1. How did you get involved in comedy?

I got academically dismissed after my junior year (spring 2015) for not handing in two final papers (no logical explanation, I just didn’t feel like doing academic work anymore), so I had to spend a year away. I was always into stand up, so being from NYC, I took the opportunity to dive into it. I took stand-up classes in the fall of 2015, started going to open mics, and just gradually made friends with a lot of comedians in the City.

2. What was academic dismissal like for you?

For me personally, academic dismissal was beneficial because it gave me the opportunity to realize how much I loved comedy and that I wanted to work in the field. Additionally, it gave me time to really understand what my life could be like if I didn’t graduate. Aside from doing stand up, I spent the year as a waiter in a restaurant. While I made good friends there, I knew that that wasn’t something I wanted to be doing long term. Consequently, I guess I’ve just taken my future a bit more seriously. I understand a bit more now that simply being accepted into Colgate isn’t the end of the road. You have to continue to work.

3. Any advice for students who may be going through similar feelings?

As for advice for not being dismissed, that’s tough. Most people accepted into Colgate have the potential to succeed. So when someone is on the verge of being dismissed, I feel like there could be various factors going into it. For me, it was laziness plain and simple. And I’m still pretty lazy, I just try a bit more academically I guess. For some, it takes dismissal to really put things into perspective. My advice for someone dismissed would just be to figure out what went wrong and understand that it’s not the end of the road. Keep working, keep trying. The opportunity to go to a school like Colgate doesn’t come to everyone, so you don’t want to take it for granted. Pretty generic advice, but that’s what I’d say.

4. How do you see comedy being used as a way of advocating/ educating others?

Most race-centered comedy is done problematically in my opinion, honestly. There are comedians that use race in their comedy in more positive ways. Trevor Noah is one example. He has this bit on colonialism on Youtube I highly recommend watching; it’s hilarious. Another comedian who’s great at using comedy as a way to promote political and social critical thought is someone we’re planning on bringing to Colgate at the end of the semester. The contracts aren’t signed yet though, so I can’t say who just yet.

5. Do you have any goals involving comedy either at Colgate or post-Colgate?

At Colgate, I just want to keep Colgate Stand Up progressing. For a club only in its second semester, we’ve been pretty successful so far. My goal is just to keep that up. One exciting show we’re planning that I’ll mention now is that we’re doing an all-women lineup on February 25th, hosted by Sydney Schultz ’19. I think that will be dope. Obviously, stand up is so male-dominated, having an all-women lineup should be refreshing.

After Colgate I definitely want to work in comedy in some capacity. I’d love to write for a TV show like Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The Daily Show, or Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. Shows that use comedy to convey progressive political and social messages. Besides writing jobs, other goals are to just keep improving with stand up, and start producing my own shows in the City, just like we’re doing here at Colgate.

JT also encourages everyone interested in trying stand-up comedy on campus to reach out to him, and he recommends that people like the Facebook page for videos and photos from all comedy events facebook.com/colgatestandup.

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1. What study abroad experience were you in?

I was a part of the Colgate London Economics Study Group.

2. What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?

While I was abroad, I took a trip to Athens, Greece on my own for four days. It was my first time traveling (and organizing) a trip on my own, and it happened to be a place I’d wanted to visit since I was a kid. I got to see all sorts of historical sites and spent a lot of my time at the Akropolis, old temples, and museums. The whole trip was amazing, and the fact that I did it on my own is something that I deeply value.

3. What type of activities did you do while being abroad?

I visited local Gurdwaras (Sikh temples), went to markets with my friends, attended weekly plays, and traveled to various cities.

Harpreet in England

4. What type of classes did you take?

I took one theater course and three economics courses (The British Economy, Economics of the European Union, and Global Economic Issues). We had terrific guest lecturers for our economics classes. For the theater course, we had the amazing opportunity to attend various plays throughout London while learning about the history of London’s theater scene.

5. What was the biggest surprise to you about being abroad?

I was surprised by the extent of my independence and my ability to settle into a more natural way of my life in another country. It was surprisingly easy to get used to!

6. What advice would you give to someone who may want to go abroad in the upcoming year?

Do things that challenge you, even scare you a bit (within reason, of course). Take trips on your own, try to immerse yourself into the place you are visiting. If you’re on a Colgate study group, it is easy to latch onto the group and avoid interacting with the people who live in the place you have a chance to visit. That’s a huge disservice to yourself!

Also, appreciate the chance to travel and be open-minded about the places you will see and the people you’ll meet. Not everyone has the privilege to travel, and the fact that you are able to go to another country and call it home for a semester means a lot! Studying abroad isn’t a break from life- meaning it’s going to have the regular ups and downs you might experience during your average semester at Colgate. It may not be all sunshine all the time, but it will be something memorable.

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Hometown: Imperial, CA

Major: Educational Studies

Class Year: 2017

Larissa Grijalva ’17

How are you involved on campus?

Other than OUS, I’m a part of Link Staff, Konosioni, Greek Life, This Is Not A Play About Sex and Vagina Monologues!

As a senior, what advice would you give younger students on campus?

DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY! Being at Colgate is not easy, but there are tons of ways to make it a little more bearable. I started doing at least one major thing I want to do a day (although lately it’s been more like 3 per day). No matter how much work I have, at the end of the day, I make sure I’ve done something I chose to do whether it’s watching a movie or going for a run or baking something.

In what ways have you felt OUS has impacted your time while at Colgate?

There’s a reason why OUS is a family. Having people who can both call you out on your bull but also be there for you at 3 a.m. is incredibly hard to find at a place like this, but it’s super necessary!! I’m so lucky to be part of my amazing ’17 OUS class. Also, shout out to Frank Frey and Frank Kuan who have been there for us since Day 1.

What has been the highlight of your Colgate experience thus far?

Despite the ways in which Colgate has failed me, it has also given me so so much. I am mostly thankful for all the people I’ve gotten to know over these past 4 years. I’d have to say that the highlight of my Colgate experience is getting to share it with my brothers.

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Greek Organization: Kappa Kappa Gamma

Nali Byrd ’19

2. What has been your favorite thing about being in your organization so far?

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This past summer, the OUS/ First Gen house was completely renovated including new floors, computer labs, a lounge with a television and video game area, homework space, a group study room and printers! Upstairs are the offices of OUS Directors Frank Frey and Frank Kuan, Graduate Residential Fellow Salote Tenisi ’15 and  Assistant Dean and Director of First Generations Program Drea Finley ’13. The house is open to all OUS students, First Generation students and their friends. Students are constantly found using the space to work on homework together, cook dinner for one another or just hang out and watch a movie.

Students serving food at a family dinner!

One first-year student was asked where his favorite place on campus was, and he replied “my favorite place on campus is the OUS/ First Gen house. Sometimes it gets hard to be so far away from your family when you are at college and the house became my home away from home”.

Two biology students agreed that they have no idea what they would do without the group study room in the house. “We are always meeting here before exams with our peers to go over notes and study together”.

Students have even utilized the house to host performances and get-togethers. Often times, different themed nights occur in the house such as poetry night, where students gather and recite different work and share new ideas with friends.

For everyone, family dinners in the house are a very cherished time. Students from all four years as well as Frank Frey, Frank Kuan, Drea and Salote come together to enjoy a great meal and just catch up with one another.

The OUS house is a place for students to unwind, get work done, relax, and have fun with one another. Many students cannot imagine their time at Colgate without having the house as their sanctuary!

The house is also equipped with an extensive library where students can often find their textbooks!

Valeria Felix ’18 working in the living room.

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Name: Regine (Ré) Cooper
Hometown: Fort Meyers, Florida
Major/ Minor: Political Science/Economics

1: Describe your Colgate experience so far in a few sentences?

Colgate has been “like a wake-up”. I have grown up so much. Although the school is challenging in multiple ways, it will pay off in the future.

2: What activities are you involved in on campus?

I am a Varsity Track & Field athlete, and I am also involved with Thought Into Action (Colgate’s student entrepreneurship program).

3: What is the most challenging thing about being a student-athlete?

Being a student-athlete means you are tired. Those 6 a.m. lifts with those long nights mean you have to have great time management. It can be stressful at times. But I love track and field because it gives me the sports community and friends. It also connects me to more alumni. I also love to challenge myself.

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Name: Abu Daramy

Class Year: 2020

Q1: What was the highlight of your OUS experience?

The highlight of my OUS experience was when we went on a trip to the amusement park, Darien Lake. I had a lot of fun there and had a chance to bond with the other OUS kids more.

Q2:  What activities are you involved in on campus?

As of right now, the football team is the only thing I’m affiliated with. But after the season is over, I’m looking to try out for the dance group “Melanated”.

Q3: What is the most challenging thing about being a student-athlete?

This might sound very cliché, but I didn’t go out searching for a sport to play. Football found me at a very young age. All of my cousins played and my brother played. Ever since I was first introduced to the game at the age of 5, I couldn’t stay away from it. Being on a football field lets me let go of all of my worries in the world and makes me feel like I’m in a whole different world with my teammates whether in practice or a game. And it also gives me the opportunity to hit someone as hard as I can without getting in trouble for it.

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Name: Kalani Byrd

Major/Minor: Peace & Conflict Studies/Psychology

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

1. What type of activities are you involved in on campus?

On campus, I have held a number of work-related positions. I worked as a Research Assistant
for Dr. Tomlinson in the Psychology Department for two years and as a Student
Caller for the Office of the Annual Fund. I also spent time working in the Merchandising Department of the Colgate Bookstore. I am a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and have served on its philanthropy committee throughout my membership. In my senior year, I was the Vice President of Colgate’s Panhellenic Council, which works closely with Colgate’s Administration and the Interfraternity Council to ensure that sorority life runs smoothly on campus.

2. What legacy/ idea are you hoping to leave at Colgate when you graduate?

I want people to see that a first-generation woman of color can be successful at Colgate. It was a blessing for me to have the opportunity to attend this university and I did everything I could to reap the benefits, enjoy my time here and set myself up for future success. Colgate is such a generous place and you definitely can find the right people here to help you do well and support you along the way. I also want to leave people understanding that despite some flaws in the system, there can be a place for women of color in Greek Life at Colgate, seeing as I have had such a positive experience and have found some of my best friends through it. Finally, I hope I leave people with an understanding that you do not have to study something “mainstream” or “expected” to be successful. You should absolutely only do what you want to do; I started out on the pre-med track, changed to Peace & Conflict studies because it’s what I truly loved studying, and still have a great job lined up after I graduate!

3. How has being in OUS impacted your college experience? Do you see OUS impacting your life after Colgate?

OUS has tremendously impacted my time here at Colgate. Although I was so annoyed back then to be spending my last summer before college taking classes here, I’ve come to realize that it was all totally worth it. Having those two classes and the experience of those two classes really prepared me for Colgate’s academic challenges. Having a family of faculty and professors who I can go to when I need literally anything at all, has been invaluable. Some of my very best friends who I know I will be with for life I also found from that summer and OUS. These are memories and people that are going to be with me for a lifetime – and for that, I am forever grateful to OUS

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Name: Joshua (Joe) Aiken

Major: Philosophy

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

1. What type of activities are you involved in on campus?

I spent time on the Link staff, worked as an SGA campaign manager (my team was elected obviously), spoke in the In Your Company segment of freshman orientation, performed in This Is Not a Play About Sex (positive sexuality initiative on campus), acted as the Philanthropy Chair for Phi Kappa Tau, served as the Interfraternity Council President, and will graduate as a member of the Konosioni Senior Honor Society. 

2. What legacy/ idea are you hoping to leave at Colgate when you graduate? 

All these accolades and involvements are fine, but I kind of lost steam by the end of my spring
semester junior year. It’s not that I was burnt out from the work. I think I just became unenthused by my surroundings. Colgate is a school of accomplishment and we even speak in a language of accomplishment: “I worked here last summer. I am working there next
summer. I just left (x) important meeting, now I am en route to a more important meeting.” These things become draining after a while, and I realized that I was working to prove a point that’s not worth proving to people that wh0 [for the most part] are of no consequence to my life. So, to end this long winded response, I’d like to leave behind the legacy of ‘doin’ you’ — whatever that may constitute. Make a way, make things happens, and grab a ‘yes’ in a room full of no’s.

3. How has being in OUS impacted your college experience? Do you see OUS impacting your life after Colgate?

OUS has already impacted my life after Colgate. During the summer program, I met four guys who will forever be my brothers. These are the individuals who will be the best men at my wedding. OUS has enabled me to acquire resources and friendships that I wouldn’t have been able to survive college without — and for that — I am forever indebted to the program. I do not get the chance to vocalize this often, but I attribute all of my success to Frank Frey, Frank Kuan, Andrea Finley, Professor Spires, and all of the other key players in the OUS family. 

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