As tensions flare over the controversy of the proposed campus-wide smoking ban, renegade street artists put a smoking hot twist on The Battle of Harlem Heights. See if you can spot it!

Give me nicotine or give me death!

In the midst of the campus-wide smoking ban debate, it would appear that Columbians are taking matters into their own hands. The following pun-ny sign and vessel were spotted by a tipster outside grad student haunt Haakon’s Hall, on Amsterdam:

We recommend looking before taking a seat.

Freedom fighters can be seen sticking it to the man outside Butler every day and night.

Bill O’Reilly can have his war on Christmas, but here at Columbia a long-smoldering war has been newly stoked—the war on smoking. For millennia, men, and then most recently women, had lounged inside the confines of Butler Library relaxedly puffing away towards a state of greater tasty tobacco-scented peacefulness and pseudo-philosophical coolness. First they kicked them out of buildings, and then they pushed them away from entrances. Now, in the latest affront to man’s communion with and combustion of nature, the university has placed multiple eyesores in front of Butler. To add insult to injury, they even took away what were probably the most used ash trays on campus. The average health-conscious student has gained nothing from what will undoubtedly be ineffective signage, and the university has gained further plausible deniability.

Gratuitous Old Timey Image

A person in a group of people smoking outside Havana:

I know smoking is shitty…but you should be able to do shitty things to yourself.

Outside Broadway:

Person 1: Hey, you have smokes?

Person 2: Yeah, I unquit. Life’s too short to live any longer.

People are so topical.

"These resolutions are good to go. Do you like my goggles?"

Brian Wagner was on the scene.

The meeting started with a brief update on the new space CUEMS had requested. GSSC and ESC voted to give them both Broadway 102 and 103, but ABC voted against CUEMS using either one of the rooms. Then, CCSC moved into the main business of the evening.

Generally, meetings start with a few requests by student groups for CCSC to cosponsor events. CCSC usually accepts the requests, though sometimes provides slightly less money than a group wants. This time, however, Bacchanal requested a CCSC consponsorship. As you know, their events tend to be a little larger and more expensive than those of the average student group. Members raised concerns that CCSC’s money would merely be a drop in the bucket compared to the total cost of Bacchanal’s event, and delayed a vote until more in-depth discussions take place.

Then came the controversial smoking ban. Following the September release of Tobacco Working Group’s report, which recommended increasing the required distance between smokers and the nearest building entrance, CCSC discussed the whether to recommend a 20- or 50-foot anti-smoking force field. After checking out some fancy maps of campus with both 20- and 50-foot bans delineated, CCSC voted unanimously in support of a resolution backing a 20 foot rule.

The Good Samaritan Policy, discussed last week, was also passed unanimously. However, the council made an important change from the version previously discussed. The resolution now includes amnesty for student organizations, as well as individuals. Some council members feared this might be abused by organizations. Perhaps people would make unnecessary calls to CUEMS for no reason other than to gain amnesty if there is fear a party might be busted. The council concluded the risk of this type of abuse was relatively low compared to the benefits of instituting the policy.

Finally, CCSC considered the creation of a Columbia Club Soccer [Team]. Club sports are technically not allowed to use “team” in their official titles; that’s reserved for varsity sports. CCSC has no power to create a club soccer team, but the resolution would show that council members support the creation of such a team. The issue isn’t a new one; the Club Sports Governing Board considered a similar proposal last year. As it stands, Columbia is the only Ivy with no club soccer “team,” leaving us conspicuously and embarrassingly absent from the annual tournament. The main problem in creating a club soccer team is the lack of practice space, but the club soccer advocate made it clear that the group would completely take up the responsibility of finding practice space. A CSGB representative mentioned that in order for club soccer to happen, the CSGB constitution would need to be amended because it currently forbids the creation of club teams that have a varsity counterpart. CSGB was concerned that allowing club soccer would open the floodgates for a surge of new requests for recognition. Still, the rep noted that CSGB would maintain strict requirements and monitor new clubs closely. Bearing all these complications in mind, CCSC voted unanimously in support of club soccer.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Taxes!

The dean of CBS wrote an op-ed about taxes. (NYT)

Read this disheartening story about buying papers and paper-factory-people in today’s ivory towers. (The Chronicle)

NYC’s health commissioner dislikes Camel’s new cigarettes, the ones marketed directly towards hipsters. (NY Daily News)

Now NYPD can scan your iris to make sure you’re really you. O brave new world! (NPR)

Image via Facebook

Chewbacchanal is coming–and it’s in 3D! All of it! (Facebook)

There are fewer people in Manhattan now than ten years ago? (The New York Times)

King Tut to return. (New York Post)

Cigarettes may get even more expensive. (Daily Intel)

But New Yorkers want to replace them with those other cigarettes. (Gothamist)

First it was freshman residences, then all dorms, and now the main campus: Columbia University’s tobacco policy working group has “has forwarded a set of recommendations, including a proposal to prohibit smoking in within the gated areas considered the core of campus.” The policy would go into effect in next year.

In explaining the proposed changes, the website cites, among other reasons, an “increase in number of city, state, and federal regulations regarding smoking,” “consistent decrease in number of smokers and increase in community support for more smoke-free spaces,” “encouraging healthier behaviors that translate to workplace benefits,” and “less litter, more physically attractive campus environment.”

A final decision has not been made yet on the recommendations, as open feedback sessions are being held next Tuesday and Friday, as well as the following Wednesday and Thursday (times and locations after the jump). Students can also provide confidential feedback online. A final decision will be made in the summer. Read more…

Now that Columbia’s buildings (and the 25 feet surrounding those buildings) are officially smoke-free, the ashtrays in front of Hamilton — the longtime home of many a clove extinguished in the minutes before a humanities class — have been turned into flower pots.

The War on Tobacco has taken a most poetic turn.

Photo by Joseph Meyers

Bwog just heard word that this July, Governor Paterson signed legislation making smoking illegal in all New York college dormitories — this includes EC! 

A pair of RAs also noted that at least for Columbia, the mere possession of tobacco products is forbidden. 

In other crackdown news, one Bwog staffer was removed by security this morning for eating some delightful breakfast treats in a Lerner computer lounge. The no-eating policy in the computer lounges is nothing new, but now it seems it’s actually being enforced, which is just awful.