Archive for June, 2011
Carlos Alonso will be the next Graduate School of Arts and Sciences dean
PrezBo today announced that Carlos Alonso, previously interim dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, will be appointed as the permanent dean. Before taking on the interim dean position in Sept. 2010, Alonso was chair of Columbia’s department of Latin American and Iberian Cultures.
Alonso, originally from Puerto Rico, has held positions all over the Ivy League. He received his bachelor’s degree from Cornell, earned his doctorate from Yale, got a faculty position at Penn, and now, he’s the big man at our grad school. Good stuff. Check out the full press release after the jump More »
More food options coming to Columbia (featuring Purple Yam)
Food trucks? So last spring. Purple Yam has come up with a wholly novel concept in response to a call for creativity by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation—the food meridian. And the first to be given a tasty face lift? Two Broadway meridians a hop, skip, and a jump from the 116th gates, one at 113th and one at 114th. Read the mouth-watering details after the jump. More »
Prosecutors offer plea deals to Columbia Five
According to the Associated Press, prosecutors have offered plea deals for the five students arrested last December. For four of the five accused, the plea bargains include five years of probation, but no jail-time. Harrison David, the lone student accused of trafficking cocaine, was offered a plea deal that would involve one-year in prison, down from the minimum three-year sentence he would face if convicted of selling cocaine.
As of yesterday, none of the students had accepted the plea bargains and all except for David are seeking to divert their charges to drug-abuse treatment, which would lower their charges to misdemeanors if they successfully complete a drug-abuse treatment program. David is looking for a deal without jail-time.
Patti Smith’s a Columbia professor?
Well, at least she’ll play one on TV. Following the success of her award-winning memoir, “Just Kids,” the punk rock queen has moved on to acting—on Law & Order no less. According to Pitchfork, Smith will take on the role of “Columbia University mythology professor Cleo Alexander,” who will be interviewed for a case involving the death of a certain theater actor who died while performing a stunt. Sounds a bit familiar.
Be sure to watch the episode, titled “Icarus” (a metaphor for failed ambition) this Sunday night at 9 p.m. on USA. Catch a sneak peak of Smith’s performance here.
Who might replace outgoing provost Claude Steele?
News Editor Leah Greenbaum had a chance to talk to several insiders across campus about the vacated Provost position.
As Claude Steele packs his bags this month, President Bollinger is left with some tough decisions about who will take over the Office of the Provost both in the interim and for good. Steele’s sudden departure from MoHi came as a surprise to many, so Bollinger’s next pick will have to be a pretty solid fit.
But the man’s got options: More »
Last-minute Father’s Day gift guide
Hey Columbians—Father’s Day is tomorrow! Forgot to buy a gift? Worry not, we’ve compiled a list of 10 presents perfect for Dad to give you some inspiration. Happy shopping! More »
President Spar talks about joining Goldman Sachs
The News Desk’s Madina Toure had a chance to speak with President Spar about her recent decision to serve on the Board of Directors at Goldman Sachs. Check out the full story here.
The know:
- Spar was elected to Goldman Sachs’ Board of Directors a few days ago (the announcement was made while she was celebrating her birthday—HAPPY 48TH D-SPAR!)
- Spar, a former Harvard Business School professor who has written numerous business/finance books, has spent 25 years of her life studying the political economy.
- There is some past affiliation between Barnard and Goldman Sachs.
- The wife of Lloyd Blankfein (CEO of Goldman Sachs), is a Barnard alumna who served on the Barnard Board of Trustees until resigning last Wednesday (the day before the announcement).
- The Lloyd & Laura Blankfein Foundation donated $75,000 to Barnard the last two years.
- She partially attributes the financial crisis to inadequate leadership from “rich, white, middle-aged guys.” She intends to provide a diverse perspective. Barnard Dean Avis Hinkson, Lloyd Blankfein, and others say she’s tremendously qualified to do that.
- Goldman Sachs will continue to recruit at Barnard.
- DSpar made $279,688 as President last year. Damn.
Science & Humor: Soil moisture, poo, high school dropouts, and oceanography
What have Columbia researchers been doing this summer? Aside from developing male birth control pills, here’s what. More »
Notes from a film marathon
The Lincoln Center staff person was starting to hate me. I had called, no less than three times, wanting to know when the free tickets were going online. He did not know. Or he wouldn’t tell me. Regardless, his coy secrecy led to my walking around with my iPad flipped open in dangerous subway stations (via that map that tells you where your Apple electronics are most likely to get stolen).
The new Film Society of Lincoln Center was celebrating its grand opening with a weekend of free movies. Finally, capitalizing on an obsessive nature that rivals on unhealthy, I was able to grab a ticket to the film marathon, which ran from 10 on Saturday night to 11 on Sunday morning. Six films.