It’s a wrap on one of Barnard’s biggest, breadiest traditions: Big Sub.
On Oct. 29, a swarm of eager students, alongside faculty and staff, gathered at the center of campus, ready to take a bite out of one of Barnard’s most beloved traditions. The sandwich, all 529 feet of it, encompassed most of Ellen V. Futter ’71 Field, turning the green lawn into a sea of hungry students waiting for a bite.
The giant sub featured more than 300 pounds of meat, 130 pounds of tomatoes and 125 pounds of grilled veggies. Catering to a range of dietary needs, there were 16 sub variations this year, including gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and kosher options. As for sides and dessert? There were 1,000 bags of chips and 1,000 ice cream bars up for grabs.
For over a quarter of a century, this event has filled the stomachs and hearts of thousands of students and Barnard community members.
“Belonging doesn’t just happen, we have to build it, and traditions like Big Sub are part of how we do that,” Akilah Rosado, Interim Dean of the College & Vice President for Inclusion and Belonging, said. “When the whole community shows up on Futter Field, students see that they’re part of something bigger and the tradition is theirs to own.”
Cyrille Candelaria ’30 said she remembers seeing Big Sub on social media after applying early decision last year and has been excited to join the festivities ever since.
“‘I was like, this is where I want to be next year,’ And now, here I am,” Candelaria said.
Before heading back to class, students had a chance to stop by the photo station to capture an instant memory from the event that they’ll cherish for years, or grab some merch, like a sticker of this year’s Big Sub logo.
“I never thought I could get into a school like this and I was looking on TikTok for cool traditions that people really liked and Big Sub was always the one they talked about,” Bryhanny Marc ’30 said. “I’m just really excited to be here.”
The event is truly a team effort by many departments across the college: Barnard Dining, the McIntosh Activities Council (McAC), and Facilities. The sub requires 25 people to set up and over a week of preparation. On the night before the event, members of Barnard Dining assemble the sandwiches before reporting back early the next day to fill dozens of six-foot-long tables.
This year, to drive up excitement for the decades-long tradition, McAC launched a scavenger hunt from Oct. 12–21. Students searched across campus for hidden sandwich-piece pictures, with finishers receiving early access to Big Sub merchandise and entry into a prize drawing. Coordinated alongside Residential Life and Housing, Beyond Barnard, Access Barnard, Student Experience and Engagement, Barnard Library, and the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being, the hunt highlighted the campus-wide teamwork behind Big Sub.
History of the McIntosh Activities Council
McAC, Barnard's programming board, started in 1969 with one goal in mind: to enhance the student experience on campus. The group started out with just two committees and soon grew into seven committees by 1971. Since then, the group has been the driving force behind some of Barnard’s most beloved traditions including Big Sub, Midnight Breakfast, the Emily Gregory Award (Barnard's only student-nominated and selected teaching award) Greek Games, and more.
Today, the group has fewer committees and utilizes general body meetings to maximize student input and involvement. The organization also uses sign-up sheets for events like Big Sub so any student can get in on the tradition of putting together the campus-wide event.
Unaisah Ahmed ’27, who serves as the communications coordinator for McAC, said one of her favorite parts of the annual event is the lasting memories it creates.
“It’s like experiencing a huge picnic on campus,” Ahmed said. “You bump into so many people, despite the busy schedules that can come with being a student or faculty member. Big Sub feels so warm and engaging.”
