$400 million

University Cold on Hot Jazz (ADP’s statement after the jump)

Stoffel Leads SGA Poll, Spec Happy

Not about Porn:

“Molly Shannon, Doggy Style”; “Swashbuckling Can’t Save Pirates

Pitching A Softball Strength, Hardball Weakness

“Friendly Fire” Not Bad on the Home Front

A Tragedy Averted! 

ADP released a strongly worded letter to Spec regarding the cancellation of Hot Jazz.  It’s too long to reprint in full, but here’s the main idea:

Hot Jazz is an ADP and Columbia tradition that has been held for 20 years without incident.”

“The University, now that it has decided to observe building code, needs to take efforts to upgrade the brownstones so they meet the requirements necessary to be considered an assembly space, allowing them to hold events with larger capacities. Unless this happens, the University is essentially encouraging illegal parties (and by extension, underage drinking), as groups with on campus houses would be unable to properly register events with the University.”

 “For starters, this [the enforcement of the rules] would spell the end of Greek life, but it has farther-reaching implications for other student groups. Greek organizations with houses would no longer be able to safely and legally run events in their homes, negating the value of the house itself.”

“Limiting gatherings in such a manner would promote an insular Greek community in which everyone only socializes at their own house and limits their involvement in the greater Columbia community, calling to question the benefits of having a Greek system on campus at all.”

      “We are not blaming the University for observing the laws that are in place to protect the welfare of its students. Rather, we are holding them accountable for their lack of oversight, the lack of communication between departments and for the slow pace with which they correct problems.”