Fall 2007 International Graduate Student Orientation and Celebrating New York! Activities

Transcription

1 Fall 2007 International Graduate Student Orientation and Celebrating New York! Activities The International Graduate Student Orientation program takes place on Friday, August 24 th but orientation to Columbia and New York City begins before and extends through your first few weeks here. Through Celebrating New York! (CNY!) activities, you will have opportunities to get acquainted with other new students, peer advisers, and your new home, NYC! Be sure to scroll down to see all your options. For those who are arriving early, the ISSO has arranged with several campus offices for information sessions and tours: Health Services Visitors Center / Campus Tours Butler Library Friday, August 24 International Graduate Student Orientation Program and Welcome Reception Time: 1:30 5:30 PM. Orientation Program at Roone Arledge Auditorium, Alfred Lerner Hall Time: 6:00 7:30 PM. Welcome Reception at Low Library Rotunda. Today s program is for students in the graduate and professional schools and the School of General Studies. Columbia College and School of Engineering and Applied Science undergraduate students will have information sessions incorporated into the New Student Orientation Program (NSOP). Columbia University welcomes you! You will be introduced to the ISSO staff who are available to assist you throughout your stay, and international student Peer Advisers who know from experience what it's like to be new to NYC and Columbia. Essential information will be presented from 1:30-4:30 PM 1:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:45 pm 3:15 pm 3:30 pm 3:45 pm 4:15 pm 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm 6:00 pm Welcome and Introductions Immigration: the Essentials. What you must know about SEVIS and your immigration status, including basic F-1 and J-1 documents and regulations as well as rules for travel and re-entry to the U.S. Safety Tips for the Big Apple New York has all the advantages and some of the disadvantages of most large cities. This presentation will help you determine the appropriate level of concern for your personal safety. Break Peer Advisers Present! Peer advisers will present student-to-student information in an original way. Working in Student Status The rules and procedures for employment authorization, both on-campus TAs, RAs, GRAs, and hourly part-time work during the academic year and off-campus in summers after your first year of study. The U.S. Academic System and Issues of Academic Integrity How do you write papers, conduct research give presentations, and contribute to the scholarly discourse in your classes and seminars at Columbia with the highest standards of academic integrity? What are the policies and practices you should follow? What resources are available to answer your questions about academic integrity and responsible conduct of research? This session will provide an overview of these issues with practical suggestions for learning about and using resources on academic integrity available for Columbia graduate students. SEVIS Registration and review of immigration documents for students who haven t yet had a chance to check in at the ISSO since arriving in NY. Bring with you your passport, I-94 card, and student immigration documents, the I-20 or DS Ticket Sales for Celebrating New York! (CNY!) events. All events requiring ticket purchase will be on sale Broadway shows, Statue of Liberty, sunset cruise, jazz brunch and more. You may use MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club or U.S. dollars to purchase tickets Peer Adviser Q & A For all the things you d like to ask student to student, visit the Peer Adviser tables in the lobby. Welcome Reception Enjoy refreshments and the opportunity to meet other students, peer advisers, and University staff who have come to welcome you. Low Memorial Library Rotunda 1

2 Celebrating New York! (CNY!) All events require $4.00 round-trip transportation by subway or bus unless noted otherwise and you must use a MetroCard to pay your fare (cash is not accepted). To save time and money, we recommend you buy a weekly MetroCard for $24, which allows unlimited travel on buses and subways. Another option is the one-day Fun Pass MetroCard, which is $7 for unlimited usage from the time you first use it until 3:00 AM the next day. The pay-per-ride regular MetroCard deducts $2 for each trip. Go to for more information. Tuesday, August 7 Health Services and Insurance Information Session This informal session will address your questions on Health Services, insurance, and immunizations and will be followed by a brief walk through the Primary Care unit. Due to space limitations, attendance is limited to 20 students; we regret that spouses and/or children cannot be accommodated at these sessions. Thursday, August 9 Health Services and Insurance Information Session This informal session will address your questions on Health Services, insurance, and immunizations and will be followed by a brief walk through the Primary Care unit. Due to space limitations, attendance is limited to 20 students; we regret that spouses and/or children cannot be accommodated at these sessions. Thursday, August 9 Early Arrivals Get-Together at Hudson Beach Café If you're already in town, no need to wait until the Orientation Program on August 24th to meet other people. Relax and enjoy the sunset with other new international students and Peer Advisers at the Hudson Beach Café, a casual outdoor spot in Riverside Park at 105 th Street. Bring money for food and drinks. Limited menu, from $5 to $15. The group will walk together from campus. Meeting time: 6:00 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall Friday, August 10 Shopping trip to IKEA Take advantage of this opportunity to purchase needed items from IKEA in New Jersey. IKEA sells everything you need for your room or apartment at competitive prices. Travel is by chartered bus, about 35 minutes each way. Check out their products and their prices at There will also be trips to IKEA on the following days: Friday August 17, Thursday August 23, and Friday, August 31. Meeting time: 10:00 AM at the Main Gate at 116 th Street and Broadway, depart IKEA at 3:30 PM Ticket price: $5. Advance purchase at the ISSO required. Saturday, August 11 Concert on Governors Island - Free New World Music concert series on Saturdays in August features music from South America, Africa and Asia. Enjoy the free ferry ride from the southern tip of Manhattan and great music in a scenic location. Ferry departs at noon from the Battery Maritime Building at Whitehall and Broad Streets, concert begins at 1 PM, ferry back to Manhattan at 2:30 or 3:30 PM. Ferry and concert are FREE! $4 round trip by subway. Meeting time: 10:45 AM on campus in front of Earl Hall Sunday, August 12 Hudson River Park MoonDance: David Berger and the Sultans of Swing Enjoy an evening under the stars with music from one of New York s hottest dance bands. No experience necessary free lessons begin at 6:30 PM and the live band goes on at 7 PM on Pier 54 on West 14 th Street and the Hudson River. $4 round trip by subway to 14 th Street Monday, August 13 Campus Tour Get acquainted with the campus and the neighborhood with student tour leaders and meet other new international graduate students. Tour departs from the Visitors Center at Low Library every weekday through Wednesday, August 22nd. Tuesday, August 14 Health Services and Insurance Information Session See description at August 7. Tuesday, August 14 Library Information and Butler Library Tour Learn about the University s libraries and go on a brief tour at Butler Library. No advance registration required, but be there on time and let the desk attendant know that you re attending the international student info session. A good opportunity to meet other new students! Meeting time: 2:00 3:00 PM at Butler Library Tuesday, August 14 Campus Tour Wednesday, August 15 Library Information and Butler Library Tour See description at August 14. Meeting time: 10:00 11:00 AM at Butler Library 2

3 Wednesday, August 15 Campus Tour Thursday, August 16 Health Services and Insurance Information Session See description at August 9. Thursday, August 16 Campus Tour Thursday, August 16 Dinner in Little Italy If you're already in town, no need to wait until the Orientation Program on August 24 th to meet other people. Meet other new international students and Peer Advisers and head downtown to Little Italy for a good dinner! Bring money for food and drinks. $4 round trip by subway Friday, August 17 Shopping trip to IKEA IKEA sells everything you need for your room or apartment at competitive prices. We travel by chartered bus. (See August 10) Meeting time: 10:00 AM at the Main Gate at 116 th Street and Broadway Ticket price: $5 round-trip bus fare, advance purchase at the ISSO required Friday, August 17 Campus Tour Friday, August 17 South Street Seaport Summer Music Festival: The National with The Forms & Takka Takka Great free music at a wonderful venue with views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the NY Harbor! Join fellow graduate students and peer advisers for a great night on the town. $4 round trip by subway to the Fulton Street Station. Concert begins at 6 PM at Pier 17 Saturday, August 18 National Comedy Theatre The NYC National Comedy Theatre show is a comedy competition between two teams of professional comedians who perform a series of scenes all based on audience suggestions. No two shows are ever the same because they are all completely improvised, 90-minute performances. The group will walk through Times Square on the way to the theater at 347 West 36 th Street between 8 th and 9 th Avenues. $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 6 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall. The show begins at 7:30 PM Ticket price: $10 at the National Comedy Theatre box office Monday, August 20 Campus Tour Monday, August 20 Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival: Mick Maloney with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks and Les Yeux Noirs Enjoy an evening of traditional Irish, Gypsy and Yiddish music under the stars at Lincoln Center. For information on the performing artists, see $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 6:30 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall, concert begins at 7:30 PM Tuesday, August 21 Health Services and Insurance Information Session See description at August 7. Tuesday, August 21 Library Information and Butler Library Tour See description at August 14. Meeting time: 2:00 3:00 PM at Butler Library Tuesday, August 21 Campus Tour Wednesday, August 22 Library Information and Butler Library Tour See description at August 14. Meeting time: 10:00 11:00 AM at Butler Library 3

4 Wednesday, August 22 Campus Tour Wednesday, August 22 Getting to Know You: Happy Hour at local restaurant No need to wait until Orientation Day on the 24th to meet other newcomers and Peer Advisers. Time and location to be announced Thursday, August 23 Shopping trip to IKEA IKEA sells everything you need for your room or apartment at competitive prices. We travel by chartered bus. (See August 10) Meeting time: 10:00 AM at the Main Gate at 116 th Street and Broadway Ticket price: $5 round-trip bus fare, advance purchase required from ISSO Thursday, August 23 Health Services and Insurance Information Session See description at August 9. Friday, August 24 INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENT ORIENTATION See description on first page. Saturday, August 25 Welcome to the Columbia Bookstore! The Columbia University Bookstore welcomes you to campus! Come meet fellow new students and browse for books, supplies, souvenirs and apparel. Breakfast refreshments will be offered. Meeting time: 9:00-11:00 AM at the Bookstore, entrance on Broadway at 115 th Street Saturday, August 25 Campus Scavenger Hunt Join us for a scavenger hunt on Columbia's campus and around the neighborhood. Teams follow the clues to learn about the history of the University and other fun facts! Prizes will be awarded. An optional lunch in a local restaurant will follow. Bring money for food and drinks. Meeting time: 11:15 AM on campus in front of Earl Hall Saturday, August 25 Walk around TriBeCa and Battery Park City TriBeCa, the Triangle Below Canal, was not too long ago an area of warehouses and loading docks. First gentrified by artists looking for affordable space to live and work, it is now a high-rent area with many restaurants and shops. The group will walk south through TriBeCa along the Hudson River to Battery Park City, a residential and commercial complex on the waterfront. $4 round trip by subway. Bring money for food and drinks. Saturday, August 25 Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival: Absolute Ensemble Arabian Nights Absolute Ensemble creates music that is an inventive blend of contemporary blend of American orchestra, rock and jazz with the great classics of the Middle East. For more information on the artists, see $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 6:45 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall Sunday, August 26 Shopping at Target Everything you need for your home or yourself can be found at Target ( known for its low prices and high style. Marshall s, another discount retailer, is in the same shopping center at Broadway and 225 th Street. $4 round trip by subway (the #1 uptown to 225 th Street) Meeting time: 10:00 AM on campus in front of Earl Hall Sunday, August 26 - Walking tour of Midtown: Rockefeller Center, Skyscrapers, and Grand Central Station New York is famous for its skyscrapers! We'll make our way down Fifth Avenue, explore the Rockefeller Center complex, and check out famous skyscrapers including the Empire State and Chrysler Building. Tour ends at Grand Central Station, which has a great food court for a snack afterwards. $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 1:00 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall Sunday, August 26 Gospel Brunch at Mo-Bay Uptown Enjoy Southern food and barbeque at Harlem's newest restaurant, located at 17 West 125th Street (between Fifth and Lenox Avenues). Brunch includes cornbread with coconut-pineapple sauce, a choice of three entrées, and a choice of any two of seven different side dishes (price does not include dessert and drinks). $4 round trip by bus Meeting time: 2:00 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall, our reservation is for 3:00 PM Ticket price: $25, advance purchase at the ISSO required Sunday, August 26 Theater in Central Park: The Recruiting Officer by George Farquhar Don t miss this free unique NY experience! Each summer, the New York Classical Theatre stages an outdoor production in Central Park with the audience following the performance from place to place as the plot unfolds. The play uses trees, rocks, benches and even the audience as scenery! $4 round trip by subway or bus. Meeting time: 6:00 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall; the play begins at 7:00 PM at 103 rd Street and Central Park West. 4

5 Sunday, August 26 Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival: Mingus Big Band Tonight s performance is an 85 th birthday tribute to composer and jazz innovator Charles Mingus. The Mingus Big Band tours extensively in the United States and abroad. For more information, go to $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 6:45 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall Monday, August 27 Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival: La India The 2007 Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival ends with a sizzle with La India, the Princess of Salsa, as she heats up Lincoln Center with salsaton, her term for a fusion of salsa and reggaeton music. For more information, go to $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 6:45 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall Monday, August 27 Broadway Show: Phantom of the Opera Andrew Lloyd Webber's lavish musical of Gaston Leroux's novel is set in 19th century Paris, and has been getting standing ovations for more than 15 years! $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 7:00 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall; curtain at 8 PM, three hour performance with one intermission. Ticket price: $35, advance purchase at the ISSO required Monday, August 27 Dinner with Peer Advisers at local restaurants Relax by sharing a meal with a Peer Adviser and a small group of other new students at one of the area s many restaurants. Space is limited; sign up at the Peer Adviser table at Orientation on August 24 th. Meeting time: 7:30 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall Monday, August 27 Jazz at Showman s Café Old-timers and first-timers come together to enjoy good music at this long-established friendly Harlem jazz club. The group will walk together from campus to Showman s at 375 West 125 th Street between Morningside and St. Nicholas Avenues. Meeting time: 9:30 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall Ticket price: No cover charge, but a two-drink minimum is required for each set Tuesday, August 28 Health Services and Insurance Information Session See description at August 7. Tuesday, August 28 An evening in Chinatown Explore the streets of Chinatown and have something to eat in one of the area s many restaurants. Bring money for food and refreshments. $4 round trip by subway Tuesday, August 28 Broadway Show: Les Miserables Based on Victor Hugo s novel and on Broadway for 20 years, Les Mis is a moving tale of redemption, revolution, obsession, loyalty and love. $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 6:00 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall; curtain at 7 PM; three-hour performance with one 15-minute intermission. Ticket price: $40, advance purchase at the ISSO required Tuesday, August 28 Water Taxi Beach Where can you find a sandy beach on the East River (no swimming), spectacular views of midtown Manhattan and food and drinks? At Water Taxi Beach on the East River in Long Island City in Queens, just one stop from Manhattan on the #7 subway. Despite the beach s name, the group will travel by the more economical option of subway. $4 round trip by subway. Bring money for food and drinks. Meeting time: 6:30 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall Wednesday, August 29 Health Services and Insurance Information Session See description at August 9. Wednesday, August 29 Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden Bohemian Hall in Astoria, Queens is the last original remaining Beer Garden in all New York City where once there were hundreds. Enjoy a relaxed casual atmosphere, a cold beer and grilled food in an outdoor setting. $4 round trip by subway. Bring money for food and drinks. Wednesday, August 29 Hudson Beach Café Relax and enjoy the sunset with other new international students and Peer Advisers at this casual outdoor spot, the Hudson Beach Café, in Riverside Park at 105 th Street. Bring money for food and drinks. Limited menu, from $5 to $15. The group will walk together from campus. Meeting time: 6:00 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall 5

6 Thursday, August 30 River to River Festival: Charansalsa Charansalsa s swinging sound is a highly danceable new concept in Latin music, rooted in tradition but combining the best of charanga and salsa. Wagner Park is in the southwest corner of Manhattan, with great views of the Statue of Liberty and NY Harbor. Bring money for refreshments. $4 round trip by subway. Thursday, August 30 Walk around Greenwich Village A unique NYC area and long a home to artists, writers, revolutionaries, and beatniks, the Village is now a trendy neighborhood. $4 round trip by subway. Bring money for food and drinks. Meeting time: 6:00 PM campus in front of Earl Hall Thursday, August 30 Broadway show: The Lion King With masks, puppetry, inventive staging, choreography and a Tim Rice-Elton John score, this highly acclaimed musical is not to be missed! $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 7:00 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall; curtain at 8 PM; 2 hours and 45 minutes with one 15-minute intermission. Ticket price: $45, advance purchase at the ISSO required Friday, August 31 Immigration Essentials Information Session This information session is for new students who weren't able to attend either the Graduate Student Orientation on August 24 th or an ISSO information session held in their school of enrollment. Students should bring their immigration documents--passport, I-94 card and I-20 (for F-1 status) or DS-2019 (for J-1 status). Meeting time: 9:30 11 AM at Davis Auditorium (Room 412) in Schapiro Center (located behind Uris Hall) Friday, August 31 Shopping trip to IKEA IKEA sells everything you need for your room or apartment at competitive prices. We will travel by chartered bus. (See August 10) Meeting time: 10:00 AM at the Main Gate at 116 th Street and Broadway Ticket price: $5 round-trip bus fare, advance purchase at the ISSO required Friday, August 31 Evening at the Guggenheim Museum Housed in Frank Lloyd Wright s distinctive spiraling building on Fifth Avenue and 89 th Street, the Guggenheim is one of the most remarkable twentieth-century art collections in the world. The museum is open late on Friday evenings and has free admission from 6:00-8:00 PM. $4 round trip by subway or bus. Friday, August 31 Walk around the Lower East Side Walk through the vibrant neighborhood of the Lower East Side, an area where many immigrant groups first settled upon arrival in the NYC. Now, it s a very hip area with inexpensive bars and cafés and great music. $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 6:30 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall Friday, August 31 Broadway show: Legally Blonde When a blonde sorority queen is dumped by her boyfriend, she enrolls in the same law school to get him back and learns she has more legal savvy than he or she ever imagined. $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 7:00 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall; curtain at 8 PM Ticket price: $45, advance purchase at the ISSO required Saturday, September 1 A Visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island We will take the ferry to see the famous Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, as well as visit the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island, the chief immigration station of the United States from 1892 to 1943, on an all-day excursion. $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 9:00 AM on campus in front of Earl Hall Ticket price: $13 for ferry, advance purchase at the ISSO required Saturday, September 1 Walk in Central Park See how New Yorkers spend a weekend afternoon! Get acquainted with part of this wonderful park with fellow students and Peer Advisers. $4 round trip by subway or bus. Bring money for food and drinks. Meeting time: 1:00 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall Saturday, September 1 Evening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art The Met, one of the world s largest and most important art museums, has a lovely roof garden and café, perfect for a summer evening. Free admission to the Met with a Columbia student ID; for others there is a suggested donation, but you may pay what you wish. $4 round trip by subway or bus to Fifth Avenue and 82 nd Street. Meeting time: 4:30 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall Saturday, September 1 Walk around Union Square and the East Village Union Square on East 14 th Street is a large park in a lively young neighborhood and the northern border of the trendy East Village. $4 round trip by subway Bring money for food and drinks. Meeting time: 6:30 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall 6

7 Sunday, September 2 Shopping at Target Everything you need for your home or yourself can be found at Target. See description at August 26 th. $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 10:00 AM on campus in front of Earl Hall Sunday, September 2 Brunch at Delta Grill Enjoy delicious New Orleans-style food and live music at the Delta Grill, a restaurant located on 9 th Avenue and 48 th Street in the "Hell's Kitchen" neighborhood. The brunch includes a champagne mimosa, gumbo (soup), choice of one of five main plates, and coffee or tea. Afterwards, walk around this lively neighborhood with many cafés and bars. $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: Noon on campus in front of Earl Hall; our reservation is for 1:00 PM. Ticket price: $20, advance purchase at the ISSO required Sunday, September 2 Walk around the Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn Heights Enjoy a late afternoon walk across the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge connecting lower Manhattan to downtown Brooklyn. We ll take a subway downtown, walk across the bridge and stroll around the pleasant neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights with its spectacular views of Manhattan. $4 round trip by subway Bring money for an optional dinner. Monday, September 3 A visit to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Located at Fifth Avenue and 53 rd Street, MoMA is among the most important modern art museums in the world. Please remember to bring your Columbia ID for free admission. $4 round trip by subway or bus Meeting time: 10:30 AM on campus in front of Earl Hall Monday, September 3 The Empire State Building See the most famous view in New York City from its most famous building! $4 round trip by subway Ticket price: $13, advance purchase at the ISSO required Monday, September 3 Broadway Show: Phantom of the Opera Andrew Lloyd Webber's lavish musical based on Gaston Leroux's novel is a romantic operetta set in 19th century Paris. Phantom has been getting standing ovations for more than 15 years! $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 7:00 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall; curtain at 8:00 PM with one15-minute intermission Ticket price: $35, advance purchase at the ISSO required Friday, September 7 Broadway Show: Les Miserables Based on Victor Hugo s novel and on Broadway for 20 years, Les Mis is a moving tale of redemption, revolution, obsession, loyalty and love. $4 round trip by subway Meeting time: 7:00 PM on campus in front of Earl Hall; curtain at 8 PM; three-hour performance with one 15-minute intermission. Ticket price: $40, advance purchase at the ISSO required Friday, September 7 Bodies the Exhibition at the South Street Seaport This fascinating (and controversial) exhibition is a presentation of actual whole-body specimens and individual organs, this exhibition will reveal how your body works by exploring it from the inside-out. [It uses} a unique polymer preservation process applied to real human bodies. You will leave with a greater understanding of your own physical makeup and with a deeper respect for the machine that gives you the power of life. The exhibit is located in a great area to eat or walk around in before or after your visit. $4 round trip by subway ; our reservation is at 6:30 Ticket price: $18, advance purchase at the ISSO required Sunday, September 9 Sunset Cruise Watch the sun set and the city light up on a three-hour cruise (6:30 9:30 PM) around New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. Celebrate the end of the first week of classes with food, drink, music, and new friends. The Paddlewheel Queen, a Mississippi-style riverboat, leaves from the East 23 rd Street Pier on the East River. Meeting time: 5:15 PM at the Main Gate at 116th and Broadway Ticket price: $45 (includes cruise with DJ, snacks, and round-trip travel by chartered bus), advance purchase at the ISSO required. Cash bar available on boat. As space is limited for some events, tickets must be purchased in advance from the ISSO. You are encouraged to purchase tickets at International Student Orientation on August 24th. Spouses and children are welcome to attend all events. There are no reservations, phone or orders, refunds or exchanges. Payment by cash, Visa, or MasterCard only. 7