In 2005, the University Senate voted 53 to 10 (with 5 abstentions) against repealing the ban of ROTC on campus. At the time, the most recent student survey conducted about the issue (in 2003) showed that 65% of students were in favor of repealing the ban. Two days ago, only 49% of students who participated […]

While the value of Columbia’s endowment rose a relatively measly 2% last fiscal year, our friends in Cambridge saw their endowment grow 8.6%. But the tables are turning. Between June 1 and October 31, the WSJ estimates, Harvard lost about $8 billion — that’s 22% — of its endowment. Well, yikes. No word yet on […]

(Hi Gothamist!) After spending much of the day on upper campus, Hawkmadinejad finally caught her lunch on the South Lawn. The catch was not quite so dramatic as the last time we saw her dine at Columbia, but the pictures are still pretty excellent. The creature was too small to be a squirrel, and hawkmadinebwog struggled to get a clear […]

If you recall, a while ago Bwog tried it’s hand at Craigslist’s Missed Connections for Columbia students.  While the primary object of longing was Hawkmadinejad, the rest of the student body was not impressed.  However, a tipster showed us that Craigslist had a few Columbia-related connections, just waiting to be brought together.  Bwog, in a […]

Bwog knows that you are “writing” your 25 page papers and “studying” for your heap of exams, so we came up with a little procrastination contest (and you don’t even have to open any extra Firefox tabs).  Just search your professors on Facebook (yes, we know you have it open) and post your favorites on […]

New Public School curriculum will save lives! New Squash Center will save youth! New Reading Day will “increase productivity”. New Administration, same politics. New Coach, nothing else changes…

Big changes are afoot following tonight’s SGB Town Hall meeting. Here are some bulletpoints because we know your eyes are sore from all the end-of-semester “re”-reading you’ve been doing lately.  SDS was denied recognition. Again. (Last year, you’ll recall the group failed to turn up for their recognition meeting with the SGB board.) They’ve unofficially […]

The Fireside Chat, a chance to sort of meet and sort of greet President Bollinger, is offered every semester to the entire undergraduate student body. Only about 30 students are (randomly, with control of the number of students representing each school) selected to attend this quasi-intimate two-hour session in the presidential mansion, at 60 Morningside […]

Bwog received word today that the famed conservative periodical, the Weekly Standard has published in its most recent issue an adamant critique of Columbia’s Manhattanville expansion, on ideological grounds opposed to eminent domain.  Not only is fair alma featured in the piece as an unyielding slumlord, but another surprising character makes a curious appearance. What […]

So while we’re on the subject of academic calendar discontent, it’s worth pointing out that the first day of classes for Spring Term falls on Inauguration Day, when approximately all of the Earth’s population will congregate in Washington for Obama’s swearing-in.  One Bwog staffer was quick to point out that “the first day of classes […]

If you were surprised to find a Bwog sans Quickspec this morning, have no fear for QuickSpec is here, as the Spectator was a tad delayed in updating their website today, maybe just because of all of the breaking NROTC hooplah on campus. NROTC at Columbia.  Just like a coin-flip. “Healthy Aging Centers,” aging all […]

Bwog would like to invite you to say hello to GS’s new Owl Logo! You’ll recall that their old Owl, Gulliver, was owlnapped from Harford Community College. Anyway, this new guy (gal?) is so snazzy with the little thumbs up. Well, thumbs up to you too New Gulliver. 

Fu Foundation Bureau Chief Sean Zimmermann attended last night’s abbreviated ESC meeting.  Blue Elephant – noun, a variation on the common white elephant gift exchange, in which player can either unwrap a gift from a pile, or steal a gift someone else has unwrapped. It also was the main feature in yesterday’s ESC meeting. While […]

As the NROTC results are being discussed and debated, it’s likely that the term margin of error is going to get thrown around. So, what is the margin of error? According to Jon Hill, Bwog’s Nate Silver Correspondent of Mathematical Wizardry, there is none. Here’s why: Votes counted: 2,971 Undergraduate enrollment (2007 [2008 figure was […]

Hot on the heels of the CC/SEAS/GS results, Barnard’s numbers came in just a few moments ago. Here’s how they look: Total # Votes: 1,189 Yes: 453 (38.1%) No: 736 (61.9%) According to SGA President Sarah Besnoff: “The results of this vote indicate that this is an issue that will be discussed in the University […]