The chart in question. A PDF of the full page, in which the chart appeared, is included at the end of this post.

On Monday, student Alix Prybyla brought to our attention a Columbia-released time management chart, which made recommendations such as spending 2 hours a week for personal hygiene, 2 hours a week for exercise, and 49.5 hours a week for homework/studying.

In addition, the page normalized 1.5 hours of free time a day, which covered extracurriculars, checking emails, and other “generally decompressing” activities such as, yep, “job searching” and “medical appointments.”

Especially in light of past suicide deaths and Columbia’s supposed emphasis on mental health, these recommendations were…interesting. More specifically, it seemed to fail to accommodate for basic human needs by allotting 17 minutes a day to personal hygiene (because we can shower and do a full load of laundry within that time), disregarded the disabled with the time allotted for medical appointments, and reinforced an intense academic culture by affirming 50 hours a week for homework alone as healthy.

Prybyla’s Facebook post about the chart has since garnered 63 shares and nearly 400 reactions, mainly from  Columbia students.

However, after Prybyla emailed both Dean Valentini and Dean of Student Life Cristen Kromm regarding the information, Valentini stated that the page was outdated and written by “a single student.” He ordered the information to be taken down and, as of Tuesday, October 24, the web page is no longer accessible on the Columbia website.

At least there exists a faint glimmer of hope in this story. In a talk with Bwog, Prybyla wanted to make this clear to students: “Our indignation is what led to this to go to the administration. We have a voice on this campus: we have the power to better our community together. Our outrage and pain, our compassion and love for each other, this is what toppled this page down, and what started conversations among our administration.”

The removal of the page itself is a great move, but we’re left wondering, why did it take so long? The page itself was featured pretty prominently on the Columbia website and has existed since at least June 2016, according to web archives. The school should more critically reflect upon itself and the messages it sends to students, whether it be through websites or policies themselves. Failure to do so could potentially impart very real consequences upon the student body.

Click for Prybyla & Dean Valentini’s email exchange and the original web page with the chart

“[Knowledge is power] ..and with great power comes great responsibility” – Spider Man/Uncle Ben

With midterms peeling the skin off of our cuticles and the hair out of our scalps, the last thing we need is the AC to blast away any ounce of life left in our tired skins. Regardless of NYC’s weather confusion, facilities has been keeping it at a consistent 65° in our lecture halls and study spaces. Don’t worry; Bwog’s resident shiver has compiled the best places to keep the goosebumps on the geese.

• Butler 310: This room never exists below 71°. Possibly because of the mezzanine, which allows for twice the amount of computer chargers and human breath.
  • Related: Butler 303: Directly across the hall from its warmer OG, one could come across an occasional 303 heat wave.
  • Also related: Butler 210: Directly below its warmer OG, this room is another toasty target when looking for a place to study.  The lack of a functional mezzanine in this room makes securing a seat to be slightly more difficult than 310, but its dim lights and proximity to Blue Java are worth trying for.
• Diana 3 Study Room: The carpet, tall windows, and low-square-footage of this room all do their part to remind you of a sauna when you walk in. It’s definitely a nice reminder, but good luck finding a seat. This room is popular and accommodates no more than 30.
• East Asian Library: While the closest coffee is a humbling trek to Joe, the climate is worth it. This library stays refreshingly warm in the mid 70’s and also has nice mezzanines.
  • Bonus: The views out of these windows are particularly nice when it snows.
  • Bonus again: go down the stairs near the printer to explore the super rare stacks and cozy lounge.
• Wallach Sky Lounge: I, a frosty Barnard cub, have never been to this lounge before, but am including this because a fellow Bwoggo recommended it!
• Sulzberger Basement: Any computer lab on campus is a safe bet for t-shirts and tank tops, but I think the heat from this year’s WBAR shows have kept our jackets off of our backs lately.

Image via WikiCommons Matl

That is one regal doggo

Staff writer (and art major) Zöe Sottile channeled Bureau Chief Finn Klauber to report on the happenings of the Engineering Student Council in his stead. Stay tuned for updates about the different programming ESC has planned for the coming weeks.

Like in past weeks, the discussion section – this time dedicated to possible renovations in Lerner – was kept off-the-record, along with comments on President Aida Lu’s meeting with the Committee on Instruction. So, this week’s coverage will once more take the form of updates.

President Aida Lu

ESC President Aida Lu began the meeting by discussing the upcoming faculty tech talks. The talks are a response to students seeking more interaction with faculty members. Lu spoke with Assistant Director of Graduate Student Services Alvaro Rojas-Caamano, who requested that ESC members attend the tech talks and offer feedback. One talk is scheduled for today from 6 – 7:30 pm in Carleton Commons; the next will be on November 29th.

Lu also met with Vice President of Campus Services Scott Wright to discuss an off-the-record proposal to renovate Lerner. Her meeting last Wednesday with the COI was also kept private.

Lu attended a meeting of F@CU, Columbia’s mechanism for funding student groups. She discussed wanting to reform the funding process to magnify student voices and standardize allocation, and also potentially moving the process from the spring to the fall.

Updates, updates, and more updates after the jump

New body who this?

This week’s SGA meeting once again ran smoothly, impressing Barnard Bwogger Dassi Karp who covered last nights events with discussion topics ranging from disability accommodations to halal chicken in Hewitt.

At Barnard’s Student Government Association meeting last night, our indomitable Rep Council continued the trend of recent weeks of inviting good guests, asking smart questions, and actually getting things done. I’m impressed, SGA–everything is just going so smoothly! Is there something you’re not telling us? This week, led by Rep for Student Health Services Val Jaharis, Rep Council welcomed MJ Murphy, Executive Director of Student Health and Wellness Programs; Dr Mary Commerford, Director of Furman Counseling Center; and Carolyn Corbran, Director of the Office of Disability Services.

(more…)

The artful barriers surrounding the atrium

Who knew you could use your Columbia or Barnard ID to get into NYU’s Bobst library? Senior staffer Sarah Dahl has the scoop, thanks to her NYU connects. FYI, it’s pronounced B- OH – BST, with a long O, not like BOBst as in Bob’s your uncle. 

First things first about Bobst: Columbia and Barnard students can access the library year-round with a special card that’s pretty easy to get. Thanks to a library sharing system, all I had to do was prove to NYU that I am a currently enrolled student, and they printed me up a shiny purple ID card. #BleedViolet. Now I can come and go from Bobst as I please. NYU students have similar privileges at Columbia libraries, but their ID cards are made of paper.

Bobst is a lot bigger than Butler, but it’s also sadder. Twelve floors of study and administrative space is centered around a giant open square atrium. The walls overlooking the atrium are blocked floor-to-ceiling by aluminum screens. Three students have committed suicide at the library since 2003.

Bobst is much more prone to stealing than Butler: students often report laptops, electronics, and other valuables stolen, but the library only has one camera–in the lobby–and it requires a subpoena to look through the footage for your thief. I know all this because my girlfriend’s Macbook was stolen recently, from a dude sitting at her table. She left for five minutes to pee. I’ve left my laptop on a table in Butler for, like, an entire day.

More After The Jump

Is it a lightsaber?

Happening Around the World: Nicaragua has signed the Paris Climate agreement, which means the U.S and Syria are the only two nations in the world that are not united in an attempt to tackle climate change. This is of particular significance because Nicaragua had refused to sign the agreement in 2015 despite suffering from several disasters linked to climate change. (BBC)

Happening in the U.S: If you have left your precious spot in Butler in the past few weeks, you probably noticed it’s unusually warm for this time of the year. Officials have attributed this to warm winds from the southwest, and expect things to get chilly just after Halloweekened. (NYT)

Happening in NYC: Whether you vape to complement your hipster aesthetic or because you seriously need a tobacco substitute, e-cigarettes will too be banned in all public indoor spaces in New York. Governor Cuomo signed the bill yesterday which has since sparked debate over the risk and benefits of e-cigarettes. (NYT)

Happening on Campus: There is a discussion with the Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, Dr. Muižnieks at 7pm in the International Affairs Building, room 1219.

Food of the Day: Three for two dollar mini pastries at Westside.