The new issue of The Current is out! A gander at some of the articles within: What is TFA teaching its members? Simon Schama on teaching, choosing topics, and the digital revolution. Gays in the GOP: past, present, and future. “How two of Israel’s leading diplomats emerged from a 1970s Jewish commune at Columbia University.” […]

Tipster extraordinaire Ron Gejman found some strange graffiti by the East Campus Guard post.

As you may have seen on Ye Olde Facebook, a “Petition to Change Columbia University Winter Break Calendar” has received over 1800 signatures since being started a few days ago. At the same time, with the (at least temporary) death of Bored@Butler, some commenters have asked us for an open thread, if only for more […]

The Fed’s latest edition is online, just in time for more procrastination. What Mall Santa’s really thinking about. The Catholic Church flexes its takeover muscles. A Christmas update from the WASPs. An Iranian commentary on Hannukah. Top 10 lists weren’t meta enough already. http://www.the-fed.org/articles/volume25/issue3/iranipedia.html

For your viewing pleasure, video from last night’s snowball fight, courtesy of Danielle Noujaim:

In a party-line vote, Democrats broke a Republican filibuster to pass an overhaul of the health care system. (Times) Actress Brittany Murphy died yesterday of “natural causes” at the age of 32. (Post) A cool time-lapse video of the snowfall in Brooklyn. (Gothamist) Off-duty Washington D.C. cop has his Hummer pelted by snowballs, decides to […]

As you choose your dining options tonight, French Fry bureau chief (and Philip J. Fry doppleganger) James Downie confirms that M2M’s fries have returned to their glorious tempura-based covering. Rejoice and be glad (and slightly larger around the waist)!

After the overwhelming success of last night’s snowball fight, more groups are trying to extend the winter joy for another night. After all, tonight’s Primal Scream provides pretty much the perfect war cry for the start of another battle royale. One Facebook group is here, while tipsters tell us there will also be an aerial […]

While you were studying and/or throwing snowballs, the members of John Jay 11 were making one of the better examples ever of winter overcompensation. Certainly more realistic than most of the stencils we’ve seen in past years.

The snowstorm blanketing much of the Mid-Atlantic kept a lot of your high school friends from flying home this weekend. (Times) The Parks Department officially invites you to go sledding in city parks; unfortunately, they will not be officially providing post-sledding hot chocolate with marshmallows. (Gothamist) While hosting last night’s episode SNL, James Franco french-kissed […]

Looking for religious and spiritual dialogue on Columbia’s campus? Searching for a forum exploring religion both from an academic perspective and on personal religious experiences? Sanctum: The Undergraduate Journal of Religion at Columbia University has recently published its inaugural issue, now being distributed widely on campus. We hope to fulfill the needs of students who […]

On Low Plaza! Observers estimate 150 or so showed up for the midnight start, increasing to three or four hundred as the hour went on. And a panorama from our webmaster/photography specialist, Hans Hyttinen (click on it for a larger picture): Videos by John Kenney and Ron Gejman

It’s time for another installment of our exam season photo essays. The amount of paper crammed into a single desk never ceases to amaze:

First, there are several groups planning snowball fights tonight and tomorrow morning. One group’s taken to Facebook; feel free to add your own scheduled fights in the comments. A foot of snow doesn’t come around here every year. Second, if you are the owner of a motorcycle parked on 114th Street, it’s been towed. Seems […]

Storm’s blowing in, finals are blowing over, and Bwog movie maven Mark Hay has a few cinematic choices to accompany these first flakes of snow. Something about the vintage and the slightly outdated social norms of these films make them an endearing accompaniment to any night of cocoa and candy canes. Christmas in Connecticut (1945) […]