In the front of the Student Center windows decorated with student art, Kenny Hankins, a first-year film production major, said he used the day to “put himself out there a little bit and meet new people.”

While listening to Bolton’s speech, Hankins felt “uplifted” and described the speech as a good way to “motivate incoming freshmen transfers.”

He described his overall experience as “really cool” being able to see everybody and how he enjoyed the way Columbia gave him “the same experience that we would have gotten if we were first year.”

Nikko Demello, a transfer interior architecture major, said his focus of the day was getting acclimated to the city by walking around outside and seeing “many different things.”

Demello viewed the events as good for “people that have kind of not really gotten out yet to like, experience new things, meet new people, see all the clubs that they have, I feel like it’s just like a really good experience that’s like needed at the beginning of every single school year for the new students and stuff.”

Coming in as a transfer, Demello was unsure of the environment of the school but said he felt a sense of community

After hearing the president speak on stage, Demello felt like, “it was really, like, empowering to everybody, to see like that, like the president, like, actually cares about things that we, like have to say, and like wants to get to know us each like individual, our individuality and stuff.”

Demello said that he admired the artistic vision of the event.

“They put really, really hard work into it,” he said.

On the third floor of the Student Center, students formed lines out to stairwells for free psychic readings and henna tattoos. In line for a psychic was transfer student Nic Hoffer, who came to Columbia to major in songwriting and to get away from the hustle of New York. 

“My family is from Chicago, and I’d heard my whole life that this was kind of the place to be if you didn’t want to be in New York City. I don’t want to be in New York City,” she said. “It’s the city that sometimes sleeps.”

Hoffer was excited to get read by a psychic, “I don’t know how much I believe in it, but I do think it’s fun. And I like the ASMR of getting my hands touched.” 

On the first floor of the Student Center, Becca French, a sophomore film and television major, sat between friends she’s moving in with at the UC. She said that the move-in was less nerve-wracking this year, as the group already has friends from the school.

“We get to see all the club options, get to see people that we were friends with last year and get to meet up and hang out with them again.”

Zoe Thomas, a first-year music production major, arrived on Monday, Aug. 25, and has already made her rounds on her class locations.

Thomas said that what brought her to Columbia was the hands-on experiences.

“When we first visited, we got to see how the audio and music classes worked and everything,” she said. “We got to perform with the students and we got to be able to really have that experience for ourselves before we joined and that kind of sold me on it.”

Anxiously waiting for a henna tattoo was Julian Anderson, an incoming first-year student majoring in illustration, originally from Oklahoma, who was amazed by Columbia’s welcoming atmosphere and resources. 

“I like the diversity and everyone’s really nice,” Anderson said. “I haven’t seen anything like it before.”

Reporting from Will Blakely, Samantha Mosquera, Julia Martinez Arroyo, Anna Bitz and Uriel Reyes

Copy edited by Mya DeJesus

In her first address to students, after an impromptu dance party, Shantay Bolton, Columbia’s new president and CEO, came onto the stage to cheers from hundreds packed into the parking lot next to the Student Center. Ciara’s “Level Up” played as she danced to the podium.

“Thank you for bringing your energy to this community,” said Bolton, who referred to the new class as the “Renaissance Rising.” 

“I have been able to dance and level up with the class of 2029,” she said.

Bolton told students that their role in shaping the college was central to its identity, urging the incoming class to push past fear and get involved in campus life. 

“We don’t punish failure,” she said. “We celebrate the fact that you dared to try, and you tried with all of the best that you had in you.”

She described the effort as “the sound of courage breaking through the barriers of your fears.”

“For 135 years, students at Columbia have amplified the art in this city. You see this beautiful mural on the side of the building? That is a reflection of the brilliance here in our faculty and our students at Columbia College, this city that has been built on courage, bold ideas, conviction and a willingness to lean into innovation.”

In one of the most memorable moments of her 10-minute scripted address, Bolton did a call and response with students, noting she would apologize to their parents later.

Towards the end, Bolton encouraged students to respond with “hell yeah” to several prompts she preached about challenges and opportunities that they will face.

“When the world asks if Columbia College Chicago students are ready, you tell them we are ready to lead, we are ready to innovate,” she said. “We are ready to make art that matters, and our answer will always be the same,”

As the train rumbled above the stage, at Bolton’s direction, students answered back, “Hell yeah.”

Inside the Student Center, student ambassadors greeted first-years and transfer students with Columbia pins, stickers and magnets. Upstairs on the fifth floor, student organizations attracted new students with candy and swag. 

Nahyoung Hyun, a senior film and television major, introduced students to the Asian Alliance. Through photo slideshows of past meetings and conversations with other members, students were able to learn about the group and make new connections. 

Hyun, the group’s president, said the Asian students are among the smallest demographic on campus. Through the alliance, she “wants to bring more empowerment to Asians at Columbia and provide a community for Asians.

At the far end of the Student Expo, Brady Charles, a junior marketing and sports management major and member of the school’s quadball team, explained the sport to interested students. 

Charles said that since the team did not compete last year due to a large number of graduating seniors, members are now attempting to recruit new players and reboot the team. 

Student Government Association President Jenna Davis, a senior fine arts major, encouraged new students to get involved in her welcoming address on the main stage.

“The heartbeat of Columbia lives within all the student organizations on campus,” Davis said. “We would love to have you a part of that community.”

Reporting from Allison Shelton, Will Blakely, Samantha Mosquera, Julia Martinez Arroyo, Anna Bitz and Uriel Reyes

Copy edited by Vanessa Orozco

A large group of students formed a large circle in pairs where assistant professor of instruction Bevara Anderson was at center stage. The room filled with energy as the students followed each of her instructions at the School of Theatre and Dance connections event.

“We start anything, any class, any experience together with something called ‘Nani go,’ which is an opportunity for us to see each other and move through the space and kind of command the space together,” Anderson said.

She emphasized the difference in a transitional dance class, where someone might start alone, to this moment where students are beginning their classes together.

“We try to start class as a community,” she said. 

Kristen Below, a first-year dance major, said the event helped her open up more as a shy student and made her “less nervous.”

Ariel Bowmen, a first-year dance major, buzzed with excitement after the dance portion of the event.

“Everybody was having fun, everybody was opening up. The people that didn’t look like this is what they wanted to do, they even did it. So, I mean, we had communication. I love that,” Bowmen said.

“I’m trying to attend everything as much as possible so I can get as much information, so I’m not lost on the first day,” she said. Bowmen wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to not only connect with her peers and teachers, but to also allow them the opportunity to, “put an eye on me.”

Bowmen left off the interview with a message of hope for her and Kristin Below’s first year, “We cannot wait to just get here and bless y’all with our gifts, and we are ready to take in as much as y’all can give us.”

At the School of Communication and Culture event, Alice Tallman, a senior film and television major, was helping check in new students. She was on name tag duty.

“It’s just been nice being back on campus and reconnecting with people,” she said. 

The students connected through stories, separating into small groups with faculty members and then volunteering to go on camera in the Live 210 Studio on the second floor of the 33 E. Ida B. Wells building.

Mia Smith, a first-year creative writing major, had been considering going to School of the Art Institute of Chicago before deciding on Columbia.

“I liked that creative writing was a major I could take, it’s kind of rare to find that has that creative [writing] major,” Smith said. 

“I plan on doing screenwriting and I plan on self-publishing. I’m really good at writing stories and poetry,” Smith said. She said it was rare to find a school with a creating writing program, one of the majors in the school.

Another first-year student, Angel Valerrio, said he wants to publish epic fantasy works one day. He chose Columbia because it had more publishing opportunities than other schools. 

Valerrio listed some inspirations including the novel series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R. R. Martin and the children’s TV show “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” He also said he’s inspired by Aztec mythology. 

The School of Visual arts hosted Bingo to send students across the 623 S. Wabash building to go on a hunt for different resources the School of Visual Arts offers.

Dominick Hillegas, a first-year illustration major, said he attended Connections upon receiving an email regarding the event and said he “had nothing better to do.”

“I’m trying to learn, I’m trying to get better at drawing in any way I can. I thought this would be a good way to get more connections,” Hillegas said. 

Juilian Anderson, a first-year illustration major, said they attended the event to “check it out.”

“I liked checking out the facilities and stuff, and I liked meeting some of my classmates.”

First-year visual arts major Taylor Fuller said they weren’t aware of the School of Visual Art’s Connections event until the night before from their roommates, leading to Fuller’s interest in attending the event. 

“I learned more about what we’re going to be doing in our major, and it’s gotten me a lot more excited for the future,” Fuller said. “And even if I do change my major, I’m still excited about whatever I do because all these buildings are so big and fun.”

Reporting from Allison Shelton, Julia Martinez Arroyo, Miguel Loza-Sanchez and Marc Balbarin

 Copy edited by Brandon Anaya