FAS meets in the Faculty Room of Low

Moody-Adams’ reasons for resigning probably surrounded decisions made by the Policy and Planning Committee (PPC) of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). Executive Vice President Nicholas Dirks focused his reaction to the dean’s condemnation of FAS on defending the PPC and stressing that whatever Moody-Adams found objectionable has not been set in stone. We’re still investigating exactly what these objectionable proposals were, but understanding the origins and function of the PPC sheds light onto the process of the College’s consolidation with the wider Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

The inception of the PPC can be traced back to a document prepared by the FAS Academic Review Committee (ARC), a FAS advisory committee that is more administrative than strictly academic; it aims “to assess program quality and effectiveness, to foster planning and improvement, and to provide guidance for administrative decisions.” In its March 2010 report, “Faculty Governance in the Arts & Sciences,” ARC set out to solve a critical problem plaguing FAS, excess bureaucracy: there were duplicate committees, consistent miscommunication, and a lack of transparency. A select quote from the report about the organization of FAS reveals it all: “We tried to obtain a clear flow chart of administrative offices and responsibilities: it proved impossible. Indeed it was not even clear whom to turn to in order to obtain one.”

And so how do bureaucrats fix problems? By creating more committees! ARC recommended scrapping the previous vague yet formidable Executive Committee of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in favor of a new one, the PPC. According to the report, the PPC could ideally improve communication and cooperation between constituent schools of and committees within FAS. However, looking at its actual implementation and influence, we do begin to see the roots of Moody-Adams’ concerns. PPC could appear a mechanism to consolidate power under FAS and leave individuals schools like the College with substantially less control over their matters.

Read on for more on the PPC’s roles and responsibilities

Last night, Alex Jones, a Bwogger who wonders what the Beats would think about an official CCSC debate in their once-legendary hangout, checked out the Spec-sponsored Q&A. The three parties running for the CCSC Executive Board in next week’s elections went head-to-head at Havana Central…

The master of ceremonies, Sam Roth, took almost a minute to quiet the crowd in Havana Central, despite the aid of a microphone. Once people heard his pleas for silence, Mr. Roth spoke briefly about how The Columbia Daily Spectator wanted to engage with and support the Columbia community by hosting a student government debate. Havana’s back room was filled with chairs, of which very few were covered with butts. Perhaps students were less concerned with student government “fostering” community, and more concerned with enjoying their own community?

Run Down of the three CCSC Tickets

The debate began with a short introduction from each party:

Actual discussion after the jump!

Yesterday, the new ABC executive board was elected! The ABC funds (non-political, -spiritual, or -activist) student groups on campus. It’s the opposite of SGB. Winners are below. Congratulations! Start groveling for money folks.

• President: Daniel Brown, CC ’12
• VP: John O’Shea, CC ’13
• Treasurer: Chloe Ruan, SEAS ’13
• Secretary: Christine Byun, CC ’14

Bwog wouldn't be surprised.

Bwog has seen Butler camping and even orated on its behalf.  But if you’re in CC or SEAS, today you received an email from your senators which may threaten that sacred masochistic rite.

Amidst standard student government “we want to hear what you want” business-as-usual, Bwog found this bit:

Libraries and Technology – Contact: Kenny Durell
We are working with CUIT to set the groundwork for a program employing student programmers for University projects. We are also a part of conversations regarding a switch to Gmail or another outsourced email provider, pending legal and privacy concerns. We hope to find a solution that works for everyone. In the Libraries Committee, we are working to extend hours on the upper floors of Butler and perhaps implement a peer-enforced anti-camping program.

“Peer-enforced” measures against camping?  Could this be politico-jargon for “We can’t do anything about this so we’ll put it on you students” perhaps?  Bwog isn’t sure, but warns you–stay vigilant!

Image via Wikimedia

Happy Holidays! Barnard Housing sent out an email yesterday, just in time for the start of Chanukah, notifying students that not only are they forbidden to light candles in their room, simple possession is also forbidden. Even if you’re just holding them for a friend, it’s against the rules, kids. In its divine wisdom, however, Housing has designated candle-lighting zones and times when candles may be lit. This begs the question: where does one keep her candles when they are not being used legally? Ah well. Full email after the jump.
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What we got when we searched "friends" on Wikimedia

Sean Zimmermann reports from last night’s ESC meeting.

Theresa Martinez, Dean of Community and Multicultural Affairs, spoke at last night’s Engineering Student Council meeting. She was hired last year to help foster a greater sense of Columbia University community.

Dean Martinez explained that she is currently working on the open housing policy, the CUEMS proposal, and an electronic payer card system. She described some of the bureaucratic parts of Columbia as “archaic,” explaining, “I don’t recall the last time I saw a quadruplecate form before I went to Columbia.”

Much of the discussion on student life focused on the role of student groups and how to connect with students. Freshman Representative Siddhant Bhatt proposed that the Dean could help foster community by playing music in the dining halls, and providing “advertising” for student groups between pieces. Bhatt claimed that this would be a “less invasive” way to alert students about events on campus than knocking on doors. (more…)

• Be warned! Some water fountains in the Diana do not provide water. Do your duty and report any deficient water fountains!
• Delta Gamma will be hosting a fashion show for charity this Saturday, 8 p.m., in LeFrak. Tickets are $5.
• Dean Denburg paid a visit to the meeting to talk about a new grant Barnard has received so that more Barnard students can study abroad in Israel and connect with alumni there.
• At last! The Pre-Vet Society has been officially recognized.
• The Student Affairs Committee approved a motion to develop the new Graduate Student Center.

See you there! Via Wikimedia

A lot of study abroad applications are due this Friday, October 1, and if you happen to be a member of the Class of 2012 eager to leave Morningside next semester, your days have been filled with a few extra doses of Existential Crisis and lots of paperwork. Here are a few tips to make your life a little easier, now that we’re about 48 hours away from the deadline.

• Getting your transcript is E-Z! Instead of triple-emailing your advisor, go to 210 Kent, fill out the transcript request form (you’ll find it to your left, outside the door), pass it to an employee at the desk. She’ll print your transcript (as many copies as you need!) and put them in a fancy Columbia Office of the Registrar envelope.

• Passport pictures are expensive. Bwog spent 60 miserable dollars at Duane Reade today (since our abroad program inexplicably requires 12 photos) before realizing there was a better way that involved much less lite-music listening. A set of two passport photos are $8.99 at Ivy League Stationers, but $9.99 at Duane Reade at $10.99 at Village Copier. Plus, the Ivy League guys are some of the friendliest in town.

• Remember not to buy your stamps at the Package Center. Kill two birds with one administrative stone by picking up your stamps at the post office on 112th between Broadway and Amsterdam, right next to Book Culture, where you can also overnight your application so that it gets to London or Kathmandu or Moscow on time.

• Need clearance to study abroad, like, now? Study Abroad King, Dean Carpenter’s office  hours are from 1:30 to 4 in 105 Carman, by the Carman computer lab. And if you need to rush it to the Office of Global Programs, don’t be fooled! It’s not in Lewisohn anymore, it’s on 606 Kent.

• If you can’t get your shit together on time, find your program and plead with them between 12:30-3:30 in Roone this Friday at the Study Abroad fair.

Et voila! No Morningside February for you, friend!

Following Columbia administration’s decision to postpone the implementation of a gender neutral housing policy that was expected to be in place for the 2010-2011 academic year, the students who introduced the plan – EAAH President Avi Edelman (CC ’11) GendeRevolution President Miranda Elliot (CC ’10), 2011 VP Sean Udell (CC ’11) and 2010 VP for Policy Sarah Weiss (CC ’10) – have been circulating a petition to address the administration’s concern that there may not be enough student support for the new housing policy.

Avi Edelman answers a few of Bwog’s questions.

Why do you think the administration decided against implementing the policy, or even a pilot program for this year’s selection process? What reasons did they give for the decision (other than their worries that not enough students were in favor of it)?

A lot of the reasons given for the delay were logistical–updating the housing application, educating the student body about the changes, and getting feedback from students about the policy were all mentioned. That’s extremely frustrating and disappointing, because the proposal was submitted according to a timeline established in consultation with administrators. Those of us who worked on the proposal (a broad coalition that included CCSC, ESC, Everyone Allied Against Homophobia, GendeRevolution, and the Columbia Queer Alliance) also made it very clear that we were eager to assist the administration in the logical work necessary to make this happen in time for this year’s room selection. Many administrators that we have worked with have been fantastic, and I am confident that the policy will eventually become reality; this is just a classic case of bureaucratic foot-dragging.

More answers after the jump!

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After last Friday’s showdown in the Vag’s Ovum Oval, the Barnard Administration has come up with a Plan to solve all Plans – one that is unlikely to deteriorate into another chaotic war over microphones. The admins have turned to bureaucracy’s all time favorite problem-solving strategy: it’s time to form a committee! The Meal Plan working group will consist of six elected student representatives, and six at-large members.

Photo by Google Images

Read Dean Denburg’s full email after the jump.

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The Strong Beautiful Barnard Woman is questioned and found wanting.

Real college life ≠ TV “college life”. Shocker.

Filth in the kitchen is bad. Bureaucracy is worse.

No, we do not need a travel guide to find our way out of Morningside.

The USenate committee confidentiality proposal will be debated this Friday.  PrezBo will weigh in.

The city hates your metal gates.  Except those like the ones over dorm windows.

Xavier Sala-i-Martin does not have a tailor in the US.  Nor can you buy his jackets.

Surprise! Cab drivers don’t care about bicyclists.

More evidence in the Yale murder case.

Sean Zimmermann reports from last night’s meeting.

Perhaps inspired by Nixon’s success, the Senate, according to Senator Rajat Roy, plans to keep all committee records secret for fifty years. The only records that would remain public would be plenary meeting information, and all information from the budget, IT, external affairs, Manhattanville, and other committees would become private. Under the proposal, senators will be unable to report to councils what is going on in their committees. Rajat, though very much against the proposal, explained that the Senate hoped members would speak openly in committee meetings. The move is being backed by College Senator Monica Quaintance.

Additionally, Rajat spoke about the Columbia Video Network (CVN) recording – many engineering classes are videotaped for CVN, a graduate distance learning program described by Rajat as one of the more lucrative program for SEAS. Graduate students are charged $1000/point for lectures, and are able to replay the video of a lecture an unlimited number of times. Rajat proposes making the videos available to all students enrolled in the recorded class.

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Sean Zimmerman reports.

The Engineering Student Council held its inaugural meeting with the new, almost-uncontested freshman class council, as well as new University Senator Cherie Meyer. 

Bathabile Mthombeni from Columbia’s Ombuds Office opened the meeting. Baffled readers might ponder what branch of Columbia’s bureaucratic web the “Office” represents — perhaps another dubiously named den of unseen advisors?  Mthombeni came prepared to answer that question and to ensure it no longer arises.  She explained that since the Office does not see many undergraduates, she wanted to reach out to the student councils and the undergraduate community. The Ombuds seem to be extremely well-connected therapists; the Office is a “full service” dispute resolution office where “no issue is too small.” Because the Office is independent of other university offices, it is not obligated to turn over issues to the powers that be and in fact cannot report your visit without your permission. Mthombeni reassured us that if a student whose roommate has been nursing a mysterious “plant with strange leaves,” the student could discuss their concerns without fear that they would get their roommate in trouble.  Cannabis enthusiasts, rejoice!  Students can also come complain about teachers and administrators with Ombuds. Their office can be reached at 212-854-1234, and students can email Mthombeni at bkm2002@columbia.edu. (more…)

That’s probably because everyone loves bikes – you’d be hard pressed to find a cooler eco-friendly, transportation-providing accessory. Turns out the Upper West Side loves bikes, too. After receiving an anonymous tip, Bwog’s detective squad found a new reason for excitement for local bike enthusiasts – Community Board 7 has officially approved the Dept. of Transportation’s proposal to add bike lanes to Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues.

Though the details of the D.O.T.’s plan remain a mystery, Bwog assumes that the bike lanes mentioned in CB7′s Oct. 6th resolution will run the length of CB7’s jurisdiction – from Columbus Circle to 110th street. Will bike lanes soon grace our own little stretch of Amsterdam? Hard to say, since attempts to contact our own CB9 have yielded naught, and the ‘Resolutions’ and ‘Meeting Agendas’ sections of the CB9 website appear conspicuously empty. But we’ll update as soon as CB7 gets back to us.

Photo via nycbikemaps.com