The Low Down

Want to add a little Lion to your Turkey Day? 

The CAA's Ken Catandella, founder of the Columbia Alumni Winemakers Collective, curated a list of wines—made or distributed by your fellow alumni—that are sure to brighten your holiday and satisfy your palate. 

Read on, and don't miss out on upcoming Winemakers Collective news and events! Follow the group on Facebook and Instagram.

Several Columbia alumni are up for an award at this year's Tonys, set for Sunday, June 10 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Ahead of the event, which celebrates the best of the year in Broadway theater, read up on the talented and artistic Columbians in the running for the prize.

A new Columbia Libraries project is using a historical Twitter feed to document the protests that took place at the University in 1968.

Arizona-based artist and photographer Lisa Robinson '90CC returns to the city of her Alma Mater this week, with the opening of her fascinating new exhibit, Terrestra.

Alumnus Gregory Leet '88GSAS, '90GSAS, '02GSAS shares on The Low Down details about his fascinating journey from Columbia to traveling the world for his music career. 

On April 22, 2017, the world will celebrate the 47th anniversary of Earth Day, the modern environmental movement that began in 1970. The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. 

The initial Earth Day marked some interesting activities on Columbia's Morningside campus as well. Read on for a look at Earth Days at Columbia, then and now, and some Earth Day facts about how Columbia is a leader in sustainability, from academics to dining halls.

Rachel Israel's film, Keep the Change, has been a long time coming.

The 2013 School of the Arts alumna's creation, which premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival this month, began as a short film for her graduate school thesis project. But Israel knew it had to become a feature length film.

"I had the idea of the feature even before I made the MFA short," she told The Low Down.

Columbia will be at the center of it all at this year's Sundance Film Festival, celebrating the accomplishments of our alumni filmmakers. More than 20 of their films will be showcased in Park City, Utah, this month.  

We've rounded up all of this year's talented Columbia directors, producers, writers, and actors:

VIEW THE LIST HERE

Planning to be at Sundance this year? Join fellow Columbians for a reception at The Spur Bar and Grill on Saturday, January 21. 

Check out the alumni featured in last year's Festival.

Congratulations to all of the Columbia filmmakers! 

Interested in more arts-related programming? Learn more about CAA Arts Access here.

Last week, Columbia President Lee C. Bollinger '71LAW published "The No-Censorship Approach to Life" in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Reflecting comments he made at fall Convocation, President Bollinger lays out how the University lives by First Amendment principles and how students today grapple with ideas.

One of the many enviable perks of being a Columbia student is being able to meet people of all different cultures and backgrounds just by walking on campus. Notably, this includes the celebrities and renowned individuals that Columbia students may just casually bump into and meet.