Op-Ed on the Pool

Taking another small break today! In the meantime, you should read my piece about why the Barnard pool is important not only to the students who use it, but as a statement to the administration about their financial transparency. Check it out on at the Columbia Spectator. Here's an excerpt:

"When I tell people that I am heading the Save the Pool Campaign at Barnard, folks often look at me with excitement and a little disbelief. I get questions ranging from, “Why would you put your energy into something that’s already been decided?” to “Isn’t it already closed?”

To all of these, I reply that until the sign is on the door and the concrete is filled in, I am going to keep trying to save the pool in any way possible. I am not a new swimmer. I know what it’s like to run a tough campaign. And, as a student that is very much invested in the Barnard community, I have both my feet on the ground and invite others to stand with me in keeping the pool open past the end of this year."

The Thing I Never Thought I'd Love

Every morning at 7:40am, I crack my eyes open to the early darkness of my single room, plunge down from my lofted bed, and unsteadily march towards campus.

I don't have a class. I'm not really a morning person. But I arrive at school at 8am and make my way down to the Barnard athletics department, still somewhat groggy, to plunge myself into the water and swim laps for half an hour to start the day.

Your question is probably "why?" It doesn't seem very appealing - to dunk yourself in cold water and exercise straight away in the morning. But since I have started working to save the Barnard pool from being closed this year, I've gotten more and more attached to that space. Attached enough to beat back my morning sleepiness and start swimming there every day that the pool is open, at the only time that I'm available to before all the hustle and bustle of the day.