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The CCRA blog is authored by Columbia undergraduate researchers, who are invited to reflect on all aspects of the research process and their own undergraduate research experiences, beginning (but not ending) with the Core.
Category Archives: COVID-19
Reflections from the Archive: Stanford’s M0618 Arturo Islas Papers Collection
This winter break, as I pieced together the beginnings of my senior thesis on Arturo Islas’s novel The Rain God (1984), I stumbled upon an archival treasure trove—M0618, the “Arturo Islas Papers.” Comprising a hefty 56-box collection, M0618 chronicles four … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Archives, Coursework, Libraries, Life, major research, Senior Thesis, The Humanities, Uncategorized, Writing
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On The Swim Test
It’s late, a Saturday night near the end of January. I’ve signed up to take the swim test the next day in the early afternoon. I feel unsettled, anxious, even paranoid. Usually, to prepare for a test, I have some … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, courses, Life, New York City, The Core, Uncategorized
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“What is the one thing that you hate the most about the research experience?”
I will speak candidly here: my mother did not attend college, neither did her parents or her parents’ parents. When forms ask me to input my parents’ education level, I leave my father blank (don’t ask, I am just as … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Archives, Coursework, Libraries, Life, The Humanities, Uncategorized, Writing
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The Politics of The Core
What would Thomas Hobbes say about Covid-19 lockdowns? Would John Stuart Mill approve of the restriction on speech in the form of Twitter and Facebook banning Donald Trump from their platforms after the January 6, 2021 attack on the US … Continue reading
Posted in courses, Coursework, COVID-19, Life, The Core, The Humanities, Uncategorized
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How to Make the Archive a Place for Discovery
Archival research often yields fruitful discoveries in the humanities and social sciences, including but not limited to history, philosophy, literature, or the history of art and archaeology. Reflecting on my research trip to Yale’s Beinecke Library, I would like to … Continue reading
Posted in Archives, COVID-19, Libraries, major research
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Research and Columbia Libraries: A Guide to Maximizing Your Resources
Research settings look different for everyone but relying on textual resources and supporting documents to substantiate a claim remains consistent throughout all research types and environments. Nonetheless, finding a place to start with respect to navigating Columbia’s many libraries or … Continue reading
Posted in COVID-19, Libraries, major research, Uncategorized
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The Stress Counterweight: Interpreting the World, and the Work of CC
The numerous manifestations of stress are all becoming more salient to us. Whether we are feeling agitated, having trouble focusing, losing sleep, or clenching our jaws, the anxiety of our current historical period is reflected in our mental and physical … Continue reading
Posted in courses, COVID-19, major research, The Core, Uncategorized
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From Research to Researcher: How Collaboration Forms a Scientific Mind
At the beginning of my Columbia College journey, I, an eager and excited freshman, attended the virtual activities fair, filled with zoom links which would form the entirety of my university environment for what felt like an indeterminate future. In … Continue reading
Posted in COVID-19, major research, STEM research
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An Interview with Helen Ruger about the Laidlaw Scholars Program (Part 1)
This month, I spoke with a friend and fellow Classics major about her experiences with the Laidlaw Scholars program. Below is the first part of our conversation, in which we talk about how she was introduced to the program, her … Continue reading
Posted in conference presentations, COVID-19, Faculty Mentors, major research, Summer Research
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Demystifying Office Hours
Welcome to the start of a new semester! I am in a bit of disbelief that this is the last one of my undergraduate Columbia experiences. I thought I would start off my posts this new year by unpacking possibly … Continue reading
Posted in courses, COVID-19, Faculty Mentors, major research, postgraduation plans, Senior Thesis, STEM research, Summer Research
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