Author Archive
New lows for US News rankings
We all love to hate ‘em–those annual college rankings published by US News & World Report never fail to stir up a fracas, among alumni, students, and newly-accepted high schoolers alike. But this year the drama took a turn for the dirtier. It turns out that a number of schools are taking advantage of the “peer assessment” metric by which school administrators can rate competing universities (how could they!). Schools across the country are giving competitors deliberately low ratings in order to boost their own scores. More »
A Gorey proposition
Looks like yet another distraction for those bored at Butler will soon be headed this way. Columbia University Libraries recently raked in an enviable cache of drawings and posters by the macabre-master Edward Gorey. Gorey is probably best recognized for his opening sequence of PBS’s Mystery!, though a number of nsfw children’s books are also in his portfolio. [NYT]
The eye of the storm
So it’s here. Non-school. The day we’ve all been waiting for. Not quite summer, because, I mean, there’s that ominous cloud of finals-fury racing inevitably towards us. Racing kinda fast, as a matter of fact. So fast it almost makes you wish for a few more buffer weeks of class. But what are you gonna do? The storm’s headed our way, so there’s no choice but to reach for an umbrella. More »
What’ll those folks at John Jay think of next?
Those of you who trudged over to John Jay for dinner this evening might have done a double take as you stepped up to the serving trays. Sure, it might have looked like the same old pizza, the same old soups, the same old greens… but did you notice the names? Turkey Shollenberger, anyone? How about some Alma Macaroni and Cheese with that? And don’t forget a heaping helping of that Peña-Mora Butternut Squash Soup. More »
If you like it, put an MRS degree on it…
“If it was spoofable for Joe Jonas, it’s spoofable for us”–or at least that’s the attitude of the CBS Follies, a dance comedy troupe at Columbia Business School. The three lovely ladies make it loud and clear how to balance kicking ass in business school, finding a man, and bustin’ some moves in a leotard and heels. Video after the jump. [Huffington Post] More »
Top scholars announced, everyone else looks like a lazy slacker
Overachievers… Is there any limit to how bad they can make the rest of us look? Arianne Richard, named the Columbia College valedictorian, was last year awarded the Goldwater Scholarship, the amazingest award ever—complete with $7,500 prize—for the most kickass undergrads planning on getting their Ph.D.s in science or math.
Meanwhile, while he’s not dominating at school, Jeffrey Spear, CC salutatorian, has made a name for himself as a national champion and two-year All-American fencer. A few weeks ago, while the rest of us were being lazy college kids, Spear flew off to Budapest to compete in the men’s World Cup.
Nice, guys. Ever think about how that makes the rest of us feel? [News]
Today’s paper: movin’ on up
It’s a rough time of year, comrades… so rough it makes you reach for one of those tried-and-true expressions they say in the movies. Don’t despair, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel! There’s a landing at the top of the stairs. The night is darkest before dawn.
If this isn’t doing it for ya, check out today’s paper. It’s a real uplifter. More »
Time to pick up some goodies!
Stop by the eastern part of the quad this afternoon to pick up all the trinkets, T-shirts, gadgets, and gizmos you didn’t know you needed. After all, who can ever have too much fake jewelry? Proceeds from the fair, set up in front of Hamilton Hall, go to the Red Balloon Childhood Learning Center here in Morningside Heights.
Thanks, but no banks—SIPA students fume over commencement speaker
After raking in millionaire investment banker Vikram Pandit as commencement speaker on Friday, SIPA is now reeling with student fury. Pandit, a Citigroup CEO and the holder of four Columbia degrees, was tapped over such class faves as Stephen Colbert and Hillary Clinton. More »
To seize or not to seize? That is the question.
In the latest twist in the ongoing, seemingly never-ending litigation over Columbia’s neighbor to the north, the illegality of eminent domain use to facilitate Columbia’s expansion has been legally challenged. More »