SIPA KO

Not content to go quietly, the Class of 2011 had an unofficial post-graduation rager last night. The party started as a flash mob on IAB 15, but Public Safety soon stopped by for old time’s sake. During their attempt to kick students out of IAB, tipsters tell us it was a pretty rowdy time:

• A few girls got on top of tables, took off their shirts, and started downing 40s and bottles of wine
• People started singing the national anthem, interwoven with chants of “USA! USA!”
• “Roar, Lion, Roar” was not unexpectedly sung countless times

But alas, Public Safety and NYPD eventually got everyone out of the building, and the party subsequently bounced to the EC Courtyard, then Low Plaza, after which people just gave up trying to control the mass. A few graduates dramatically tweeted their last hurrah; highlights are below (yes, all the #swag ones came from the same person):

• Final battle of the War on Fun: Columbia seniors vs. NYPD in front of Alma Mater. #epic
• Columbia seniors just won the war on fun with a flashmob on the 15th floor of SIPA. #seniorswin #2011 http://t.co/0DiE95Y
• 15th floor of sipa #swag
• So many bros #swag
• #swag
• Actually this party is pretty cool #swag
• Low plaza is pretty chill #swag

Photo tipped by Jason Donenfeld

A tipster sent along this photo of what appears to be a pretty big rager in IAB by the Class of 2011:

While it seemed like all fun and games, shortly after, the party (technically not supposed to be there, or whatever) got broken up by a dozen or so Public Safety officers, the fire alarm got pulled, and the NYPD have now been called. In the words of a tipster, “drunken shitshow.”

Apparently, the War on Fun doesn’t stop for degrees. Here’s to ya, 2011!

Update: Baby-faced grads pouring out of IAB. And apparently they didn’t go down without a fight first: during the process, Public Safety was met with some resistance, and partiers began spontaneously singing the national anthem. Bwog is just tickled at this point.

Our last Columbia Moment featured the Black Avengers, a group of sophomores who wore black hooded robes and went around beating up freshpeople in New Jersey. This time, we learn about the Burial of the Ancients, a massive drunken book-burning celebration. Erik Kogut, who keeps a blog about Columbia history here, writes.

How much do you hate Principles of Economics? Enough to commit the seminal textbook of Messrs. Hubbard and O’Brien to the pyre? We cast off our used books for a few nickels at Book Culture, but in the late 19^th Century the only way to shake off a class was to burn the textbook in a drunken midnight bonfire called, depending on who you believe, Burial of the Ancient, Burial of the Antiquities or Perideipnon.

Columbia College men in the 1860′s were required to take all of the same classes. Of their required courses, the most hated by far was Ancient Geography. Even in its time the class was mind-bogglingly useless, consisting of rote memorization of the geography of ancient Rome and Greece. The textbook, written by Bojesen, was particularly reviled. Sources don’t reveal which intrepid Columbian, or even class, decided to publicly burn his book. All we know is that by 1863, an invitation to the midnight processional of the Burial of the Ancient had come to be a normal ending to the Sophomore year.

Planning for the marches would begin early in the Fall semester, when officers (including one Nicholas Murray Butler) were elected to the Burial Committee. Officers were in charge of procuring speakers and an honorary poet, printing invitations, and, most importantly, purchasing large quantities of ‘bier’, wine, champagne and cheeses.

The parade would begin on upper Fifth Avenue. In the front was a group of policemen, followed by members of the Burial Committee, pallbearers, beer bearers and finally the rest of the Sophomore Class.  Everyone wore black robes with their class year emblazoned on the back or, failing that, turned their coats inside out. After arriving at the Columbia campus in midtown, the Class would gather around the bonfire. Songs would be sung, poems read and there would always be a speech or two about how much the Class hated Bojesen.

But it wasn’t until the book was committed to the flames that the night really began.

The Sophomores would drink a good deal of beer. A popular pastime was to go rouse President Barnard and listen while he implored the class of drunk sophomores to go back to sleep. If that proved a little wearisome, the boys would roam around town, serenading the schools for young ladies. Eventually the Class would meet back up at a pre-determined drinking hole and proceed to get further smashed. Finally, the class would separate and stumble home to their families’ townhouses in Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan. Columbia, after all, was still a commuter school.

The midnight revelry wasn’t appealing to everyone. One well-intentioned reformer set off fireworks instead of supplying beer, causing destruction to the College Halls and delaying the actual drinking by at least an hour.

Unfortunately for those in favor of midnight revelry, the tradition died by the late 1880s. By 1884, Bojeson had been switched out for Legendre, the Committee had been taken over by tee-totallers, and the whole event was a crashing bore. The Burial of the Ancients died quietly, never having had the chance to reach Morningside Heights.

All photos courtesy Columbia University Archives

It’s true: Collision, the sort-of annual end-of-year arts party, is not happening this year. Your one chance to make it to Brooklyn, squandered! According to Rick Fudge, the head of Collision, the board “decided we’d rather focus on smaller, more spontaneous stuff on campus,” like the occasional Minilision (ya know, mini-Collisions!) held this year, and Hamilton stairway puzzles. It was, Fudge explained to Bwog, “cheaper, less time-consuming, and more flexible that way.” By the beginning of second semester, the Collision board realized there wasn’t enough money– or interest to start funding– to make the party happen this year.

Bwog would like to get drunk and dance in a warehouse on the last night of school next year. Those interested in helping out with this cause should email collision2011@gmail.com.

We’ve all felt pangs of disappointment upon first entering Lerner Party Space–instead of the marble floors, shimmering candelabras, and comically large wire dress forms that we thought would come with our admissions letters, we are treated to a turn of the century science fiction film set.  To see to it that you are never again hard-pressed for a party venue, senior editor Eliza Shapiro has suggested a few suitable alternatives in this winter’s edition of The Blue and White.

In a previous incarnation, Buell Hall’s Maison Française housed part of the Bloomingdale Insane Asylum. It is currently home to two non-working fire­places, comely crown moldings, and at least three pur­ple orchids. Columbians may also opt for the pristine yet decidedly antique upstairs parlors, which include two smaller rooms for fraternizing. The reading room is equipped with a large, antique walnut table, an ante­diluvian Foucault clock, and rows of hardbound leather books.

On the evening of Oct. 28, 2009, French and Romance Philology Professor Antoine Compagnon and New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik drew a crowd of at least one hun­dred guests into the larger down­stairs East Gallery for a discus­sion about the work of Marcel Proust. A reception followed in the upstairs parlors, and gussied-up invitees enjoyed quiche and, in cus­tomary Proustian fashion, les petites madeleines.

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Bwog may be celebrating its third birthday tonight, but don’t expect Cheerios and apple juice.

That’s because the party’s headed to La Negrita, at Columbus and 109th Street. Tip[ple]off is officially set at 10 p.m., but Bwog recommends you arrive earlier to guarantee entrance.

Besides welcoming in Bwog’s novum annum, we’ll also be rolling out the red carpet for the new February-March issue of the Blue & White, fresh from the printers. Copies will be available for party-goers tonight.

You’re graciously invited — see you soon!

As of last month, Bwog has turned three years old, and is looking forward to a full set of teeth, complete sentences, counting, and eating as many Lucky Charms as possible. Mmm, tiny marshmallows.

As such, you are pleasantly informed that the third anniversary of our birth will be celebrated on Friday at La Negrita (Columbus & 109th Street), at 10 p.m (same as last year). Come one, come all, etc.!

Editor’s Note: Bwog will continue to update on the death of SEAS student yesterday, but we will also keep our regular posts going. 

Bwog is told there’s some kind of day of national celebration going on today, something about “football.”  We’re not entirely sure about the sports end of it, but here’s a sampling of the oft-associated carousal.

Local establishments have a few specials going on:

• The Heights: 60-cent wings, $4 pints
• 1020: $3 beers
• Havana Central: $39.95 buffet, including all-you-can-eat drink domestic drafts and sangria
• Village Pour House: $30 all-you-can-drink Bud Light (marvelous choice, no?) from kick-off to the end of the game.

Those hoping to patronize La Negrita or O’Connells, you’re out of luck.  Elsewhere in the city:

• SideBar (15th and Irving Place), owned by the Village Pour House folks, has offerings that are somewhat more sumptuous: a $50 “premium” open bar
• Leisure Time Bowl (8th and 42nd) boasts 30 flat-screens and is giving a free beer tower if you rent a lane for two hours, for something non-traditional.
• Kyotofu (9th and 48th) is giving away free cupcakes having a half-off sake sale for their Super Bowl haters party.  There will be a screening of the Japanese film Tampopo.
  

Bwog can only find one campus group that’s hosing a public viewing.   Hillel offers free pizza, vague “snacks,” and adjective-less “TV” on the 5th floor of the Kraft Center tonight at 6.

Update, 3:27 PM: A commenter tells us that there’s a widescreen TV set up in the Broadway Sky Lounge, hosted by ResLife, Bwog assumes.

If you know of any other groups or want to invite the bwogosphere into your home, comment or email us at bwog@columbia.edu.

And if none of that suits you, you could hide in Butler and shout out the scores as the game progresses.  Bwog cannot guarantee your safety in this event.

At least a hundred people turned up in the middle of Broadway at 115th to celebrate the results of tonight’s election.  Chants of “Obama” — and non-specialized screaming — were aplenty.  Every time silence struck, someone would leap up on top of light posts and garbage cans to start the chants over again.

The NYPD, smiling, allowed the celebrations to continue for at least 20 minutes before beginning to break it up: “Either that way, or that way, that’s where you’re going.  Keep it moving!”

An anonymous tipster has told Bwog that a man in a white shirt, possibly with the NYPD, told the officers trying to break it up to stop, and they turned away “sheepishly.

UPDATE, 12:55 AM: Bwog is told the party has moved uptown to 125th.

More photos and another video after the jump.

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CNN has invited the Barnard Community to put on their most patriotic Barnard sweatshirts and join the cable station in Times Sq., as part of its Election Night Watch Party. CNN is offering the Barnard gals pretzels, (presumably non-alcoholic) warm beverages, heat lamps and topical political trivia! 

An email sent to Barnard students explains that “VIP guests will receive priority seating and be in the best spots to be panned by the camera or interviewed by a CNN anchor.  CNN asks that you wear Barnard sweatshirts, hats, and other paraphernalia so that you may be easily identified as a Barnard student.”

Plus, if these pretzels, heat lamps and shot at Eternal Television Glory are enticing to enough students, CNN will arrange for a van to collect the ladies of Barnard and deposit them at the Times Sq. location.

CNN has not invited Columbia students to the fancy outdoors bash! But you can read the full email after the jump.

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Bwog kicks off Halloween early this year with a special guide to two of the neighborhood’s best costume purveyors, Ricky’s and  Possibilities @ Columbia.

You can divide the world in two camps: Those who love Halloween and those who hate it.  Bwog falls into the former camp and we hope you do too. But we understand, fun is not for everyone.  If you’re a Halloween hater, a self-conscious self-customer or just not in the spirit yet, Bwog’s here to help.  Today, we’re guiding you through two of Morningside Heights’ most unabashed Halloween haunts, the already infamous Ricky’s and Possibilities@Columbia.

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Remember when famous prefrosh/Internet savant “Stephan” invited everyone in school to his Carman dorm on the first night of Orientation for a party? No?

Well it turns out the party’s been relocated — to an undisclosed location! “Why go 2 a small dorm party, or a frat. party, when you can go to the biggest Party in the city?” asks our Stephan, we believe rhetorically.

Nearly 1200 people (four guests are pictured above) have been invited to the fete, which takes place in “N.Y.C.” — that’s “Now Your [sic] Coming.”  

Anyway, we’ll see you all on August 28th, at An Undisclosed Location, for the PARTY so hot it must be capitalized. We’ll meet you by the alcohol-free open bar. “The city is really strict about that, but can you say Pre-Game lol.”

This weekend, America is turning 232, making it just slightly older than the Columbia College website. Traditionally, Americans celebrate their country’s birthday by cooking meat on grills outdoors and then watching fireworks. For this week’s Guide to the Weekend, we’ve consolidated a few events that will give you the opportunity to do just that.

Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular; 9PM

Prime Viewing Spots: Manhattan: East River Park, South Street Seaport, FDR Drive between 14th and 42nd Streets; Brooklyn: Greenpoint, Empire Fulton Derry State Park (in DUMBO), Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Brooklyn Independence Day Parade; Between 66th and 86th Streets on 13th Ave in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

Head to 66th Street in Dyker Height’s for the 103rd Annual Independence Day Parade! Who knew Brooklyn had a 66th Street?  Featuring classic parade staples like floats and veteran marching bands.

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While most of you are probably relieved to have exited Columbia’s campus, free of Butler and Lerner for an entire summer, there’s an entire generation of earnest young people who just can’t wait for August. They were born in 1990, their SATs were probably out of 48,000, and we’re calling them the Terrible 12s. 

Every now and then Bwog likes to take a look at their Facebook activities, and oh what a bevy of activity there’s been! A certain hyper-social member of the the Columbia – Class of 2012 group who calls himself “Stephan” has already volunteered his Carman room for a party the first night of Orientation, giving ResLife nearly three months to prepare for the task of breaking up the party.

Within another group, this one dedicated to the good folk of Carman, “Stephan”, who Bwog can only hope is an English major, again advertises his fete by announcing: “we r throwin da sickest party to get the year started rite…. Carman the sexyest dorm house ever…. we’re goin show these other dorms who runs shit…”

Other burning questions amongst the Terrible 12s on the “2012″ group include marijuana (answer, according to one: “DO IT, DUH.”) and the virtues of their own individuality (“I beat all the varsity girls [but a couple] on the crew team on my erg score [rowing machines, for those who aren't familiar with ergs] my freshman year.”)

Looking forward to meeting you, 12s! See you at Stephan’s party.  

Despite previous statements to the contrary, the Academic Affairs Committee has invited the entirety of Columbia College to tonight’s Academic Awards Ceremony. The ceremony will honor Lionel Trilling and Mark van Doren Award winners, Joseph Massad and Andrew Nathan, respectively. 

The reception starts tonight in Low at 6 PM with the ceremony to follow. We’re assuming the earlier proclamation of a “business-smart” dress code still applies.

For those of you stuck in Butler (or those who only have “casual-smart” or “business-mildly intelligent” wardrobes), check back for Bwog’s coverage of the event.