Issue I: February 27, 2026

Issue I: On Thin Ice

Editorial Note

To the dedicated readers of The Morningside Post: 

The first two months of the year have not spared the SIPA community of unpredictability, both inside and outside of IAB. The Morningside Post’s first issue of 2026, On Thin Ice, dissects how our community has grappled with uncertainty, whether by evaluating the federal erasure of national statistics  or growing up amid cartel wars. 

On Thin Ice comes out in a deeply unsettling time for Columbia. Just one day before we published this issue, federal immigration agents detained one of Columbia University's international students, Elmina “Ellie” Aghayeva, GS ’26, from on-campus housing at early hours of the morning. This event serves as a reminder that uncertainty underpins every step we take on this campus. Institutions we once took for granted as sanctuaries no longer wholly support us.

Yet for our contributors and readers alike, these university institutions have also provided platforms for difficult conversations. Columbia students continue to demonstrate resilience through these tumultuous times by organizing in protest and amplifying peers’ voices. As The Morningside Post transitions to a new editorial board, we are proud to be one such platform.  I want to extend my gratitude to our editors, who dissected global policies from China to Minnesota to make some sense of the world we live in.   

As always, we thank you for your continued readership. You make The Morningside Post and independent student journalism possible. 

Irmak Ersoz

Editor-in-Chief

campus news

Articles
Neutral on Paper, Unequal in Practice
Neutral on Paper, Unequal in Practice

Amid heightened immigration enforcement and visa uncertainty, this piece examines how procedural neutrality on campus can leave international students disproportionately vulnerable.

The Stranger’s Case: Protestors Rally Thursday at Columbia over Ongoing ICE Raids in Minnesota
The Stranger’s Case: Protestors Rally Thursday at Columbia over Ongoing ICE Raids in Minnesota

Columbia students rallied in response to ICE raids in Minneapolis, citing fears of potential escalation in New York and questioning the university’s stance on federal immigration enforcement.

Opinions

Articles
Reflections on the Resurgence of Violence Across Mexico
Reflections on the Resurgence of Violence Across Mexico

Following the reported killing of a major cartel leader, renewed violence across Mexico has reignited fears of cyclical retaliation, prompting calls for stronger state capacity, civilian protection, and coordinated cross-border policy to break a pattern that has shaped a generation’s lived experience.

The United States, 250 Years In: An End or a New Beginning?
The United States, 250 Years In: An End or a New Beginning?

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this reflection examines growing distrust in democratic institutions at home and abroad.

When National Statistics Die, Democracy Dies With Them
When National Statistics Die, Democracy Dies With Them

The removal of thousands of federal datasets has sparked concern among researchers and policy experts, who warn that weakening the independence and accessibility of national statistics could undermine evidence-based policymaking and democratic accountability.

The Quantum Clock Is Ticking on U.S. Cybersecurity
The Quantum Clock Is Ticking on U.S. Cybersecurity

As artificial intelligence commands political attention, cybersecurity experts warn that quantum computing poses a quieter but potentially devastating threat.

Stepping Forward on Thin Ice
Stepping Forward on Thin Ice

Even when the future feels increasingly unpredictable, SIPA students are choosing engagement and public service. Read how one student brings in learnings from a childhood memory to her outlook on the future.

A Colder Winter Doesn’t Mean Global Warming is a Hoax
A Colder Winter Doesn’t Mean Global Warming is a Hoax

Episodes of extreme winter weather have fueled skepticism about climate change, but scientists emphasize that short-term cold snaps do not contradict long-term global warming trends driven by rising average temperatures and Arctic amplification.

When Protection Fails: Why Xiao Luoxi’s Death Felt Unbearably Heavy
When Protection Fails: Why Xiao Luoxi’s Death Felt Unbearably Heavy

An infant’s post-surgical death in Ningbo led to an official investigation, but the case has since raised broader concerns about transparency and accountability.

Politics

Articles
Whatever You Think is Happening in Minnesota, it’s Worse
Whatever You Think is Happening in Minnesota, it’s Worse

As federal immigration operations intensify in Minnesota, a series of shootings, mass arrests, and economic disruptions have reshaped daily life in the Twin Cities, sparking widespread protest and deepening concerns about the human and civic costs of sustained enforcement.

NYC Struggles to Enforce LL97 as Climate Goals Loom
NYC Struggles to Enforce LL97 as Climate Goals Loom

Seven years after its passage, Local Law 97 remains central to New York City’s climate strategy, but uneven enforcement, financing gaps, and housing affordability pressures now threaten the law’s ability to meet its 2030 emissions targets.

A Chilling Lifestyle in a Warm World
A Chilling Lifestyle in a Warm World

In Utqiaġvik, Alaska, climate change is reshaping not only sea ice and hunting routes but the food systems, health, and cultural continuity of the Iñupiat people, raising urgent questions about sovereignty and survival in a rapidly warming Arctic.

Culture

Articles
Tokio Blues
Tokio Blues

A night of Japanese jazz in Tokyo becomes an unexpected lesson in silence, as cultural instinct collides with a space where what isn’t said matters most.

A Period Piece: How Menstrual Health Is Depicted in Film and Television
A Period Piece: How Menstrual Health Is Depicted in Film and Television

From a 1946 Disney film to modern sitcoms and children’s media, portrayals of menstruation on screen reveal shifting cultural attitudes, highlighting both progress and stigma in how menstrual health is discussed, taught, and understood.

Everywhere, but Nowhere
Everywhere, but Nowhere

In an increasingly mobile world, who pays the psychological price of constant reinvention?

📬 We’re always looking for new voices and perspectives. If you have a pitch or article idea, we’d love to hear from you here!

Thank you for joining The Morningside Post for another semester. As campus conversations continue to evolve, we remain committed to creating space for thoughtful dialogue, sharp analysis, and student storytelling. We’re so grateful for your readership and support.

To keep the momentum going, we’re excited to invite you to a collaborative social with the Gender Policy Working Group and Responsible Tech on March 5 from 6–8 PM at Amity Hall. Join us for an evening of conversation, connection, and community across issue areas. RSVP here.

We hope to see you there!

With appreciation,
The Morningside Post Editorial Board