Student Traditions
Columbia History
Student Organizations
NYC
Urban Legends
100

Musical artists perform an outdoor concert at this annual event

Bacchanal

100

This founding father, who doesn’t throw away his shot, attended here

Alexander Hamilton

100

This student government group advocates for housing rights and runs many fun events, including this trivia session

Residence Hall Leadership Organization (RHLO)

100

These food carts, near campus and beyond, serve primarily lamb and chicken meals with white and hot sauces, staying open until 4 AM

Halal Carts

100

These connect many campus buildings underground

Tunnels

200

Students gather outside Butler Library at midnight before finals begin for this tradition

Primal Scream

200

Columbia was originally named this when it was founded

King’s College

200

This campus journalism publication focuses on comedic satire

The Federalist

200

This bakery near campus is infamous for how many bad first dates have gone down there

Hungarian Pastry Shop

200

This section of Butler Library, because of its secludedness, has been host to many unofficial events, games, and suspicious activities

The Butler Stacks

300

This theatrical show has parodied Columbia culture annually since 1894

Varsity Show

300

This current dining hall used to be a pub

JJ’s Place

300

This literary society was founded in 1802, and is currently known for its comedic debates, Surgam magazine, and secret rituals

Philolexian Society

300

Columbia has its own dedicated station on this specific train in the subway

The 1 Train

300

This costumed admissions officer kickflips water bottles into trash cans by Low Steps, going by this “superhero name”

Captain Bayonne

400

This holiday event marks the transition into winter in a bright way

Tree Lighting Ceremony

400

In this 2013 fiasco, Columbia Dining claimed that students ate and stole $5k of a substance, sparking national debate

Nutellagate

400

This theater troupe focuses on pre-modern works and does an outdoor roaming show annually

King’s Crown Shakespeare Troupe

400

You can find the firehouse headquarters of this movie team in the city, whose film was partially shot on our campus

Ghostbusters

400

There have been many sightings and rumors of ghosts being in this campus building

Buell Hall

500

Last year, John Jay floor 13 began hosting party/hangout nights themed after this musician

Ed Sheeran

500

During a 2013 lecture for this core curriculum course, the professor stripped to his underwear while two ninjas(?) executed stuffed animals while Lil Wayne music and 9/11 and WWII footage played in the background, making national news

Frontiers of Science

500

This club is the oldest college BDSM-education group in America

Conversio Virium

500

This unique characteristic applies to over 50% of the DNA found on the NYC subway

It doesn’t belong to any known organism

500

This group, whose leader(?) was expelled for keeping uranium in his dorm, was infamous for vandalizing campus and causing blackouts

Allied Destructive Hackers of Columbia