The New York Times reports that (Really Big Deal Public Intellectual) Cornel West will join the Union Theological Seminary in 2012, and step down from his post at Princeton, which he revealed today while speaking at Occupy Seattle. Unlike his highly publicized split from Harvard in 2002, Dr. West will remain an emeritus professor at Princeton.

This is homecoming of sorts for West, who got his start in academia at UTS in 1977 as an assistant professor. He plans on seeing out the rest of his teaching career at the Seminary and reportedly took a sizable pay cut in order to take up his upcoming position as a professor of philosophy and Christian practices.

Cornel West via Wikimedia Commons

Rite Aid wants shoppers concerned about “wellness” to spend more money. Is it price discrimination or just a misunderstanding?

Two prices, one Febreze

Braving a long line, cold rain, and French grammar, Bwog’s Ambassador to France Contessa Gayles reports from President Sarkozy’s speech today:

After waiting in a line that stretched from the main entrance of Low Memorial Library down onto rainy College Walk, members of the Columbia community joined the scores of press to hear Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the French Republic, speak at the World Leaders Forum at Columbia University.

After acknowledging the event co-sponsors and First Lady Carla Bruni, President Bollinger applauded President Sarkozy’s oratory skill and fearless outspokenness while expressing his views on major contemporary issues including economic recovery, climate change, the war in Afghanistan and a rise in censorship at a time when open communication is most necessary. Bollinger expressed his pride in the strength of both Columbia University’s and the United States’ relationships with France.

President Sarkozy then stepped up and proceeded to deliver his charismatic and unscripted speech entirely in French. While there were translating headset devices sat on every seat, most were not used, as the majority of the audience was Francophone. Sarkozy opened by echoing Bollinger’s pride in the strong alliance between the United States and France, expressing the importance of open communication between the U.S. and Europe while working together to solve the global crises.

Read more…

Although the formal announcement in all of our inboxes is still pending, the Times has already reported the details of Columbia’s big financial aid plan this morning.

The main points:

• Families making $60,000 or less per year will no longer pay tuition, room and board, or fees as of Fall 2008
• Grants will replace loans in financial aid packages, including those offered to current students.
  
• Families making between $60,000 and $100,000 will have unspecified expanded aid opportunities.

The previous threshold for no-loan aid was $50,000. (Harvard maintains the same standard; compare to $75,000 at gold-standard Cornell and Dartmouth, $45,000 at Yale and $40K at Penn).

Word has it these policies apply to this year’s admits, including those who have already received Early Decision letters. Lucky dogs. There’s no statement posted on the CU website yet, but since the Times quotes PrezBo, we surmise that it can’t be far off. Full statement after the jump. Bottoms up! Read more…

Recently confirmed word on the street is that Columbia College graduate and certified big deal Brian Dennehy will be in attendance at Sunday’s performance of this year’s Varsity Show.

That’s right. Varsity 112 = TWO celebrities. TWO. That’s almost like an issue of US Weekly.

Hard core stalkers must attend the 8 PM performances of the V-Show on both Saturday and Sunday nights in order get in on all the gawking action. On Saturday, Dennehy’s fellow distinguished CC Alum Art Garfunkel will be in attendance to accept some big prestigious Varsity Show award—see the Bwog story for further details.

In addition to watching the performance on Sunday, Dennehy will grace all those present with—wait for it—a TEN MINUTE introductory presentation. Expect him to talk about his career, his time at Columbia, and whatever the hell else he wants to. He’s Brian Dennehy, after all.

Get excited for this one, kids. It’ll be more fun than Tommy Boy.