Judge dismisses Italian Academy lawsuit
It took nearly a year, but Columbia’s Italian Academy has made it through the legal woods, unscathed. It didn’t even have to stand trial.
Last August, the Italic Institute of America sued Columbia, in collaboration with the descendants of three families that donated $400,00 toward the construction of the Casa Italiana in the 1920s. As Spectator reported at the time, the families believed that the Italian Academy had failed to follow through with the donors’ original vision, especially after the University signed a new charter for the building’s use with the Italian government.
But Judge Marcy Friedman, of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, wasn’t convinced. In a seven-page ruling on Tuesday, following months of pre-trial motions, Friedman granted Columbia’s motion to dismiss the case, writing that neither the Italic Institute nor the descendants of the original donors had standing to bring the lawsuit.
“To the extent that Italic Institute and the proposed plaintiffs claim standing as beneficiaries of the trust, they fail to plead allegations that they fall within a ‘sharply defined and limited’ class of potential beneficiaries entitled to a preference in the use of the trust,” Friedman wrote in her decision. Put more bluntly, Freidman ruled that it’s none of the families’ business—at least legally speaking—what Columbia does with money their ancestors donated nearly 90 years ago.
If you haven’t spent much time in the Italian Academy, you’re not alone. As Spectator has reported, undergraduates generally aren’t allowed inside the building, except during special events.
Free Pinkberry!
For those of you who are in the city for the summer (or really, really like froyo and don’t mind flying/bussing/driving), cool off after a warm day in the city with some free Pinkberry.
Pinkberry is opening its newest location tomorrow, June 18, at 414 Amsterdam Ave., between 79th and 80th streets. (N.B. Unfortunately, this Pinkberry location doesn’t come with a Spectator office attached to it :( )
In celebration of the shop’s unveiling, the store will be offering vaguely enticing “prize giveaways” as well as “a free small Pinkberry,” which I can only assume means patrons will receive small-scale models of the store.
Never been to Pinkberry? Well, you’re in for a treat (pun intended). Some flavors to try (for you novices): Original, mango, blood orange, and chocolate hazelnut. Some toppings to try: strawberries, bananas, blueberries (unless they look super mushy), yogurt chips, and Fruity Pebbles.
Electro-pop singer-songwriter Jake Gagne blends variety of sound in new EP
Many students associate experimental music with the depths of Brooklyn, but Jake Gagne, CC ’16, is bringing the avant-garde to Morningside Heights. Gagne released his debut EP, “Violent Moan,” at the end of May, a bristling set of electronic murmurings and lo-fi guitar jams that makes a welcome addition to Columbia’s diverse musical output.
In an interview with Spec Music Editor Noah Jackson, Gagne explains the driving forces behind the release, the struggles of being a student songwriter, and what lies in store for this exciting project.
Noah Jackson: The EP has a really layered, multifaceted sound. How did you actually make the music?
Jake Gagne: I made about half of the songs at Columbia, where I only had a MIDI keyboard and a laptop, and then I recorded some guitar parts at home, but the only way I could record them was the built-in mic on my MacBook, so the sound is really shitty. I’m a New Music DJ at WKCR, so through that I heard a lot of experimental music like musique concrète that incorporated a lot of non-traditional sounds, which inspired me to include samples of ambient and found sounds on the EP. For songs like “Down By The Train Tracks,” my ideas were best expressed through sounds that weren’t based in music, like samples of a moving train and its horns. New Music definitely helped me expand the palate of what I used to create. More »
For Dad Films releases sneak preview of ‘A Certain Tendency’
In case you needed yet another reason to get back to campus this fall, the student filmmakers of For Dad Films — a new filmmaking group on campus — have published a teaser for their latest project. The film, titled “A Certain Tendency,” tells the story of a Korean student adapting to life at an American university.
Though For Dad Films hasn’t yet secured an exact date and time for the screening, they plan to hold their premiere on campus at some point this fall. For Dad Films, which will reach its one-year anniversary this October, partnered with ADP, the film journal Double Exposure, and the Korean Students’ Association for “A Certain Tendency.” Watch the teaser above.
Black, Giel may be selected in MLB draft
Columbia baseball wrapped up its season last weekend, but more good news may be coming tomorrow in Day 3 of Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft.
You may remember last year when Columbia had two players selected—Dario Pizzano and Pat Lowery. Well, there’s a chance that the Light Blue could have another two players drafted in senior first baseman Alex Black and senior pitcher Tim Giel.
Black, who also served as the team’s closer, was one of the best hitters in the league in 2013 and led the Lions in offensive categories including batting average (.331), hits (55), home runs (8), and RBIs (31). His home run total was good for the top spot in the Ancient Eight, and he came in fourth in RBIs. More »
Lions fall to Cal St. Fullerton, face New Mexico Saturday
Taking the field for just the second time since winning the Ivy Championship May 4, the Lions (27-19) fell 4-1 to No. 5 Cal St. Fullerton (49-8) in their first game of NCAA Regionals play. The victory gave CSU Fullerton its eighth win in a row.
Columbia received another strong start from its ace David Speer, as the junior lefty went 6 2/3 innings and gave up just three earned runs (four total). Speer struck out three and walked one. Freshman Brandon Roy came on in relief in the seventh, and got out of a bases loaded jam to keep the Light Blue’s deficit at three.
The Lions managed just three hits against the Titans’ Grahamm Wiest, who pitched a complete game. Sophomore David Vandercook homered in the second for the Lions’ only run, and Wiest never surrendered control for the rest of the game.
With the loss on Friday, Columbia faces elimination with its game against New Mexico today. The Lobos are arguably the best offensive team in the nation, as they lead the country in batting average at .336 and scoring with 8.4 runs a game.
The two teams will square off at 7 p.m.
President Bollinger discusses free press and national security on ‘Bloomberg’
In case you missed it, everybody’s favorite University President with luscious locks made an appearance on yesterday’s “Bloomberg.”
Lee Bollinger discussed the Obama administration’s vigilance with the press regarding leaks. ”This is upsetting the balance that has really defined America for the last half-century,” Bollinger said. He also noted the difference between “the responsible press” and WikiLeaks in relation to national security.
Check out the video after the jump. More »
Ongoing investigation in Riverside Park
Update: Reached for comment around 1:45 p.m., an NYPD spokesperson said, “”There was a suicide attempt of a man taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in stable condition.”
Original post: Around 9:30 a.m. the Columbia community received an emergency text alert which advised avoiding Riverside Park at 115th street due to an ongoing investigation. The message stated:
In connection with an ongoing police investigation, there is significant police activity taking place in the area of Riverside Park and W. 115th Street. Please try to avoid this area until further notice. Thank you.
At 11:16 am a follow-up message was sent out:
The police activity in the vicinity of Riverside Park and W. 115th Street is concluding. The investigation discloses an apparent attempted suicide in the vicinity overnight. No Columbia affiliates were involved. Thank you.
Police are swarming Riverside Park around 116th street and caution tape blocks anyone other than the police from going north of 116th street on the mid-promenade level. The tennis courts at 119th street are also closed off.
The NYPD press office refused to comment. An officer at the scene said that information would be released in about two hours.
After derailment, 1 train shut down from 96th through 137th
As first reported in the Wall Street Journal, a southbound 1 train derailed just south of 125h Street at about 5:50 p.m. There were no injuries—according to an MTA spokesperson, only one car had its wheels come off the above-ground tracks—and passengers have now been safely transported by rescue trains to the 125th Street platform.
That said, the 1 train is still shut down, in both directions, from 96th Street through 137th Street. No word on when the 1 will be back up and running, although you can keep an eye on the MTA service alert here.
Update, 11:25 p.m.: According to the MTA website, the city hopes “to restore normal service by the morning peak travel period.” For now, free shuttle buses are running between 96th and 137th.