March may have come in like a “lion,” but for two days it brought a taste of “lamb-like” 70-degree weather and ... the promise of a new gym. Acting President Claire Shipman and Provost Angela Olinto sent out a letter announcing major new improvements in the undergraduate student experience,
including a new fitness center, expanded dining options, more student spaces, increased teaching and advising resources, and additional well-being facilities. According to a very unscientific poll on Instagram,
Columbians are very excited about these additions.
In this edition of Campus & Community, we’re seeing a day in the life of the mock trial team and learning about a publishing giant from Columbia.
QUOTED
“Before coming into the lab, I had never even held a pipette. I had this vague conception of wanting to be a scientist, but I had no idea about what that really meant. It’s taught me what science really is.”
– Lochlan Krupa (CC’26) on his research experience in Professor Andrés Bendesky’s lab
Rebeca Lopez-Anzures (CC’27) runs a tight ship as president of Columbia University Mock Trial (CUMT). She schedules each mock trial competition down to the half hour so the team can focus on the task at hand. And that dedication is paying off — under Lopez-Anzures’ leadership, CUMT is having its best competitive season in about a decade. They’ve already secured a bid to the final qualifying competition before the American Mock Trial Association’s National Competition in April, with five out of 12 members already having received recognitions for outstanding performances at the Regional Tournament in February. See what a meticulously scheduled day of a competition looks like.
The Center for Teaching and Learning’s
Thank-a-Professor | Thank-a-TA initiative launched in spring 2019 as part of the annual Celebration for Teaching and Learning Symposium. In recognition of the many wonderful professors and TAs across Columbia, this initiative provides students with an opportunity to show their appreciation for those who have impacted their learning. Students can stop by the Sundial on Morningside campus to write a physical thank you note to a faculty member or TA who supported their learning during the spring 2026 semester. Wednesday, March 25, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
As the cofounder of Random House, Bennett Cerf (CC 1920) shaped the modern publishing industry and was instrumental in introducing America to writers like James Joyce, Truman Capote, Gertrude Stein, Dr. Seuss, Ayn Rand, William Faulkner, and many more. In her massive new biography, Nothing Random, Gayle Feldman, a former fellow at Columbia Journalism School, charts Cerf’s storied life and career.
Columbia was essential to Cerf’s development, according to Feldman. “He joined the Spectator, edited the Jester, read deeply, and reveled in literature. ... At Columbia, he also met people who shaped his life: Richard Simon (CC 1920) and Max Schuster (CC 1917)—the founders of Simon & Schuster—were fellow students, and Simon actually helped Bennett get his first publishing job.”
Elizabeth Denny (GSAS’10) is the director of the Outsider Art Fair, an annual exposition of works by self-taught artists. This year’s event, held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood, runs from Thursday, March 19 to Sunday, March 22. In this interview, Denny explains the history of outsider art and what to expect at this year’s fair. Discounted student tickets will be available at the ticketing counter.
Columbia Women’s Basketball has been selected for the 2026 Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT). The Lions will host St. John’s on Thursday, March 19 at 7:00 pm. The winner will go on to play in the second round on Sunday, March 22. Tickets are still available to cheer on the Lions at Levien Gymnasium!
