Ruby Topalian

For $50 million, a new Columbia dental school building could’ve been named after Jeffrey Epstein. University officials said no. Many interviews and 1000+ reviewed emails later, here’s my latest investigation for @ColumbiaSpec: columbiaspectator.com/news/2026/03/1…

@KamilQadri_ @ColumbiaSpec Thank you, Kamil!

@RubyTopalian @ColumbiaSpec Great work & excellent read

For $50 million, a new Columbia dental school building could’ve been named after Jeffrey Epstein. University officials said no. Many interviews and 1000+ reviewed emails later, here’s my latest investigation for @ColumbiaSpec: columbiaspectator.com/news/2026/03/1…

A rural community in eastern Oklahoma is set to be the site of the country’s largest aluminum plant. Residents don’t want it and feel like no one cares. ow.ly/MJa950YshKR

UPDATE: Iran’s supreme leader is still alive "as far as I know," the country's foreign minister says in an exclusive interview with NBC News. nbcnews.com/world/iran/liv…

LIVE UPDATES: U.S. military begins 'major combat operations in Iran,' President Trump says. • Iran is retaliating against multiple U.S. military facilities in the Middle East, a U.S. official says • Iranian state media reports explosions in central Tehran • Israel declares a state of emergency nbcnews.com/world/iran/liv…

This morning, DHS agents detained a @Columbia student after misrepresenting themselves to Public Safety Officers to gain access to her residence. The University is providing legal support. ✍️ for @ColumbiaSpec columbiaspectator.com/news/2026/02/2…

Incredible archival work by @theeyemag exploring Columbia’s historical relationship with Nazi Germany. Very proud of this team.

More than 30 Oklahoma law enforcement agencies have signed federal agreements deputizing officers as ICE agents. A raid in Oklahoma City's Asian District in January sent shockwaves through the Vietnamese community. Some police chiefs wear masks during operations while activists track and photograph arrests they say target immigrants with legal status. ow.ly/aq9r50Yh4Pz

BREAKING: Columbia has "taken action" against two dental school officials who facilitated admission of Jeffrey Epstein's girlfriend after her initial rejection and solicited donations from the convicted sex offender. columbiaspectator.com/news/2026/02/1…

“You want to say that it’s water under the bridge,” Shaun Powers said, recalling his battle with State Farm as his wife died of cancer. “God forgives and God forgets, but I don’t. I’ll eat a bag of Skittles and watch you burn in Hell.” ow.ly/QjjQ50YbF06

Professor Jae Woo Lee’s Advanced Programming is an infamous requirement for all computer science majors. Hear how 12 years ago, he came to design the curriculum he teaches today, and how the computer science industry has evolved in that time. Our latest: columbiaspectator.com/the-eye/2026/0…

“Don’t make John mad, because he’ll write a book.” John McWhorter has turned academic frustration into bestsellers—and controversy. The Eye sat down with him to discuss the evolution of his views on race in the United States. Read more here: columbiaspectator.com/the-eye/2026/0…

NEW: Mount Sinai Morningside nurses join citywide strike of 15,000 over healthcare benefits, staffing ratios, and safety. My latest for @ColumbiaSpec: columbiaspectator.com/city-news/2026…

NEW: Mount Sinai Morningside nurses are protesting for a third day as part of a citywide strike of ~15,000 NYC nurses after contract talks with NYC’s major hospital systems stalled—their top demand is preserving healthcare benefits. More to come for @ColumbiaSpec.

The Office of Public Affairs announced in a Saturday email that Public Safety would conduct “additional building checks” and work with the New York Police Department on “additional safety measures” after a Saturday shooting at Brown University. columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/12/1…

Much respect for the @the_herald reporters @BrownUniversity who are on the job tonight for fellow students and the rest of the campus community. browndailyherald.com/article/2025/1…

“I don’t think [an enemy] is necessary to uniting people. You unite people around issues.” In my latest piece for @theeyemag, I cover a book talk by Mahmood Mamdani and sit down with him to discuss power, politics, and Ugandan history. Read more here: columbiaspectator.com/the-eye/2025/1…

During a book talk and interview with The Eye, Mahmood Mamdani reflected on power, corruption, and Uganda’s history as his son, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, looked on—just hours before heading to Washington to meet President Donald Trump. Read more here: columbiaspectator.com/the-eye/2025/1…

After 16 years teaching Frontiers of Science, professor Ivana Nikolić Hughes argues that in an age dominated by AI and nuclear armament, the humanities matter more than ever. The latest from The Eye: columbiaspectator.com/the-eye/2025/1…

@_Khayyat_ So well deserved! Thank you for being an amazing professor.

I've been nominated for a teaching award! This is of course amazing and validating but apparently also involves an exam-type paper application that sucks all of the joy right out of it. Can we not punish people in order to reward them?