Holiday merrymakers braved the drizzle this evening to drink hot chocolate, listen to a capella, and bask in the warmth of Austin Quigley's valedictory address. The departing dean - who said he was looking forward to teaching next semester - waxed eloquent about the meaning of holiday time as a period of renewal, and a time to be with family. He then ran through the list of illustrious figures who have come out of this august institution, beginning with John Jay, progressing through Mark Van Doren, and concluding with Attorney General-almost-designate Eric Holder (who drew faint applause). You, too, can join these figures in the firmament of Columbian alumni, he assured us!

And then, the traditional count down. Having seen Home Alone enough times, Bwog really expected something to blow up—or at least some sort of sound--but all that happened was a sudden brightening, and the singing resumed.

One more photo by Hans E Hyttinen after the jump.

Spectator has been having some internet troubles of late--Editor Tom Faure says they're "reconstructing" and "a little sloppy in the day to day stuff"--so Eye's front page is up, but not yet the articles. Meanwhile, it's the last issue for the magazine's current staff. Round of applause!

"Hipster rag" no longer? (page 2)

But always down for a little hipster introspection (page 5)

Somebody's media criticism paper run amok (pages 7-10)

Panning is fun (page 12)

You thought you knew what a PS1 was? Think again (page 14)

Tipsters report several cop cars and two ambulances in front of Wien and that two cops have rushed inside the building.

UPDATE 7:57 PM: Apparently a student was "unresponsive" to knocks at the door by Public Safety. Police and emergency services were called to remove the student from his dorm. Apparently calls were made to public safety regarding the welfare of the student, who was described by a ResLife staffer as "unwell." The student is now at St. Luke's.

UPDATE 8:06 PM: The student lives on the 9th floor.

UPDATE 9:23 PM: Bwog staffers have been in contact with the student in question throughout the incident and can assure you of his physical well-being. (Also, regarding issues of privacy: the student had requested that Bwog post these status updates.)

Yes, this week is just the worst and yet, next week will somehow be even worse, and two weeks from now it will all culminate into one big pile of essay-and-exam atrociousness. Have some foresight and get out now, while you still can.

Friday
Friday Night Fights Season Finale
Friday 8pm, the Hall at St. Paul's W 60th St & 9th Ave
Take out your anger vicariously by watching some of New York's most vicious fighters tear themselves apart during this Muay Thai boxing event.
Bring your own bloodlust.
Price: $30

The Moth Uncorked: Stories about Wine
Friday 7:30pm, The Players Club 16 Gramercy Park S (212.475.6116)
Vicariously enjoy your favorite beverage by listening to this talented cast enact their favorite wine-induced stories. Wine without a hang-over, it's a win-win situation.
Price: $20

It's never too early for CCSC gossip! (Or, you know, maybe it is.) Still, rumors have already started swirling about who's going to be on the top of this year's tickets. Here's what we've heard -- agree or disagree in the comments, or email us (bwog@columbia.edu) if you have any more gossip.

CCSC Presidential Gossip

Sue Yang: The current 2010 VP and Study Day Project orchestrator has already begun to position herself (via increasing her reputation as an effective leader, for example heading up the Ivy Council) as a presidential candidate to be reckoned with.

In light of yesterday's Craigslist aggregation, a few readers and commenters have requested the return of Bwog Personals. Bwog Personals, you'll recall, were a frequent occurrence last spring (the season of love, etc.) and culminated with a heroic showing by CCSC Presidential candidates George Krebs and Alidad Damooei. "How could we top that?" we thought. And so ended Bwog Personals.

But today is a new day, a new season, and a new shot at love. So, we're announcing the return of Bwog Personals. Nominate your friends (or yourself!) for a personal by emailing bwog@columbia.edu and we'll send you a list of questions, which you'll fill out and send back to us with your most flattering photo.

We'll post your stuff, and interested dates will be instructed to contact us so that we can shell out the $10 for your ultra romantic date night. (Though keep in mind sometimes the most romantic dates in Morningside are priceless.)

Today -- as you are all no doubt incredibly aware -- is the last edition of your T/TH classes. This means all your T/TH professors will be saying hilarious, touching, inspiring and bizarre things to wrap up the semester.

As per our tradition, we want to know what your professors say as closing remarks! So, email transcriptions to bwgossip@columbia.edu or just use the comment thread.

Paul Kockelman, Intro to Language and Culture: "That's what she said."

Severin Fowles, Origins of Human Society: "Wait for the coming revolution, in whatever form it may take."

Haroon Moghul, Intermediate Urdu:

"So over the break I want you guys to write a one page essay about yourselves. Use the vocabulary I've given you." (the vocabulary has all come from medieval poetry)

Confused student: "So you want us to talk about frogs, parrots and magic?"

HM: "Listen I don't care if you're stoned when you write this, I love absurd stuff. But wait...don't do drugs.".

Maintenance was out early this morning prettying up the trees on College Walk, in preparation for everyone's favorite holiday ritual: tree lighting! We know, the lights have been lit for like a week, but it's really just an excuse for Dean Quigley to preside (for the last time!), hot chocolate to be consumed, and a capella groups to do their thing in the last shred of holiday cheer before you all recede into your bunkers for finals.

Festivities begin at 6:00 pm, followed by the Lighting of the Yule Log in John Jay.

Oh ye righteously indignant first-year, haven't you learned that Columbia eats freshmen for breakfast?

Ghostly governing board's got no flesh on its bones

Destroy that celery!

The dog-eat-dog world of Columbia a capella

Icy Hockey huntresses on the trail of a win

Plus: A lede so nice they printed it twice!

Excited to see the author of the book that changed our lives in the 10^th grade, Bwog sent freelancer Liz Naiden to struggle through throngs of messenger bag carrying English majors standing in the back of a the crowded lecture hall on the 15^th floor of IAB and listen to a conversation between novelist Jonathan Safran-Foer and critic Jenny Davidson.

I finally found a seat against the wall and heard mercifully short and unpretentious introduction. The lecture, it seemed, would not be a lecture at all but a "free-form conversation," kumbaya style, between English Professor Jenny Davidson and Jonathan Safran-Foer followed by a question and answer session with the audience.

Though he is of course endearingly self-deprecating and sports the classic awkward mannerisms we associate with literary greatness, I was surprised at how normal Safran-Foer seemed. He had a familiar skinny but reasonably good looking Jewish boy with glasses look, and spoke in a poised and confident, yet conversational and disarming tone. He began to answer the first question from Davidson about the theme of communication in his work with a tight, true and tested shpiel about the place where fiction is in between sense and nonsense, where communication is imperfect and we try to wrestle meaning out of it. Then he paused for a moment and said "I don't often feel like a writer." You might think that a grave and intense silence followed, but in fact Safran-Foer continued on the subject of communication as a theme in his own life in a jovial, light-hearted tone, as if the fact that he didn't feel like a writer was nothing more than a humorous oddity.

If you remember in October, Saigon Grill workers were awarded a lot of money because the owners refused to pay their delivery-people and other employees minimum wage for over 70 hours of work per week (even Columbia students protested). Now, after more investigations, New York Attorney General Cuomo has announced that the owners have been charged with 11 counts of Failure to Pay Wages, 127 counts of Failure toKeep Records, and 16 counts of Receipt of "Kickback" Wages for "failing to pay their workers the minimum wage for four years."

Allegedly, in order to keep the appearance of running a their business cleanly, the owners would report paying regular wages and force workers to cash checks and return the money. Bwog respects the owners right to due process, so we will not continue to speculate on their guilt or innocence before trial, but the large settlement in the civil suit with the workers is not a good sign.

Full press release from the New York AG's Office after the jump.

In 2005, the University Senate voted 53 to 10 (with 5 abstentions) against repealing the ban of ROTC on campus. At the time, the most recent student survey conducted about the issue (in 2003) showed that 65% of students were in favor of repealing the ban. Two days ago, only 49% of students who participated in the survey were in favor of repealing the ban. So what's up with the 15% shift in attitudes? Here are a few theories.

1. Less favorable attitude towards the military. During the 2003 vote, September 11th was still fresh in the minds of everyone on campus, and some had even been in New York at the time. According to a 2005 New York Times article, "one supporter of the R.O.T.C. said yesterday that the Sept. 11 attacks may have softened attitudes toward the military." In addition, the United States invaded Iraq in March 2003, which was, at the time, actually popular. A Washington Post/ABC news poll in March conducted at the onset of the war showed that 62% of the country was in favor of military action in Iraq. Things are different now: besides New York locals, no current undergrads were at Columbia during 9/11, and it's not at the forefront of the national consciousness like it was in 2003. And the War is of course deeply unpopular. Both these things could color students attitudes towards the military.

While the value of Columbia's endowment rose a relatively measly 2% last fiscal year, our friends in Cambridge saw their endowment grow 8.6%. But the tables are turning. Between June 1 and October 31, the WSJ estimates, Harvard lost about $8 billion -- that's 22% -- of its endowment. Well, yikes. No word yet on how much Columbia lost in the same period.

In other news regarding Harvard-related losses, beloved newsstand Out of Town News announced a few weeks ago that it will be closings its doors. More business for the COOP we guess.

(Hi Gothamist!)

After spending much of the day on upper campus, Hawkmadinejad finally caught her lunch on the South Lawn. The catch was not quite so dramatic as the last time we saw her dine at Columbia, but the pictures are still pretty excellent. The creature was too small to be a squirrel, and hawkmadinebwog struggled to get a clear picture of her prey. Hawkmadinejad dropped some of the critter's organs into the hedge below her. Help us identify the annihilated critter from its organs, or prophecy for us if you are a haruspex.

Plenty more pictures after the jump, and on Douds' facebook page.

If you recall, a while ago Bwog tried it's hand at Craigslist's Missed Connections for Columbia students. While the primary object of longing was Hawkmadinejad, the rest of the student body was not impressed. However, a tipster showed us that Craigslist had a few Columbia-related connections, just waiting to be brought together. Bwog, in a rare attempt to give back to the community, is spreading these messages in order to unite these fated lovers.

Lost love in butler - m4w

You worked in butler at the RBML, then one day just disappeared. They said you had quit. Definitely took work down more than one notch.
You-Blonde, tall, wears boots, full of smiles.
Me-Darker blonde, not as tall, totally dressed down...always.