Diversity in Campus Life

Columbia offers countless ways in which students can explore their own cultural heritage, identity, religion and traditions, and share this experience with the larger community. The Office of Multicultural Affairs advises the majority of the nearly 50 diferent cultural and identity-based student organizatios and works with these organizations to build cross-cultural dialogue. OMA also oversees resources for Columbia's LGBTQ community, which includes the nation's first LGBTQ student advocacy organization. The Office of Student Group Advising oversees the nearly 40 different religious organizations as well as many interreligi ous groups and funds that promote dialogue and collaboration. Inter/Intracultural learning is also important, and groups such as ROOTEd explore the commonalities and distinctions among the social and political treatment of different groups in society. To aid in these endeavors, Columbia is home to numerous residential and special interest communities throughout campus that encourage conversation across all issues.

Columbia boasts over 50 different cultural organizations that put on hundreds of events each year.

-Cultural and Identity-Based Organizations
-Cross-Cultural and Critical Inquiry
-Heritage and Awareness Months
-Religious Groups
-Special Interest Residential and Community Spaces

A University of Firsts

1953 - First university in the U.S. to have more than 1,000 international students. Columbia currently has the second largest international student population in the country.

1964 - The Students' Afro-American Society chapter at Columbia becomes the first African American advocacy group on a multi-racial campus in the United States. The chapter was a forbearer of the Black Students' Organization, which is one of the largest student groups on campus.

1966 - The Student Homophile League, the predecessor of the Columbia Queer alliances, is founded as the nation's first student gay-rights advocacy group.

2007 - John Kluge, CC '37, pledged $400 million for financial aid, the largest gift ever made to any university for financial aid. Half of which is targeted toward supporting and expanding existing undergraduate financial aid.

Here is an exhaustive list of the opportunities to explore:

Heritage and Awareness Months - In the course of the academic year, Columbia hosts six heritage months with the planning coordinated by students and the Office of Multicultural Affairs and other offices. Each month offers not only moments of reflection on the past, but also a dialogue on the future of cultural and affinity groups at Columbia and more broadly in the United States.

Asian Pacific American Awareness Month
Black Heritage Month
Latino Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month
Queer Awareness Month
Women's History Month

Cross-Cultural and Critical Inquiry - Various organizations exist at Columbia specifically to increase communication across cultures. Columbia boasts an incredible array of groups that encourage understanding of various cultures, religions and identities.

Alternative Spring Break
Days of Dialogue
Freedom School
Intercultural Resource Center (IRC)
National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI)
ROOTEd
Students of Color Leadership Retreat (SOCLR)
Veritas Forum
Voices Raised

Special Interest Residential and Community Spaces - Through special interest residential and community spaces, students are able to collaborate on new projects to increase cultural and intellectual understanding of wide ranging topics. Students may apply to create special interest housing on any number of topics, but are charged with the task to include members outside of the residential community in the programming of the organization.

114 Rue de Fleurus - Writer's Collective
Casa Latina
Community Health House
Ethnic Studies Suite
Intercultural House (ICH)
GreenBorough
Malcolm X Lounge
Metta House
Pan African House
Q House
Students for Substance Free Space
Symposium House
Stephen Donaldson Lounge

Religious/Spiritual

Ahimsa
Apostolos Campus Ministry
Asian Baptist Student Koinonia
Augustine Club
Baha’i Club of Columbia University
Baptist Campus Ministry
Beit Midrash
Bhakti Club
Canterbury Club
Chai Society (Chabad)
Columbia Buddhist Meditation Group
Columbia Catholic Undergraduates
Columbia Sikh Student Association
Columbia Students for Christ
Columbia/Barnard Hillel
Garin Lavi
Hindu Students Organization (Santhana Dharma Sanga)
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
Israel Alliance
Israel Va’ad
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Jewish Meditation
Kesher
Koach
Kochol v’lavan
Korea Campus Crusade for Christ
Korean Christian Students Association
Latter-Day Saints Student Association
Muslim Students Association
Orthodox Christian Fellowship
Remnant Christian Fellowship
Sephardic Club
Seudah Slisheet
Seventh-Day Adventists
Shabbat Meals
University Bible Fellowship
Veritas Forum
Women’s T’fillah
Yavneh
Yiddish Club

Primary links

Diversity in Campus Life

Contents

-Cultural and Identity-Based Organizations
-Cross-Cultural and Critical Inquiry
-Heritage and Awareness Months
-Religious Groups
-Special Interest Residential and Community Spaces

A University of Firsts

Here is an exhaustive list of the opportunities to explore:

Primary links

Diversity in Campus Life

Contents

-Cultural and Identity-Based Organizations -Cross-Cultural and Critical Inquiry -Heritage and Awareness Months -Religious Groups -Special Interest Residential and Community Spaces

A University of Firsts

Here is an exhaustive list of the opportunities to explore:

-Cultural and Identity-Based Organizations
-Cross-Cultural and Critical Inquiry
-Heritage and Awareness Months
-Religious Groups
-Special Interest Residential and Community Spaces