RESULTS!

This semester, both Student Wellness Project and University Senate worked on some impressive studies of general student life across Columbia University.  Some of the results came out at the end of the semester and makes for good reading material for a “productive” study break.

SWP looked at a variety of ways the community is hurting and discussed strategies to best fix this.  First, they noted the ineffectiveness of NSOP in creating community (wait, my NSOP group crew isn’t going to be my group for the rest of college?) and introducing students to the high stress culture here, in addition to the general confusion that comes from no administrator actually explaining anything to anyone ever.  The report also touches on the first semester Pass/D/Fail Policy and a well needed restructuring and expansion of CPS.  With any luck, some of these things might actually be fixed.

Click here to download the full SWP report.

USenate had their first-ever University-wide Quality of Life survey.  The survey was given to all of the colleges at Columbia and addressed financial aid, housing, social life, academics, and administration.  A deeper analysis of the results will be coming out in the Fall.  Students reported being the most satisfied with Safety, Transportation while “Funding” (i.e. the funding of one’s education) was at the lowest end of the spectrum.  They plan to administer this University-wide survey once every 2 years.

Click here to download the full press release.

Video after the jump

SWS

The USenate’s monthly plenary meeting took place afternoon in the Law School at 1:15 pm. Not to say that every meeting is smoothly deliberative… this one was a farce.

PrezBo started off the meeting, and blew through approving the agenda and and adopting last meeting’s minutes. During his remarks he lauded Steve Coll, new dean of the J school. And he talked about CU’s 8th (!) global center, this one in Rio. And then he said that the other three (three!) dean’s searches will be done this semester.

PrezBo asked for questions, because he’d anticipated the presence of Student-Worker Solidarity. Paige West from Anthropology (in cowboy boots!) raised her hand and asked to talk about Faculty House, but PrezBo said that he can’t talk about labor negotiations. That was that. SWS sat with its hands politely folded for the rest of the meeting.

Then there was some talk about a joint MBA/MA program offered by TC and the Business School. There was a little drama when it turned out that the language of the resolution only included private and independent and charter, schools—and not public schools. Which is par for the course for the B School, but seems anathema to the spirit of TC. So it goes. ON TO THE SMOKING BAN

This afternoon, at 1:15 pm in Jerome Green Hall, the Student Affairs Committee (SAC) will bring a ground-breaking resolution to the Senate floor: public course evaluations. Well… ground-breaking for Columbia. Resident Know-It-Most Sarah Ngu brings us up to speed on what this means and why it could be a BFD.

Why don’t we already publicize online course evaluations?

We used to. Up until 1994, Columbia published a course catalog with course evaluations, but it seems to have “gone out of business” as they were sold to students. See photos of evaluations of past course guides. As it stands, the Business, Journalism, SIPA and Law Schools all have public course evaluations; Harvard, Yale and Princeton have had open course evaluations for several years now.

Isn’t CULPA enough?

CULPA draws polarizing views, but this issue is beyond course evaluations.

“It’s about effecting the beginning of a culture change, a culture of openness and transparency. It brings faculty and students closer. There’s mutual accountability,” Frouman says.

“One of the problems with closed systems is that students don’t feel their opinion matters and have no idea where this is going to. Opening it will make students take it more seriously, response rates will go up—these things benefit faculty as well,” Sara Snedeker, BC ’12, co-chair of the course evaluations subcommittee.

“This is also a great opportunity for the University to examine the evaluation process in general and make sure that we’re asking the questions we need to be asking,” Ryan Turner, SEAS Grad ’12, co-chair of the same committee.

So… what’s this Senate thing?

Formed after the riots of the ‘60s, the Senate is a representative body of the entire university, including faculty, administrators and students. Bringing this resolution to the floor forces it on to the Senate’s discussion agenda. The actual voting will most likely occur on April 27th (the entire Senate convenes monthly). If the resolution does pass, it doesn’t make publicizing evaluations compulsory for all schools, but it encourages schools to do so with the expectation that they will implement it with consideration of each school’s needs. The Senate is comprised of around 60% faculty, so their resolutions will hold weight with the rest of the faculty.

Find out what the resolution contains, and more, after the jump.

While calls for public course evaluations have been swirling around since at least January, members of the University Senate’s Student Affairs Committee are looking to finalize a resolution to present to the floor, according to Spec. A subcommittee will release a report assessing the current systems already in place at Columbia and other schools. Among the Ivies, Harvard’s open evaluations are often cited as one of the first of such measures and generally seen as a success.

The proposal has picked up momentum in recent months after Deantini and Prezbo endorsed the measure. Many others have expressed their support despite the initial resistance from some faculty members. Still, some issues remain to be worked out. As GSAS student Cristina Camille Perez Jimenez points out in Spec, TA evaluations should hold special consideration as they are “weighted as part of our ongoing pedagogical training.”

Currently, student-run CULPA remains the most popular option for evaluations, though samples a limited number of students. If passed, the new system would incorporate more quantitative data besides student testimonies. Some members of the USenate hope to make some of the evaluation data available by the end of the academic year.

Today from 1:15 to 2:39 pm, our own University Senate met in Schermerhorn 501 for the first plenary meeting of the year. As with any such plenary, there were big helpings of Milano cookies, Newman’s Own juices, and petty behavior. Bwog’s plenary junkie Conor Skelding stopped by both for the laughs, and also to observe serious consideration of a campus-wide smoking ban.

PrezBo asserted his power at 1:15 sharp, banging his gavel, cutting off the chatter, and shouting, “Okay, let’s go!”

With his standard out-of-order opening speech, PrezBo eased along through the agenda, “Okay, we need a motion to adopt the agenda…is there a second? No objections…okay.” He talked about ROTC, NoCo, FAS, the College, and what the agenda would be for the day.

“The University is, I think, making great, great progress, and we all take enormous pride from being associated with it.” [applause mainly starting with two people]

And with his typical style, PrezBo dismissed the importance of the meeting as he built it up, saying, “I have to leave at 1:45 because the President of Ecuador is coming, and he has done some things on which I need to challenge him.” [laughs, sorta forced]

By then the meeting was actually underway, and a student raised the idea of course evaluations being open to students. PrezBo personally supports that, but “it’s not something I can or should decide on my own.” People laughed at that.

An anti-ROTC professor asked about how the ROTC committee would work, and PrezBo said he didn’t know. She asked for “as much information as possible.” After a little talk about Title IX and fringe benefits, the real issue of the meeting got underway: a campus-wide smoking ban. (more…)

While we are still waiting for official comment from the University administration, we have received multiple confirmations from a wide spectrum of students, alumni, and faculty that Michele Moody-Adams has resigned as Dean of Columbia College, and that the news was sudden, unexpected, and as of yesterday afternoon, a complete surprise to many administrators, up to the executive vice-presidential level. There are indications that the resignation is symptomatic of significantly larger disagreements between the university and its constituent schools.

The Student Affairs Committee of the USenate sent out the following press-release at 3 am, which does not support Moody-Adams’ decision or provide any context, but assures us that the SAC will remain strong.

Update, 10:05 pm: Shollenberger confirmed Moody-Adams’ resignation in an email to Columbia College students. KevSho stresses his commitment to maintaining dialogue with students: “In order to update students on the evolving transition, in the coming days, I plan to schedule meetings with student leaders and relevant senior administrators.”

Update, 3:11 pm: The CCSC exec board issued another statement in response to the resignation. The board promises to “delve into the circumstances surrounding” the resignation and keep the student body updated on its findings.

All statements after the jump. (more…)

It was usually rowdier than this.

Today, the University Senate held its usual monthly plenary meeting—but anything “usual” about it ended there. The meeting was held in Jerome 104, a larger space to accommodate the many guests, which included extra-stern Public Safety officers. In what was pretty much expected based on past ROTC business, the Senate passed an amended ROTC resolution, effectively opening the door to dialogues with the military about a potential ROTC branch. Conor Skelding gives a blow-by-blow of the parliamentary bickering.

Anticipation and tension in the crowd was palpable at the meeting’s outset. Public Safety ushered Senators and media in through one door, and relegated people not “on the list” to a long line at the main entrance. PrezBo began the meeting by tabling the fringe benefits update until the April 29th meeting—to the dissatisfaction of a few professors—and kept the rest of his opening remarks brief. Manhattanville, he said, is going great, especially the fundraising, and there are “major new gifts” are in the works. With that, he allowed another board member to carry on.

The meeting proper began with an overview of the Task Force’s process, then of “what the ROTC is and is not,” and finally a section-by-section analysis—a near defense, really—of the resolution to be presented. After this followed a point-by-point presentation on why Senate was the right body to deal with the ROTC and what the Task Force had done well.  A faculty member and student each spoke for and against.

(more…)

The University Senate just voted to approve the final ROTC resolution, but only after amendments. You can compare the unamended with the final document, and read the full resolution as voted on by the Senate below. The resolution passed with 51 senators voting in favor, 17 opposed, and 1 abstention.

In a completely unrelated and much less controversial vote, the Senate also decided to change the name of the School of Continuing Education to the School of Professional and Cross-Disciplinary Studies.

Bwog will have a full report on today’s USenate meeting later this afternoon.

Update, 7:14 pm: We’ve updated with the official University statement:

We appreciate the diligent work by the University Senate in fostering a robust debate on the issue of military engagement and ROTC. As in any diverse, open community there will always be a range of strongly held opinions on such important issues. But as President Bollinger stated after last December’s Congressional vote, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell offers an historic opportunity for universities to reconsider their own policies as well. As planned, we look forward to sharing the Senate resolution with the Council of Deans and seeking an official conclusion on this matter by the end of the semester.

(more…)

Protesters banging drums and chanting catchy slogans such as “They say ROTC. We say democracy!” have gathered on 116th and Amsterdam across from the Law School, where the University Senate is voting on discussing the final ROTC resolution.

Deliberations

The University Senate met from 1:15 pm to 2:20 pm this afternoon, in 107 Jerome Greene to discuss finances, smoking bans, and the ROTC Task Force’s full report, released today. Bwog’s Military Engagement Bureau Chief Conor Skelding was there to hear what they had to say, watch them check Facebook, and fold their arms to signify dissatisfaction.

PrezBo started the meeting with a review of the school’s current financial situation.  The recession has hurt us less than peer institutions, and among all endowments greater than $1 billion, ours grew fastest over the last fiscal year.  The Senate then squabbled about a GS student who was filming the meeting for a documentary, with permission.  Several senators, including Ron Mazor, pointed out that students at the ROTC town halls had expressed concerns about openness.  After a few speeches, the Senate overwhelmingly voted to allow the camera to stay.

After some discussion of conflicts of interest in current research and the possibility of a full smoking ban on campus, Ron Mazor stood with Roosevelt Montás to present the Task Force’s findings regarding military engagement. Montás first addressed the media attention, which he called “primarily negative and sensationally distorted.”  He called the recommendations of the Task Force “mild.” Tons and tons of info on the report and deliberations below

Last night, Conor Skelding attended the first of the three hearings organized by USenate’s Task Force on Military Engagement. These hearings mark the preliminary stage of the Senate investigation into ROTC’s potential return. Here’s his report:

The first public hearing by the Senate’s Task Force on Military Engagement was held in the IAB Altschul Auditorium, where the 50 or so attendees hardly filled the room.  Veterans, GS and graduate school students, alumni, and sign-laden CC students gathered in distinct groups to oppose policy change.

After an introduction by the Task Force and explanation of the rules, anyone affiliated with the University was allowed to speak. Although the hearing started off slowly, after five or so speakers, the atmosphere in the room grew intense. A ten minute break offered some pause for reflection, while the groups for and against repeal clearly divided up to plan for the second half.  As the night progressed, members of the ROTC opposition began to hiss and yell, prompting the moderator to warn, “No catcalls, please.”

Primary arguments against increasing the University’s engagement with the military were:

• The military still discriminates against transgendered citizens.
• In inviting the ROTC, Columbia would be supporting imperialistic military actions abroad.
• The military has a record of misogynist sexual abuse.
• The military recruits among low-income areas specifically.
• Students should not be force to serve “as mercenaries” in exchange for their tuition.

Primary arguments in favor were:

• The military is flawed, and Columbia students could change it from the inside-out.
• There is a rift between civilians and service men and women which can be healed by having cadets on campus.
• Students should have the option to join the ROTC on campus.

The next Hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, February 15th, in 309 Havemeyer Hall, 7:30-9:30 PM.

In a press release today, the University Senate announced a “comprehensive three-part process in the spring 2011 semester to address the Reserve Officers Training Corps and other issues related to the University’s engagement with the Armed Forces of the United States.” The full press release is after the jump, but here are some takeaways:

• The eventual goal is to provide the Senate with information to adequately make a recommendation on Columbia’s relationship with armed forces, including the issue of ROTC on campus.
• The Task Force has launched a non-partisan website with background history of ROTC on campus and information about what further actions could take place in the future.
• There will be a series of hearings held in February to provide a “forum for individuals to discuss the issues in an open and constructive manner.” The hearings will take place on February 7, 15, and 23.
• On March 4, the Task Force will submit a final report reflecting student opinion to the Senate.

Read the full press release

A few items have come over the alias recently that we thought we’d share. To wit:

University Senate candidate Eric Wang has scored again on the campaign publicity. Although his website seems to be inactive and posters alone don’t quite measure up to last year’s brilliance, somehow, it works.

One tipster unaccountably roaming Hamilton this week sighted an odd poster, calling for virgins to audition to be on a show in which they’d live in a house with porn stars and compete to lose their virginity to a porn star (or to all the pornstars?).  The company doing it is also responsible for some Paris Hilton video and something called “American Cannibal.” While Bwog doesn’t endorse such loose living, if you do elect to audition, please let us know how it goes.

According to an e-mail sent to the same tipster this week, one of our innumerable illustrious alumni has started a teeth-whitening company, and we are among the select students who get a special discount! Click here and enter the gift code 16865 for 25% off your shiny new smile. Now aren’t you glad you go to Columbia?

Bwog recieved a strange departure notice in its inbox this evening: some bureaucrat is leaving for better pastures, and the Office of the President saw fit to commemorate the event with an ALL CAPS ANNOUNCEMENT. Stranger still, the press release seems to have been verbalized in large part by President Bollinger himself, who found time to rehash the retiree’s credentials for some assiduous PR scribe. If for some reason you’re not on PrezBo’s mailing list, the e-mail is reprinted after the jump. (more…)

Last Friday, after years haggling over bullet points, the University Senate was finally scheduled to vote on a  new sexual misconduct policy.

Unfortunately, nobody showed up.

Well, at least the professors didn’t.

The Bwog has learned that the resolution could not come up for a vote because more than half of the senators played hooky. According to our friends in high places, most of the student senators were present. It was the professors, preoccupied with their heavy Friday courseloads that all Columbia students must endure, who failed to show.

Balanced news. Fearless views. The Bwog. (And the Philippine Daily Inquirer, too.)

Update: Bwog got some of the facts wrong. Professor-senators did show, and voted on a new definition of “sexual misconduct.” They just left before the senate could vote on changing the disciplinary procedures. Provost Brinkley and Professor Bollinger were among those who left without a hall pass (Read the whole story in the Spec).