic and historic sides and check out this expansive exhibition of menorahs from all over the world, spanning across five centuries.

3. Chanukah on Ice NYC – Lasker Rink, Central Park – December 22 Lace up your skates and show off your dreidel spins with tens of thousands of people celebrating Hanukkah in seasonal style!

4. Menorahs and Manhattans – 92Y – December 14 Get into the Hanukkah spirit (and spirits) by creating you own menorah at this paint-and-sip holiday-party mashup! *21+ event THE BULLETIN -

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5. Brooklyn’s Largest Menorah – Grand Army Plaza – December 22 Take the one train way downtown for live music, hot kosher latkes, and the biggest menorah lighting in town (Menorah and crowd size)!

6. Yo La Tengo Hanukkah tour – Bowery Ballroom – December 22-30 Rock through the festival with Yo La Tengo’s annual Hanukkah run! Special guests join the band for eight consecutive nights of holiday concert, and it’s selling out fast!

7. The Hanukkah Experience through Television and Film – Puffin Cultural Forum, Teaneck – December 3 Learn about the evolution and history of celebrating the festival of lights through the big and little screens!

8. The Doughnut Plant – Multiple locations – check location hours Visit this delicious, kosher bakery for a holiday delicacy that will keep you warm and full. Make the trek or have it delivered to you by ordering on their website!

Wherever you may be, and whatever you may or may not celebrate – we are wishing you a happy, joyful holiday season filled with light!

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Movie Review: Last Christmas

By Rachel Meyer

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hen I first heard Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) and Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) were going to be in a movie together, my heart stopped. As a complete sucker for cheesy holiday rom-coms, I knew I had to find time in my busy schedule to go see it. I thought to myself, when two of the most charming THE BULLETIN -

personalities in entertainment, a myriad of Christmas gifts and decorations, and a soundtrack full of George Michael come together on a single big screen, what could possibly go wrong?

Last Christmas follows Kate, played by Clarke, who is an aspiring singer living in London after fleeing from her home country of Yugoslavia with her

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family. Her job at a Christmas goods store seems to be the only stable thing in her life as she struggles to navigate adulthood after a falling-out with her mother. She finds herself stuck in a cycle of heavy drinking, crashing on friends’ couches, waking up in strangers’ beds, and missing opportunities that could help further her singing career, and has little motivation to get out of it. This is true until she meets Tom Webster, played by Golding, a dashing bike messenger whose habits are the complete opposite of Kate’s. He is free-spirited, tidy, charitable, and wholesome.

Together, Kate and Tom go on adventures throughout London’s parks and alleyways as he helps her deal with her emotional baggage, never failing to remind Kate of how much beauty you can find in life if you reach out of your comfort zone.

As cute as this may seem, and believe me, it was, and as much as my rom-com-loving heart wants to say the film was perfect, there are some elements that it could’ve done without.

Much like the main character’s messy persona, the film felt like it was juggling more storylines than it could handle. The relationship between Santa, Kate’s boss played by Michelle Yeoh (Crazy

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Rich Asians), and her mysterious lover serves as comedic relief for a brief moment but never really goes anywhere. Also, the effects of Brexit on immigrants in the United Kingdom are partly to blame for the family turmoil, but the way they are addressed feels clunky and could have been fleshed out a lot smoother. Towards the end of the film, there is an unexpected twist that makes you question everything you had previously sat through. In my best attempt at avoiding spoilers, I want to say that it is unfocused brings attention to a few plot holes throughout the film.

On the other hand, Last Christmas does have its redeeming qualities. The movie finds the bulk of its charm in how much it embraces diversity and the unique experiences of its characters who hail from all over the world but are all united by the uncertainty messiness that comes with navigating adulthood in modern-day London.

Furthermore, the film is more about self-improvement than it is focused on love, which I found refreshing in a rom-com.

Overall, despite its many quirks, Last Christmas is a very sweet and cozy holiday movie that is a recommended watch this holiday season!

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Spotlight on Star Wars:

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By Stefani Shoreibah

t first, the screen is black.

Then, words in blue read, “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” followed by an emphatic thunder of John Williams’ score that, since shown to audiences in theatres over forty years ago, has become immortalized in pop culture and cinema history.

It’s hard to fathom someone who has not heard of Star Wars.

Even if unfamiliar with its characters or plotlines, many people are able to identify some aspect of it; whether a specific character, type of starship, or even the humming of lightsabers, the imprint of Star Wars on not only our culture, but also the world, proves how much this saga become a force of nature.

As mid-December approaches, so does The Rise of Skywalker, the finale film of what will culminate as the nine-film saga of the Skywalker family. The past eight films chronicle the lives of Anakin Skywalker and his twin children, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. To recap, the light and dark sides of the force clash as Anakin Skywalker falls to the dark side to become the iconic villain, Darth Vader, in episodes one to THE BULLETIN -

three. In episodes four to six, we see Princess Leia lead the Rebellion against the tyrannical Empire led by Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, while Luke becomes a Jedi and attempts to redeem his father. With the help of the cocky pilot Han Solo, his best friend Chewbacca, and quirky droids R2D2 and C-3PO, the Rebellion prevails. The victory is short-lived, however, when the child of Princess Leia and Han Solo begins the ruthless First Order under the name Kylo Ren. Set thirty years after the Rebellion’s victory, the Resistance seeks to eradicate the First Order, in episodes seven to nine. When newcomers Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron are introduced, we learned of Finn’s trauma as a former stormtrooper, Poe’s X-Wing piloting skills, and Rey’s strong force-sensitivity that captures the attention of Kylo Ren and Supreme Leader Snoke. With questions and speculation swarming the internet over who could be Rey’s parents, given her abilities, answers may finally come in episode 9.

The released trailers have so far revealed Emperor Palpatine’s menacing laugh, the destroyed Death Star from the days of the Rebellion, and Rey with a red lightsaber (indicative of a Jedi turned to

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The Finale of the Skywalker Saga the dark side). At this point, it is difficult to tell whether or not the latter of these is true. “It’s just really epic,” says actress Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey, in an interview with Marie Claire. Ridley also mentions a lightsaber duel between her character and Kylo Ren (played by Adam Driver) took a week long to shoot that was physically and emotionally draining for the cast. Unsurprisingly, this stirred more Star Wars fan theories to flood social media, debating and disagreeing how likely Rey may or may not turn to the dark side.

But what fans seem to all agree on is the emotional weight this finale film will carry. Especially with the passing of the beloved Carrie Fisher, who played the fearless Princess Leia, a character that redefined the feminist heroine in Hollywood with Fisher’s unforgettable performance, the Star Wars fan community will be in tears from her digitally-recreated presence in The Rise of Skywalker.

Watching the final trailer for The Rise of Skywalker was difficult. For me, as a passionate lifelong fan, knowing that the Skywalker saga will conclude is daunting, THE BULLETIN -

and frankly, unimaginable. But as we bid farewell to our favorite characters on the big-screen, knowing that their legacy will live on is powerful. To my fellow Star Wars fans, I recommend listening to the words of Leia and Luke from The Rise of Skywalker trailer: “The force will be with you, always.” It has for over the past forty years, and it will forever.

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Winter Reading List

By Yasmin Attar Olyaee What’s The Rush by Joey Kidney Kidney’s debut book is one that is both meaningful and an easy read. Kidney writes his life story over the course of the last three years through his hardships and achievements and frames it in a way that can help the reader by discussing his breakups, depression, anxiety, and the way he healed from that pain. The book itself is beautifully written, and the reader will undoubtedly find themselves going back to it time and time again to read a certain chapter depending on what they need; for example, there are chapters relating to overthinking, needing motivation, or dealing with daily stressors.

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The Hidden Power of Fucking Up by The Try Guys This book highlights the ways you can find success in failure and the hidden power that it holds. Many of us can identify with avoiding doing something that scares us. The Try Guys, having tried almost everything, from swimming with sharks to trying on pregnancy pain simulators to (safely) driving under the influence for their viral videos, attempt to fulfill certain goals themselves, and guide us alongside their own journey in trying things they were too scared to do. This book covers topics such as health, fashion, love, and family and the struggles these four face in these areas.

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham Inspired by her experiences when she was a Barnard student, Lauren Graham tells the story of a young actress trying to make her way in New York City. This book, unlike her autobiography Talking as Fast as I can I, is a work of fiction. She writes a book about managing the stresses of living in this city in a way that is simultaneously witty and incredibly heartfelt.

Know My Name by Chanel Miller Trigger Warning for mentions of rape and sexual assault.

Chanel Miller, previously known as Emily Doe, writes this autobiographical book about her experiences after she was sexually assaulted by Brock Turner. Since the statement that she read in court went viral in 2015, Miller has decided to come out with her real name and tell her side of the story of going through everything she did, and the injustices of the court system towards her.

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Holiday Film Classics: Ranked!

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By Stefani Shoreibah

hat are the holidays without the iconic films that remind us what Christmas is all about? On this list, we’re breaking down the best of Christmas classics based on cultural significance, laughs, and tears shed while viewing (disclaimer: this list is created by someone who adores the black-and-white films, so just bear with us)!

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Now what film did you expect to take the top spot on this list? Frank Capra’s masterpiece is immortal, from the brilliant performances of Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed to the tear-jerking ending (let’s be real, if you celebrate Christmas and don’t sob at the ending of It’s A Wonderful Life, who are you?), this film captures the spirit of Christmas, quite literally in the form of Clarence the angel. The status of this Christmas classic is solidified by not only the American Film Institute’s recognition of It’s A Wonderful Life as one of the best American films ever made, but also the strong moral message at the core of this inspirational tale that shows the importance of hope and love.

2. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Set here in New York City, Miracle on 34th Street centers on a little girl played by a young Natalie Wood who refuses to believe in Santa Claus. When her mother, played

by Maureen O’Hara, hires a Santa Claus for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade who claims to be the actual Santa Claus, it’s up to them and their attorney neighbor to defend Kris Kringle when he’s falsely put on trial. From watching a young Natalie Wood’s character learn what it means to believe in Santa Claus, you just might too.

3. Scrooge (1951)

What would this list be without featuring some rendition of Charles Dickens’ classic novel brought to life? There are several versions of A Christmas Carol that have been released, but arguably Scrooge is one of the best. Grab your tissues, because Alastair Sim’s transition from a greedy, grouchy Ebeneezer Scrooge to a vulnerable, kind-hearted man will have you weeping.

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4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

Step aside, Jim Carrey. This animated classic has to make the top 5 on our list.

Although it’s not even half an hour long, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a childhood favorite from Dr. Seuss brought to life by Boris Karloff ’s narration in this timeless adaptation of the story.

5. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

If you’re searching for some wholesome Christmas content this season, look no further than hanging with the Peanuts crew, featuring Lucy’s amatuer therapy sessions , Snoopy’s endless shenanigans, Linus’s philosophical ramblings, and the glow-up of Charlie’s Christmas tree.

6. Home Alone (1990)

All chaos breaks loose when eight-year-old Kevin is left home alone during the holidays and stands up to two burglars who attempt to rob his house on Christmas Eve. Throughout the film, we see how troublesome Kevin learns how to go grocery shopping, set up booby-traps, and what it means to be part of a loving family. Watch it to appreciate a young Macaulay Culkin’s acting or for John Williams’ stunning score.

7. Love Actually (2003)

Christmas in London?! Nothing sounds better, especially when the entourage includes Emma Thompson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth (*screams*), Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Andrew Lincoln… the list of stars goes on. The intertwined lives of these characters and watching their mishaps unfold around Christmas is one of the best ways to unwind on a Saturday night with friends and hot cocoa.

8. Elf (2003)

Who hasn’t laughed to the point of tears while watching this hilarious Christmas film? Will Ferrell stars as Buddy the Christmas Elf, who embarks on a journey from the North Pole to New York City to meet his Scrooge-like father. From Buddy’s dancing in the mailroom to eating gum off of the subway entryways, us Barnard students here in NYC can appreciate the glimpses of Rockefeller Plaza and Central Park that make this film extra close to home, quite literally.

9. The Holiday (2006)

Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, and Jack Black enter a home-swap during the holidays when both Winslet and Diaz’s characters face heartbreak in this Christmas romantic comedy. With beautiful landscapes of the snow-covered English countryside and Jude Law’s smolder, what more could you ask for Christmas?

10. Frozen (2013) This counts, right?

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Student Musician-On-Campus Spotlight

By Aliya Schneider

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tudent Musician-On-Campus Spotlight (400-600 words) Writer would reach out and interview a student musician on Barnard campus to ask about their work and how they incorporate their music into their daily life on campus whether socially (i.e. in a club) or academically. Is this student looking to pursue music professionally? What genre(s) does this musician explore and what do they hope to convey through their music?

When she was in 3rd grade, Annie Nikunen wanted play the cello like her brother. When her mom said that the instrument was too large for her tiny frame, she started to play the flute. She ended up thriving in her school’s notable music program, and went on to pursue a conservatory program in high school.

Nikunen is a singer, composer, and flute player. She spent 12 years dancing ballet, and now dances recreationally.

Originally, she sought to pursue dance, but found it difficult to balance the physical demands of ballet along with her music commitments. As a result, she has integrated dance and music by accompanying the Columbia Ballet Collective show, Jerome Robin’s Antique Epigraphs, and even using dance to find inspiration to compose.

“Sometimes I dance to nothing and see what kind of music matches to it in my head,” she said.

Since the age of five, Nikunen’s music educators have always inspired her. She refers specifically to Frank THE BULLETIN -

Doyle, a member of the 70’s band Meatloaf, who she says “lived nine lives.” He taught her the importance of dedication to her craft and having a vision for herself. She keeps in touch with her childhood music teachers and plays with them in a community band in her hometown of North Port, Long Island.

Nikunen enhances her Barnard and Columbia college experience as a member of the Manhattan School of Music exchange program, where she has been taking lessons with Tara O’Connor, who has transformed the way she thinks about playing the flute and approaches pieces. “She’s a wizard in terms of both technicality and musicality and she knows how to connect the two,” Nikunen says, eager to talk about her teacher’s alcolaids.

O’Connor has taught Nikunen to focus on the “story of the piece” and think about what she is trying to communicate to her audience. “You want to get the image of the composer to the

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audience,” Nikunen explained.

Meanwhile, Barnard gives Nikunen a strong platform as a female musician, which she finds empowering.

Currently, she is writing her thesis about how “compositional-choreographic collaboration [is] moving from traditional to experiential at New York City Ballet, but how there are still little female choreographers and female composers involved.”

And during her time at college, Dodge Music Hall at Columbia has been her second home, as she has become close with graduate students in the music program. “The brilliant minds you come across are unbelievable,” she says, adding that the graduate students have been very willing to speak with her and share their advice.

“They have so much life experience so talking with them is really valuable.”

Nikunen described the way she has learned to emotionally connect to characters in pieces she plays. Because of the mechanics of the flute, it is “purely your breath creating this sound, color, flavor,” with nothing in between.

As a performer, it is her job to convey a composer’s image or idea and add her own edge to it. As a composer, THE BULLETIN -

she tries to bridge the gap between performer and audience. She says it’s special to see her work unfold, now in the hands of the musicians.When she composes, she creates the title of her piece before composing it, calling herself a “programmatic composer”—she composes with a story in mind.

Unsurprisingly, Nikunen admitted that it is occasionally difficult to balance her composing project with the rest of her musical demands. Yet her personal work is therapeutic for her, and so she structures time for herself to practice her flute and composes on the go, scribbling and sketching into her notepad when she has an idea.

While she normally listens to orchestral, choral, and ballet music, she has a “pump up playlist” that she listens to in order to get ready for auditions or competitions. It has songs from Bruno Mars, Earth Wind and Fire, Anderson Paak, and even Madonna, with some orchestral pieces thrown in to get herself in the mental zone to perform.

“It’s a little secret that no one really knows… I listen in solitude, almost like a meditation,” she said. This has been one of her private rituals since she was 12 years old.

While she has been involved in the music scene at Columbia, she stressed the importance of getting involved in the city as a musician. She was invited to join Black Box Ensemble as a result of being discovered on Columbia New Music’s Soundcloud, and now performs with them throughout the city. She hopes to stay in New York City for graduate school, combining her performance, composition, and theoretical work.

“As a musician, it’s so important to be here,” she said.

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Your Holiday Playlist

By Annabel Davis

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f you’re like me, there’s no time of year like the holiday season. And whether you’re gung-ho (or should I say gung-ho ho ho) for the holidays or you’re more of an Ebenezer, I think we can all agree on one thing: the atmosphere changes when the Christmas music kicks in. There’s something about the soft jingling of bells that gets me in the holiday spirit. If you’re not in the spirit yet, no worries -- I’ve created a list of a few of my favorite holiday tunes to help you find your Christmas cheer.

1. Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano

There’s no going wrong with this modern classic. I think it’s impossible to do holiday shopping without hearing “Feliz Navidad” on the in-store radio, and I have many a memory singing along to it in the car on the way to pick out a Christmas tree. Its lyrics deliver a wholesome message and, overall, the feelgood vibe just can’t be beat.

2. Do You Hear What I Hear - Bing Crosby

This traditional tune has a special place in my heart. It’s one of my mom’s favorite Christmas songs. Growing up, my parents would take me and my sister on drives through the different neighborhoods of my hometown to see the houses’ holiday light displays. If this song came on as we pulled into the driveway, we’d stay in the car until it finished. This song reminds me of those times and of my childhood Christmases. It’s a family tradition in and of itself.

3. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer - Elmo & Patsy

When I showed my friends my prospective playlist for this piece, I was shocked when they told me they’d never heard this one. It’s a staple! Not to mention hilarious. It wouldn’t be Christmas without an obnoxious family rendition of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” usually from my dad or my sister… so it wouldn’t be a complete holiday playlist without it, either.

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4. Let’s Stay Inside (Stripped Christmas) - Adaline

This one is my Christmas deep-cut. Its mellow vibes and soft jingle bells make it the perfect soundtrack for your seasonal romance… it is cuffing season, after all. So if you need some background music for your hot cocoa-for-two (or other ways of keeping warm), consider Adaline’s “Let’s Stay Inside.”

5. Mistletoe - Justin Bieber

I think we all wanted to be the girl in Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe” music video (even those of us who have since realized that we are not straight). The snow!

The romance! That hair! Baby Bieber has my heart. And he definitely hit the mark with his Christmas album. I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through the horrible defining period that is middle school without Baby Bieber’s soothing pre-pubescent tones. Thanks, Biebs.

6. All I Want for Christmas is You - Mariah Carey

The moment we’ve all been waiting for… you know it, you love it, you can’t go a day in December without hearing it: my number one pick is Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” The reason I put it at the top of my list is that I simply can’t be sad listening to this song. It kicks my seasonal depression’s booty every time. And I’m not one to listen to Christmas music year-round (I usually don’t listen to holiday music until after Thanksgiving), but this is the exception. It makes appearances on my playlists all throughout the year. So if you’ve got the winter blues, try giving this one a listen (dancing is optional, but it helps too)!

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Holiday Traditions

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By Julia Coccaro

arnumbia houses a community that epitomizes diversity of race, religion, culture, and more. Given that we are in the throes of the winter holiday season, we thought it would be interesting to talk to four fellow students about their holiday traditions: how they spent the holidays growing up, their fondest memories, which holidays they celebrate (and which they don’t), etc.

Sophomore Noga Shlapobersky from Los Angeles has historically celebrated Hanukkah consistently with her family. “Most nights it would just be me, my parents, and my brother, and we would have a small ritual at home. We’d light the menorah, say the prayers, sing a few songs, and then have dinner. After dinner we’d eat fresh sufganiyot (traditional jelly donuts for Hanukkah) that we get from a small bakery, and watch the candles go out on the menorah.” If that night they were celebrating with friends, they’d do the same ritual, but with a gift exchange. Because both of her parents are Jewish/ Israeli, she’s never celebrated any other holiday. “I loved the way my family celebrated Hanukkah since it was pretty non-consumerist. I didn’t really receive presents from my parents once I wasn’t a little kid anymore and we just enjoyed spending time together without needing flashy celebrations.”

Senior and NYC native Jeanne Locker and her family dabbles in multiple holidays, though she doesn’t identify as religious herself. “My dad is Jewish, so we’ve done Hanukkah, but my mom also used to take me to church, so it was pretty varied,” she explained. “Sometimes it would be pretty religious and sometimes it wouldn’t. We’d do Hanukkah and then forget a day, and then do Christmas, but we didn’t usually have a tree. We always had some sort of gift exchange, though. Looking back, the various experiences were really fun.”

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For Raeedah Wahid, a sophomore from New Jersey who identifies as Muslim, this time of the year can get a bit awkward. “This has always been the time of year where I feel most conflicted about my allegiances,” she explained.

“My 85-year-old Polish neighbor makes it a point to put her Christmas decor on display the first day of December and my house just doesn’t compare.

Though it’s been so culturally integrated into our society and I constantly feel that I should contribute to the festive season by giving gifts and decorating the tree, it’s not Islamic and it doesn’t make sense for a Muslim to celebrate.” For her family, the holidays are spent at home, doing what they normally do every day—and to them, the holidays are for everyone else. “Though I do give gifts, a small part of me constantly feels like by even doing that I’m going against my religion, and suddenly I feel isolated from everyone who’s able to enjoy Christmas.”

Abby Melbourne, a Catholic sophomore from Iowa, celebrates advent, Christmas, New Years’, and every other Catholic holiday. She discussed her fond memories of going to midnight mass with her grandparents at their local abbey. Sometimes her family would put up a tree but they often traveled to visit family, all of whom live outside of Iowa. “My favorite Christmases were always with extended family. We always make sure to have Christmas be family-oriented above anything else, so it definitely isn’t a huge production at our house.”

I learned quite a lot from talking with these women—especially Raeedah, whose circumstances I had never even considered. Diversity is one of the most important facets to any community and we are extremely lucky at Barnumbia to coexist with so many walks of life. I encourage our readers to think outside of their own lives and traditions from time to time to help foster a tolerant space on our campus; after all, there is intrinsic and priceless value in understanding. Have a great holiday (or holidayless) season, everyone!

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It’s Cuffing Season

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By Annabel Davis

all has finally arrived in New York as the leaves are changing, the sun has begun to set before five and the temperature is consistently colder. The arrival of fall and winter marks the beginning of the holiday season, which can only mean one thing: it’s cuffing season. It’s understandable. The cold weather and prolonged indoor activities around the holiday times can cause people to jump into a new relationship. Who doesn’t want someone to cuddle with on those cold winter nights?

Whether it in real life or on your Instagram feed, we’ve all seen those annoyingly cute couples on festive holiday dates. As for the rest of us who remain uncuffed this season, there are still endless ways that we can enjoy the holidays.

New York City is incredible and the city has an entire season’s worth of things to see and do with a group of your friends or solo.

For starters, why not venture over to a cute café to pick up a cup of hot chocolate to get yourself in the holiday spirit? Perhaps you might try Nunu, a Brooklyn-based café, that has a tasty classic hot chocolate made with dark chocolate shavings, whisked together with steamed whole milk. If you’re already in Brooklyn, you may want THE BULLETIN -

to head to Dyker Heights at dusk to see one of the biggest Christmas light displays. You can stroll through the neighborhood, sip on your warm hot chocolate and appreciate the elaborate and otherthe-top Christmas decorations.

For those that are feeling more adventurous, you might stop by the Christmas markets that are scattered throughout the city.

Each market is slightly different from each other, but they all have a unique selection of food and shops. The Bryant Park Market has a variety of food options that are sure to satisfy your cravings.

These options include crepes, warm churros filled with Nutella, cinnamon raisin pretzels, and waffles.

You can even get your chicken and waffle, pierogi, and burger fix at some of these stands. Not only does the Bryant market have delicious comfort food, but you also get some Christmas shopping done at the pop up shops and you have the option to ice skate. Sure, this might be something nice to do with some company, but who said ever ice skating solo can’t be fun?

If you don’t feel like being in the cold weather and museums are more your style, you should check out the Christmas exhibit at The Met. This exhibit features

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a Christmas tree decorated with exquisite eighteenth-century angle and various Nativity figures. Sure there New York City has several iconic Christmas tree displays, but Christmas tree at The Met is a must see since it has been a longstanding tradition since 1957.

If crowds aren’t your thing maybe opt to stay inside for the night, throw on your ugly Christmas sweater and start a Christmas movie marathon. What’s the holiday season without watching Elf, Home Alone,

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and all the other Christmas movies from your childhood? If your in the mood for a rom com you might put on Love Actually or you may even want to head downtown to watch a screening of the new movie Last Christmas.

Whether you choose to get cozy and stay inside in your warm pajamas or choose to venture out into the city you have endless possibilities and ways to get yourself in the holiday spirit regardless if you’re cuffed or not.

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