General Studies Lounge

Friday evening a large group of General Studies newcomers gathered at Alma Mater to engage in some fun social activities away from Morningside.

As part of GSCC’s Pre-Orientation schedule, the brand spanking new students embarked on their first experience hanging out afterhours in New York City. Led by alum, Joel Pichardo GS’08, the group trekked down to the East Village and hopped from several dive bars to classier liquor establishments. Newbies enjoyed the mix of cheap prices and high quality company while discussing what lies ahead in their first Columbia semester.

The group enjoyed the night as much as they could; staying out until the wee hours of the morning to savor what is left of their free time.

Special thanks to Joel Pichardo, Robert Clemens, James Agapoff, Kristen Hutzler, and Helena Lellis for participating with this event.

A few General Studies pros spent the afternoon with some incoming students Wednesday as part of GSSC’s Pre-Orientation events. 

Gathering at Alma Mater, the group of excited newcomers was led on a fantastic tour by the School’s own Melissa Van, an official Campus Tour Guide. Hiking up stairs, strolling through the lawns and skipping up and down the pathways (OK, there was no skipping); the Pre-Orientation group was treated to quite a few nuggets of knowledge.

Did you know President Dwight Eisenhower, former Columbia University President, insisted on having a GS bulletin appear in his portrait? It now hangs in Butler Library above the stairway going from the second to third floor, behind the security desk at the main entrance.

The group ended the afternoon chowing down and sipping some great strawberry iced tea at the cafeteria in the Interfaith Center. The newest GS students discussed their enthusiasm with the upcoming semester as the pros shared their wishes for summer break to be extended.