Lawrence Summers, former Director of the U.S. Economic Council under Barack Obama, believes his policies are crucial for mending the woes of the world’s economic climate. Without the implementation of his plans, he believes that the risk of a global depression increases significantly. Lunchtime Thursday, he stopped by  IAB’s penthouse for a discussion of fiscal stimulus and […]

Thursday evening, the World Leaders Forum hosted its second-ever artist for a lecture. Issac Julien, famous in the art-world for his unique films and installations, gave a talk about his work and the mediums through which he expresses himself. Art School Dropout Briana Last eagerly sat through Julien’s musings and provides you with this latest LectureHop. For a […]

Wednesday evening, Columbia welcomed the self-proclaimed writer without style E.L. Doctorow to the Faculty House to deliver a lecture he called, “Notes on the History of Fiction.” The event was part of a two day symposium on fiction and histories. Postmodern enthusiast Allie Curry was in attendance: When I arrived mid-way through the panel, the crowd […]

This morning Columbia, the World Bank, and New York City Global Partners convened to discuss the role of global cities in promoting business innovation, entrepreneurship, and job growth. While some students protested the event, Bwog’s Entrepreneurial Expert Alex Eynon attended to bring you the low-down. Suits, government officials from twenty-one nations, and of course, Columbia students, streamed into Low […]

Just kidding! This is a lecturehop, but it did involve mountains of Mario’s creations. Bwog’s favorite foodie, Brian Donahoe, was there. Thursday evening, Bwog passed through the ever-enticing yet forbidding door of Casa Italiana, and after making it past security and up an imposing marble staircase took a seat in the Italian Academy’s fabled ballroom […]

Yesterday evening President of Republika Srspska Milorad Dodik gave a lecture titled “An American Foreign Policy Success Story:  The Dayton Accords, Republika Srpska and Bosnia’s European Integration.” Dodik has attracted controversy over statements about the Yugoslav wars. Specifically, Dodik holds that the Tulza Massacre was staged, questions the reports of the Markale massacres, and, though he […]

Ever watchful of your career success, Bwog sent our anonymous renegade chief expert to the World Leaders Forum for a lecture from Federal Reserve Board Governor Daniel K. Tarullo. Worried about getting a job? According to last night’s World Leaders Forum lecture by Federal Reserve Board Governor Dan Tarullo, the employment prospects for college grads are […]

Thursday night, Columbia was lucky enough to host one of the most well-spoken contemporary authors. Zadie Smith, famous for her acclaimed novel White Teeth, took the time to share some thoughts on the role of the writer in the modern age. Her manner was so warm and relaxed that Bwog’s Literary Correspondents Suchith Vasudevan and Victoria […]

Yesterday, the Europe Institute at SIPA, the oldest institution in United States higher learning dedicated to the study of Europe, was re-inaugurated as the “Donald and Vera Blinken Europe Institute.” Amidst the crackers, champagne, and self-congratulations, Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor to Vice President Biden, spoke of the diminishing focus on Europe within America and why […]

Last night, famous linguist and leftist intellectual Noam Chomsky spoke on “America and Israel-Palestine: Peace and War” at Barnard’s LeFrak Gymnasium. The line to get in was long, but Bwog’s radical correspondent Peter Sterne made it inside. A full hour before Noam Chomsky was scheduled to begin speaking, the auditorium was already beginning to fill […]

Rennert Hall was filled to the brim for last night’s lecture by Alan Dershowitz, famed Harvard Law professor, criminal attorney and  author of The Case for Israel, an ardent defense of the state of Israel’s right to exist. The Kraft Center auditorium was so packed, people had to be turned away! Luckily, Bwog’s Briana Last scored a seat. […]

On Wednesday night, professor and Hollywood producer James Schamus (of Brokeback Mountain) moderated a discussion with Israeli filmmaker Udi Aloni, journalism professor Alisa Solomon and Slovenian philosopher/muckraker/hand gesticulation champion Slavoj Žižek, that nominally took on Israeli and Palestine conflicts and the nature of binationalism in Jewish culture, as part of the Heyman Center’s Theory-Art-Action series. Bwog’s own Michael Blair reports. […]

We often forget (but Bwog often likes to remind us) that the most valuable resources at Columbia are our professors. For many, professors seem distant and de-humanized; just that guy or gal standing at the front of the class pontificating about some strange subject for an hour and fifteen minutes. At the same time, we […]

Yesterday, Jim Ottaviani, author of the recently released graphic novel “Feynman“, stopped by Butler as part of his book tour. He discussed Richard Feynman— his book about a sardonic Nobel Prize-winning physicist with a knack for bongos, and the appeal of graphic novels. Bwog Daily Editor and Feynman Fan Brian Wagner was in attendance. To […]

Yesterday evening Booker Prize shortlisted novelists Caryl Phillips and Hisham Matar spoke to students as part of the Barnard Forum on Migration. Itinerant expert Claire Heyison reports. “Why do you write?” is an irritatingly familiar question to writers, and, while all too often avoided, one that must be addressed. Caryl Phillips and Hisham Matar, both visiting professors to the […]