Founded in 1930, Riverside Church in the City of New York strives to be interdenominational, interracial, and international.  While many in the Columbia community have seen Riverside Church, few are aware of its rich history—hosting the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mandela. In this episode of The Ear, Sophia Cordoba unpacks the history behind Riverside’s prominence in the struggle for racial justice. ​​Credits: • Edited by Lara-Nour Walton • Produced by Sophia Cordoba • Music by Eva Scholz-Carlson and Matthew Schwizter • Illustration by Macy Sinreich • Voice Acting by Ted Schmiedel ..read more

The idea of neurodiversity intentionally moves away from a “correct” method of thinking, so how might this present itself at Columbia, where students are selected based on “intellectual” capabilities? Students who are neurodivergent are a diverse population that should not be generalized. A shift from preconceived standards of how academic and social settings “should” be approached might allow populations at Columbia to recognize more diverse perspectives contributed by neurodivergent students. In this episode, reporter Luisa Sukkar speaks with students who identify as neurodivergent, represen ..read more

In this archival episode of The Ear, reporter Alicia Theologides Rodriguez commemorates the 50th anniversary of a controversial Columbia study that explored whether chimps possess the cognitive capacity to learn sign language. While the Nim project ultimately failed to prove its hypothesis, it revealed much more about the ethical precarity of anthropomorphizing animals in experimental settings. By contrasting Nim’s fate with that of other animals in Columbia’s care, this episode explores the unique privileges and perils that Nim encountered because of the way he was humanized. ​​Credits: • Edi ..read more

In this episode of The Ear, reporter Shay Stulman explores the link between Columbia and the opium trade. She explores the profound impact this historical association has had on shaping esteemed American institutions. How do we reckon with the violent histories of philanthropic families? How did the opium trade shape prestigious American institutions? Tune into this episode to reflect on the implications of Columbia’s connection to this complicated history. ​​Credits • Edited by Claire Schnatterbeck, Sophia Cordoba • Produced by Claire Schnatterbeck, Sophia Cordoba • Music by Christina Li  ..read more

Columbia boasts a student body that is known for being politically engaged. How did the institution earn the label? And does it still deserve the title today? In this episode of The Ear, reporters Nicole Sandrik-Arzadi and Lara-Nour Walton explore these questions and more. ​​Credits: • Edited by Sophia Cordoba, Claire Schnatterbeck • Produced by Claire Schnatterbeck • Music by Murat Gulcelik • Illustration by Macy Sinreich Follow us on Instagram @SpectatorPodcasts and check out our other episodes ..read more

With over 150 countries represented at Columbia, it is no surprise that the University must meet a vast array of language needs. For children of immigrants, learning their native language can mean a greater cultural connection. In this episode, reporter Sophia Cordoba speaks with professors and students alike to understand what it means to live and learn as a heritage speaker. ​​Credits: • Edited by Claire Schnatterbeck • Produced by Julia Hay • Music by Obi Okoli • Illustration by Cassie Wang Follow us on Instagram @SpectatorPodcasts and check out our other episodes ..read more

Welcome back to The Ear, Spectator’s podcast dedicated to documenting, excavating, and investigating Columbia’s past and present. In this episode, Claire Burke and Claire Schnatterbeck investigate what makes a rural student. How do Columbia and Barnard define “rural”? Does the quintessential “rural student” actually exist? Schnatterbeck and Burke use their own rural backgrounds as a starting point and begin to explore what it means to be a rural student at an elite institution. Credits: • Script Edited by Sophia Cordoba and Caelan Bailey • Produced by Claire Schatterbeck • Music by Eva Scholz ..read more

In this episode of The Ear, Ellie Carver-Horner discusses the extensive archive of Indigenous audio recordings housed in the Columbia University Center for Ethnomusicology and the efforts the University is making to repatriate them. What is audio repatriation, and what does it look like to return something that isn’t physically tangible? Who owns these recordings, and why does their existence matter? Listen to explore the importance of being able to connect with the voices of one’s ancestors. ​​Credits: • Script edited by Claire Schnatterbeck • Audio produced by Julia Hay • Music by Murat Gul ..read more

Twenty years after the death of Edward W. Said, a Columbia professor, renowned intellectual, and outspoken advocate of Palestine,reporter Lily Glaser seeks to understand his life, legacy, and impact on campus. In this episode of The Ear, Glaser  rifles  through his personal papers, speaking with former students, listening to exiled authors, and attending lectures. ​​Credits: • Script edited by Claire Schnatterbeck • Audio produced by Matthew Schwitzer • Music The Ear Theme Stave - Obi Okoli State of the World - MakaihBeats Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 - West-Eastern Divan Orches ..read more

In this episode of The Ear, reporter Alicia Theologides Rodriguez speaks with Columbia students from many backgrounds to better understand how fear impacts the way that they navigate New York. This episode explores the underlying reasons for different students’ fears in an attempt to understand why there are discrepancies between the fears of students and New York Crime trends. ​​Credits: • Script edited by Natalie Goldberg, Avery Reed, Claire Schnatterbeck, Abby Thayananthan  • Audio produced by Matthew Schwitzer • Music  State of the World - Makaih Beats The Ear Theme Dream Big ..read more