Happy Earth Month!

Happening Off-Campus: Lufthansa Airlines cuts flights due to kerosene and oil shortage as the Gulf War fuel crisis accelerates. Kerosene fuel prices have now risen to $1.20 per liter from $0.50 per liter before the Gulf War. Major international airports such as Singapore (SIN) and Bangkok (BKK) have also begun to limit additional flights to conserve fuel. Additionally, according to research by the TDA, the airline travel demands fell by 16% by the week of March. (Travel and World Tour). 

Happening Near Campus: Public schools in New York City are presumably planning to implement a timed digital hall pass for bathroom breaks. SmartPass is a digital hall pass system which replaces the traditional paper hall passes and tracks how long the students leave the classroom. The Department of Education has spent thousands of dollars setting the device up, and the technology is reportedly being used in 167 public schools. However, this tracking device is drawing a lot of attention and controversy from students, parents, and leaders of the New York Civil Liberties Union alike due to its hyper-surveillance function (CBS News). 

Happening on Campus: Celebrate Earth Day with University Life’s Park Cleanup series. Team up with fellow Columbia affiliates to keep Fort Tyron clean. Learn more here.  

Song of the day: Metamorphosis by Interworld

Header Image via Bwarchives