Barnard’s 26th annual Big Sub tradition is a ‘sub-stantial’ success
Barnard’s McIntosh Activities Council hosted Big Sub for the event’s 26th consecutive year.
Photo by Jessica Liu/The Barnard Bulletin
November 8, 2026
Chicken, turkey, veggie, and kosher were only a few of the variations of the over-500-foot-long sub lining Futter Field the morning of Thursday, October 29.
Barnard’s McIntosh Activities Council (McAC) organized this year’s 26th annual Big Sub, the first McAC-hosted event of the academic year. Students lined up on the field to eat at noon, and also waited to get this year’s coveted Big Sub merch — a squishy toy in the shape of swiss cheese.
The sub was 529 feet long, and included 300 pounds of meat, 130 pounds of tomatoes and 125 pounds of grilled veggies. There were 16 variations of the sandwich, some of which met different dietary needs such as gluten-free, vegan, kosher, vegetarian, and halal. Students had the opportunity to guess how long this year’s sandwich was for a chance to be guaranteed Midnight Breakfast merch.
McAC Communications Coordinator Unaisah Ahmed (BC ’27) said that the planning for the event started in the first few weeks of the fall 2026 semester, but the sandwich itself started being prepared over a week in advance of the event.
“My favorite part of Big Sub specifically is after the countdown, actually, when everybody’s grabbing the sandwich. I think it’s hectic in the best way possible for hectic-ness to occur,” said Ahmed.
Big Sub began in the fall of 2000, and has been an integral part of Barnard’s campus life since.
At 12:00 p.m., students stood near the sub they wanted to try. After a countdown of “3, 2, 1, Big Sub!” everyone grabbed a piece of the sandwich. Students sat on Futter Field on beanbags and blankets that McAC had set out. Members of the McAC board dressed up as parts of the sub and took Polaroid photos of students.
“It’s so much fun. Everyone comes out and we get good weather and we all just get to hang out,” said Zoe Theriault (BC ’28), McAC's Operations Coordinator.
Ahmed told The Bulletin that she loved Big Sub for how it brings everyone together, even while people move throughout campus during the day. She also mentioned that, although the sandwich usually gets eaten in half an hour, McAC partners with The Housing Equity Project’s Food Recovery Network to donate leftover food.
“We make sure that when there is an abundance left, it goes to The Housing Equity Project, which is great,” said Ahmed.
Ahmed was inspired to join McAC after enjoying Midnight Breakfast, Barnard’s beloved semi-annual tradition where faculty, deans, and senior administrators serve a late-night breakfast buffet to students before final exams, designed to relieve stress. She said she loves seeing how these traditions bring the community together.
“[Midnight Breakfast] was just such a great time on campus, seeing everybody come together. Especially in the fall, midnight breakfast is fun, because it’s chilly outside, but everybody’s still waiting in line together and eating together,” said Ahmed.
Margaret Graham (BC ’30) enjoyed a veggie sub at this year’s Big Sub. She said she heard about the tradition when she applied to Barnard.
“It’s been magical. It’s warm outside. It is a big sub. I didn’t get lied to,” said Graham. “My expectations were met. There is a ginormous sub.”
