About two months ago, on one of those perfect days that alluded to the upcoming Berlin summer, I was craving falafel. I stopped at one of the many Dönerbuden that line the streets of this city (near Eberswalder Straße, if anyone’s curious) to give into my cravings. After encountering the chirpy vendor and ordering my
When Some of Your Closest Friends Graduate
As I chose between two outfits with vaguely Mediterranean patterns that I had worn to previous BCB Commencement ceremonies, I slowly prepared myself to see my friends graduate. I picked the long dress that I had worn to last year’s ceremony, which I didn’t get to show many people because I had to leave early
Open Questions
When I began teaching sculpture at BCB in the spring semester of 2015, The Factory was an incredibly raw, open space, with a vibe perhaps closer to a squat’s than to that of a private college arts facility. There was random graffiti covering the walls, the bathrooms had no mirrors or even paper towel dispensers,
A Reflection on “The Personal is Even More Political”
In the class The Personal is Even More Political, we have engaged with literary texts and different types of visual material; we have had discussions with artists and performed in-class social experiments like watching each other relax for about fifteen minutes or walking around a shopping mall in silence.
The Idea of the Aesthetic: A Class Review
When I started my freshman year at my home institution of Skidmore College, I was determined to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in visual arts. Like many other students, I had been drawing, painting, and making art since I was a kid. So, when the time came for me to start applying to college, it seemed
With A Little Help From the Writing Center
Despite the occasional visits from Student Life Team Member Tina’s fluffy and mostly friendly cat, Sheba, the Writing Center is not as full as one might expect during the school semester, perhaps because some people think that getting help would somehow reflect badly on them or render them less capable than their peers. Still, this
Scholars are at Risk — Why Freedom of Expression Concerns Us All
Dear everyone, Why do we care? Why should a human rights seminar of seven people take up the case of Ismail Alexandrani, an Egyptian scholar currently detained in the Tora prison in Cairo? We are members of the Scholars at Risk class at BCB taught by Kerry Bystrom. The class places its focus at the
What to Expect When You’re Expecting (To Study Abroad)
Giving birth to your study abroad year is going to be a long and difficult process. It’s best to get any expectations of an easy transition out of your head and, instead, mentally prepare yourself to push. If you thought selecting a destination that matches with your degree program’s requirements and turning in all the