A short while ago, a tall, well-dressed, middle-aged man strolled into Butler and started handing out candy canes to disheveled students. Grinning and making polite conversation, he proceeded confidently from the café to the third floor. Bemused bookworms naturally sent a flurry of tips, having cottoned on to the fact that this was not another […]

A month ago, the Dean announced on Bwog that the winner of our nicknaming contest would win lunch with him, and a place at an unveiling ceremony bearing his new epithet. Yesterday, Columbia’s most powerful brand mogul, Ivan Duschatzky, SEAS ’13, joined Dean Valentini for Milano (chicken parm for Ivan, grilled chicken for the Dean). Bwog […]

While getting drunk on WuWus last weekend, Bwog had a moment of genius. We realized that the Deantini, though a fabulous nickname, had the potential to be something more. And by something more, we meant more alcoholic. We turned to Drinking with Bwog all-stars Elliott Grieco, Matt Kalish, and Nick Miyares for help. Our only instruction? […]

To further his ongoing efforts to reach out to students and increase transparency in the wake of Moodygate, interim Dean Valentini held a town hall last night. Deantini held the court in the oaken glory of Havemeyer 309, where he’s given countless lectures and even once had one burst out in song. Seasoned Town Haller Conor Skelding sat in. Over […]

Hey you! We know procrastinating on Bwog is fun and all, but some things are more important. Like, you know, meeting your dean (chatting with him via Bwog comments, while awesome, isn’t quite the same). Scurry over to Havemeyer 309 at 8 pm, and check out a moderated Q&A with the newly-monikered Deantini. Audience members will […]

With 600 votes and over 50% of the vote, Deantini is the winning nickname for Columbia College Dean Valentini! So that Deantini can uphold his end of the bargain, we request that winning commenter (this comment!!) contact us at editors@bwog.com. Will the real nicknamer please stand up?   Relief via Examiner

As promised, Columbia College’s interim dean, James Valentini, just released a video to the Columbia community. For about ten minutes, he explains why he is dean, his vision for the College, his bit part in this Prangstgrüp video, and how he cringes at some parts of Bwog (don’t worry, we do too). Valentini assures us […]

It’s official: Columbia College has a new Dean, James Valentini. What possibilities! We’ve got PrezBo, KevSho/Ke$ho, and DSpar, and now it’s time to name our dear new Dean. Leave your suggestions in the comments. The winner gets a Milano sandwich, a hug and eternal glory. Let the hazing begin…

Newly installed Dean of Columbia College James Valentini just sent an email introducing himself to all Columbia students. After offering a short biography, Valentini writes that he has been heavily involved with the College ever since he came to Columbia, and strongly values both the Core Curriculum and need-based financial aid for College students. He […]

The USenate’s Student Affairs Committee (SAC) released a statement yesterday supporting Professor James Valentini’s appointment as Interim Dean. In case you’re a little hazy on your Senate background, the mandate of the SAC is to advise on “matters of University-wide student concerns, and to concerns of students in more than one faculty or school.” Their comment […]

Update, 8:15: Dean James Valentini’s wife is Teodolinda Barolini, chair of the Planning and Policy Committee, the new arm of Arts and Sciences created to help navigate “budgetary challenges.” Remember in Dirks’ December 2010 letter introducing PPC, he blamed burdensome financial aid costs incurred by the College. We supposed that this could be related to […]