It's Winter Break! Bwog will be moving in slow motion.

Columbia Beats Yale!

report cardFinally, finally, Columbia has gotten some recognition for its dogged drive towards greenishness: a good-enough-everywhere-but-Columbia grade of A- on the third annual Sustainability Report Card for American colleges. The decision ties us with 14 other schools (including four Ivies, none of which were in New Haven, not that we care about that or anything). And it's probably the most drastic improvement we'll ever get in a national ranking, up from a B grade just last year.

Why the change?

The graders liked how transparent Columbia is with its $7 billion, responsibly-invested endowment, and campus green groups got a nod for the eco-rep program and helping bring local food to John Jay. Columbia also scored points for joining the Mayor's PlaNYC 2030 program for action on global warming (although PrezBo has yet to sign the President's Climate Commitment, which sets different standards for carbon emissions reduction). Under the terms of that agreement, the school conducted an inventory of its carbon emissions, which hasn't been released yet -- look for some concrete numbers down the pike.

One school that won't be taking its report card home to mom -- the New School, which got an overall grade of D-, despite having launched a new environmental studies program this fall.

- LBD


Posted by Transportation? : #1 · reply · track
September 25, 2008 at 4:34 PM (from campus)
Why only a B in transportation?
Posted by yeah! : #2 (in reply to #1) · reply · track
September 25, 2008 at 5:12 PM (from campus)
that struck me as strange too...in terms of transportation, we're probably the most environmentally friendly campus, besides maybe NYU.
Posted by perhaps : #3 · reply · track
September 25, 2008 at 5:35 PM
Because of bus shuttles and flying to school, such as offering carbon credits etc for travelling students and families.
Posted by Nilda : #4 · reply · track
September 25, 2008 at 5:49 PM (from campus)
Just to fill in -- We have had a running discussion with the report card folks about the transportation issue. They do not really base the grade on how many or the percentage of people on campus who actually take public transportation or walk or bike, but rather on carpools and so forth organized by the institution. I know. We scored points for having intercampus shuttles. Also the ACUPCC allows schools to set their own timelines for reductions -- we have a 10 year deadline. So expect to see more energy and climate initiatives as the year unfolds and we have less time to go....
Posted by question : #5 · reply · track
September 25, 2008 at 5:49 PM (from campus)
why is there a rivalry with/hatred of yale at columbia? (why THAT school?)
Posted by agreed : #6 (in reply to #5) · reply · track
September 25, 2008 at 7:28 PM (from campus)
I think that rivalry is a fabrication created by bwog about some conservative/legacy kids getting rejected by Yale and being bitter about being here. It is a myth, I think; nobody I know wanted to go to Yale.
Posted by well, : #7 (in reply to #6) · reply · track
September 25, 2008 at 7:53 PM (from campus)
now you know one. But I am happy I came to Columbia nonetheless. I also never heard of this supposed rivalry.
Posted by EAL : #8 (in reply to #6) · reply · track
September 25, 2008 at 8:01 PM (from campus)
And with whom, might I ask, have you been hanging out? There are many of us here who didn't get into Yale (and who really wanted to go), but we got into Columbia instead and we collectively make the best of it.

We don't go quite as far as Dartmouth does, though: [external link to www.youtube.com]

And if we have a rivalry, it ought to be with Princeton or Penn.
Posted by hmm... : #9 · reply · track
September 25, 2008 at 9:56 PM (from campus)
I thought it was also about how Yale and Columbia are both kind of artsy but that Yale was the higher ranked school.
Posted by Columbia Rox : #10 · reply · track
September 26, 2008 at 12:51 AM (from campus)
I don't remember Spiderman, Sammy Sosa, Obama, McCain, Usher, Shakira, et al. visiting New Haven recently...Or James Franco doing anything there.

Obviously Columbia is better.
Posted by well : #11 (in reply to #8) · reply · track
September 26, 2008 at 12:59 AM
i have to second #5 and #6 and say that i haven't met anybody here who wanted to go to yale
Posted by curious. : #12 (in reply to #11) · reply · track
September 26, 2008 at 1:23 AM
Where did they want to go?
Posted by jesus : #13 · reply · track
September 26, 2008 at 10:18 AM
have i stumbled upon college confidential or something?
Posted by What are my chances? : #14 · reply · track
September 26, 2008 at 2:39 PM (from campus)
2270 SAT

Good GPA

Mad clubs

REMEMBER THOSE DAYS?
Posted by hey : #15 · reply · track
September 27, 2008 at 4:35 PM (from campus)
I've met a few kids that wanted to go.
Name:
Email:
Reply to:

Describe this color in one lowercase word.
37 °F, Wintry Mix

Search

About Us

Bwog is compiled by the staff of The Blue and White, Columbia University's undergraduate magazine.

Contact Us

Please send tips to bwgossip@columbia.edu.

Questions or concerns? Email bweditors@columbia.edu.

Bwog is always looking for new writing talent. Email bwog@columbia.edu.

In Print

Our Favorite Comments

Generic Asshole: [read]
"Ew! How could you ever go to [popular Columbia spot]? It's overpriced and so fake! For REAL [service/product]..."
good analysis: [read]
"Dspar. But you know what, I think the real reason there was a crash is because there are far too few..."

Bwogroll

Technical

Our headlines are syndicated through Atom. This site is powered by the Publicate Content Management System, which is available for free.

Events

01/10/2009


Apply now and keep everyone updated on the artistic pulse of the Columbia campus! Postcrypt Art Gallery is looking for a dedicated webmaster to maintain the official Postcrypt site, www.postcrypt.info. Please e-mail jenny@postcrypt.info with your name, year and school, experience, and statement of interest.

The application deadline is January 10, 2009.


01/24/2009

Contact email: helvidius@columbia.edu

Publish that senior thesis! In its 20th year of publication, the Journal of Politics & Society is inviting submissions for its 2009 edition, which will be distributed in Barnes & Noble and Borders. Please email essays to helvidius@columbia.edu or visit http://www.helvedius.org
for more info. Deadline: January 24, 2009, all disciplines welcome.


01/26/2009

Contact email: cujh@columbia.edu

Positions on the editorial board are competitive, and choices are made by a committee of current editorial board members. To apply, send the following materials to cujh@columbia.edu with the subject line: Prospective Editor Application

Include your name, year, and majors and specializations;

A list of courses taken in the history department, or related courses relevant to the field of history (Philosophy of History; Historical Sociology, etc);

A writing sample of 5 to 7 pages, double-spaced, 12 point font dealing with a historical topic; it may be an excerpt from a larger paper, include a brief abstract if necessary;

An estimate of your availability for the Spring 2009 Semester; include other commitments and positions, and your ability to commit to the extensive reading and editing that a position on the editorial board requires.

The DEADLINE for all applications is JANUARY 26th, but we encourage you to prepare your application and send it right away. Email it with writing sample attached to: cujh@columbia.edu


02/01/2009

Contact email: periwynkle@gmail.com


Do you like to read and write about books, attend literary events/exhibitions, and frequent cafés and bookstores for readings by authors and poets? If you answered yes to any part of the above question, you should write for Spectator Books! My name is Yin Yin Lu, and I am the new Spectator A&E Books Editor. There are many benefits and inimitable opportunities for Books writers besides being able to see your name in print: interviewing all sorts of published writers, from debut novelists to Nobel Peace Prize winners, attending events at the NYPL, Symphony Space, book festivals, and museums for free, and getting free review copies of books before they are released! Last semester, for instance, I interviewed Lytton Smith and Karen Russell, both published graduates of the Columbia MFA program, attended a talk with critics James Wood and Daniel Mendelsohn at the NYPL, and heard Malcolm Gladwell speak at the New Yorker Festival.

Besides being exposed to these exciting opportunities, another reason you should write for Spectator Books is that it is not a long-term commitment - you can contribute as often or as little as you like. You can start your own column, write a recurring feature, or submit an article once every few weeks (or once the entire semester). Moreover, articles are flexible in terms of length and style, depending on whether they are features, reviews, or pieces for the Eye (Spectator's weekly arts and features magazine). Or you can post reviews of any length or style anytime you want on Spectacle, A&E's new and amazing blog.

There really are no obligations to being a Spec Books writer besides actually writing the articles that you want to. I will be sending e-mails with pitches and other information every week, and holding biweekly meetings at the Spec office, but those are not mandatory and are just an opportunity for me to assign pitches and meet my writers.

Completely enticed? Mildly interested? Still uncertain and would like more information? Whatever the case, e-mail me at periwynkle@gmail.com.


02/09/2009

Contact email: cufilmproductions@columbia.edu

Columbia Undergraduate Film Productions is launching our inaugural Production Season to write and produce original short films for our Film Festival!

CUFP Production Season will consist of intensive Screenwriters' Workshops and Directors' Workshops to offer you full creative and logistic support from your peers as you make your films on campus! We are looking for talented writers and directors who are passionate about film to create fresh, interesting material for our film festival.

Ideal candidates will be enthusiastic about film, dedicated to the workshop process, and excited to work on short films in a CUFP workshop setting. Workshops will be late Sunday afternoons and some Monday evenings.

The DEADLINE for Writers' Applications is Friday January 23.
The DEADLINE for Directors' Applications is Monday February 9

All Applicants: Send an e-mail with your name, e-mail, phone number, and school and class information to CUFPproductionseason@gmail.com. Please write a short personal statement (why are you interested in CUFP Production Season? How will you benefit from the workshop process?). Make sure to include all relevant experience with film and writing and/or directing.

**Writers: Please attach a screenwriting sample in Microsoft Word format. Writing sample should be maximum 5 pgs and should give us an idea of your narrative style and genre interest. It does not have to be the short film you will work on in workshop, but if it is not please include pitches/ideas for a short film you would like to workshop.


02/15/2009

Contact email: rhapsody@columbia.edu


Rhapsody in Blue, Columbia's urban affairs journal, having successfully, if belatedly gotten its first semester magazines in hand, is going to try again.

We're back to North America this semester. We need pitches from you. We want thoughtful, interesting, fun pieces that say something about cities. What are you interested in writing about? The first step is to send us a pitch--a paragraph about what you want to talk about, how will you do it? Pitches are due February 15. You'll hear from us if it's a go and drafts due a month later.

Old issues are on our website if you'd like to see more. Great opportunity to publish ideas from class, etc.

Send an email by us with any questions. Our FIRST MEETING for anyone interested in learning more about writing, editing, web or layout will be Wed, JAN 28, at 7:30, Broadway Piano Lounge. Also stay tuned for the study abroad blog, which should be going somewhere this semester. Let us know if you're interested in that as well.


01/6/2010

Contact email: bwog@columbia.edu

Email your event ads to bwog@columbia.edu.


Lost and Found

Lost (or found) an item? Email bwog@columbia.edu.