According to Bloomberg News, Judge Michael Sonberg has denied the motion for a “diversion to treatment” for Operation Ivy League defendants Jose Stephan Perez and Michael Wymbs. However, Judge Sonberg ruled that fellow defendant Christopher Coles could be eligible for the program, given his self-reported addiction to marijuana. A fourth defendant, Adam Klein, is still […]

Yesterday, Harrison David began serving his prison sentence at Rikers. The other defendants in the case have yet another hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court on September 23rd. It looks like the long saga of Operation Ivy League may be drawing to a close. Upperclassmen may be relieved it’s finally over, but members of the Class […]

This morning, Harrison David pleaded guilty to a felony charge in New York City Supreme Court. He will be sentenced on August 31st to 6 months of jail time (reduced to 4 for good behavior) at Rikers Island and 5 years of probation. Since he already served 2 weeks in Rikers Island before being released […]

Today the five students arrested in Operation Ivy League had yet another court appearance, during which each was offered plea agreements by the prosecution, which all declined. Peter Sterne reports from the courtroom. The hearing began a few minutes past the scheduled start time, when the defendants and their attorneys walked to the front of […]

According to Bloomberg, the ADA offered each of the students arrested in the December drug bust plea bargains, and each of the students turned them down. David rejected an offer of one year in prison, the other four rejected offers for five years probation. The defense attorneys sought to divert their cases to treatment, rather […]

Bwog is languidly clearing our virtual newsdesk today, bringing you a selection of interesting and possibly relevant headlines from the past few weeks. We hope that these stories, tenuously connected to Columbia, will reflect a similar degree of detachment from the establishment in your minds. One of the undercover cops in Operation Ivy League was […]

We continue to respect our heritage/amorous affair with our mother-magazine, The Blue & White by posting each issue of the magazine online. The latest issue, available this week around campus, is a cornucopia of delights: an interview with Dean Peter Awn; the quixotic quest for a Quidditch team; and a discussion of the institution of the Columbia presidency. This […]

The five students arrested last December in the drug bust known as Operation Ivy League—Chris Coles, Harrison David, Adam Klein, Jose Perez, and Michael Wymbs—appeared in court again for the third time this morning. In a hearing that lasted about five minutes, the judge agreed to keep trying the students together as a group and […]

Drug busts don’t just happen at our school! These guys stepped it up a notch, and now they’re down $8 million and 8,000 marijuana plants. (NY Post) And it looks like we’re not the only ones with new admissions stats—kindergarten hopefuls continue to wait for a spot at their elementary schools, but the lists just keep […]

Miron Sarzynski, the suspect arrested in Operation Ivy League and accused of supplying drugs to the five Columbia students, pleaded guilty yesterday, the NYTimes reports. According to a spokesperson for special narcotics, Sarzynski pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and first-degree attempted kidnapping. He will probably face six years in prison. His girlfriend, Megan […]

Cristina Stevenson of Student Affairs, confirmed in an e-mail to Bwog this afternoon that the IRC will be allowed to continue as it currently functions. The IRC was reviewed independently and considered in the same manner as the fraternities. Since inhabitants apply annually through the university, a distinction was made between an individual’s infraction and […]

Bwog’s been in touch with Student Affairs about last night’s news. Here’s what they had to say: Bwog: What’s going to happen to the brownstones? Student Affairs: The rooms in the brownstones will become part of general assignment for the 2011-2012 academic year, after the undergraduate housing lottery takes place. (In other words, the rooms […]

The fraternities with members involved in Operation Ivy League—Alpha Epsilon Pi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Psi Upsilon—will lose their housing come next fall, according to Spec. A source in Pike says that Kevin Shollenberger confirmed to the fraternity today that its brownstone will be emptied in the Fall; members of the other frats have said the […]

This morning the five students arrested in December’s drug bust appeared in court for a second time. Today the prosecution (New York City) filed superseding indictments (additional or updated charges) against the defendants (the students). This is pretty standard procedure and reflects no new developments—it just means they have processed further evidence from the initial […]

Update (Feb 3): Chris Beam, CC ’06, just published this piece in Slate, explaining some of the history of the Rockefeller Laws and the significance of the “prestige factor” in deciding the fate of the arrested Columbia students. The lawyers of Michael Wymbs and Chris Coles are seeking a “diversion to treatment” on behalf of […]