In response to the week's SSN shitstorm, it was quickly discovered that there had been two emails sent to the afflicted persons: It seemed that some of the luckier unlucky were offered two years of complimentary credit card monitoring service and the unluckiest unlucky were not. One Bwog operative fell into the latter category, so she telephoned the good folks at Student Services for some answers. Turns out, luck (or alumni vs. student status) had nothing to do with whether or not you were offered the service. Our operative returned to Bwog full of answers and hope:

"[According to Michael Novielli of Student Auxiliary and Business Services], in order to be eligible for Identity Guard 'the company requires that you have a valid U.S. Social Security Number and a U.S. mailing address.'

A-ha! And now here's where the aforementioned hope comes in for alums/students outside of the US: Novielli also wrote: "If you indeed have both, please let me know and I'd be happy to add you to the list of individuals who will receive an access code granting them a two-year subscription to the service."

Our operative summarizes: "So moral of the story: if you didn't get the two year offer and really want it, bitch to Student Services (through the address that was included in Scott Wright's email) and try to come up with a US mailing address that works for you. If the issue is that you don't have a U.S. SSN, you shouldn't be worried in the first place because what leaked is the wonderful fake SSN that Columbia made up for you. Ask, and ye shall receive."

It's that time of year again when many of '09's student leaders, activist types, overachievers, and masthead ascenders will be tapped and asked to join a senior society. A tipster sends evidence in the form of a photo of the sidewalk in back of Earl Hall: Three S's, the (dark?) mark of one of Columbia's two (secret?) senior societies, the Sachems.

Last night, concerned citizen/tipster Karen Kwan alerted Bwog that Barnard students had once again received an email advertising free pizza. Only this time, it was to inform them that their free pizza party had moved locations. Instead of the Domino's on 125th, the free, medium, one-topping pies had migrated south to Famiglia Pizzeria. "LOCATION CHANGE" the email announced, and this time, the free lunch at Famiglia would also supposedly include a small drink.

Bwog was suspicious of the migrating free pizza party and called Famiglia to ask about its legitimacy. "Yeah, you get a couple of slices and a drink," the friendly Famiglia phone-answerer informed us. "But you gotta sign up with Citibank." A-ha!

The Mystery of the Pizza Party: Solved.

In other food-related/money-related news, President Diamond has informed Bwog that Off-Campus Flex is now accepted at HamDel. One tipster already reports back with details of her HamDel transaction: "I just swiped for a sandwich at Hamdel and it worked perfectly, although I think they're having a bit of a rough adjustment. They've got to punch in a code and it takes longer than paying with cash."

Bwog happened to be passing through the front doors of Hamilton, as we all do several times a month, and had a companion point out something very interesting. Outside the wooden doors that Columbians know and love are a set of enormous, bunker-style doors, engraved in brass, and slid sideways behind the cement facade. (They're visible between the door and the outermost metal frame in this photo.)

No amount of force would dislodge them from their current position, but careful camera work revealed detailed brasswork and engraving. Bwog has a pretty good idea when the last time that these were shut were (it rhymes with fineteen-shmifty-eight), and, most likely, the reason that they no longer can be without some serious leverage.

Engraving details after the jump.

That's right. Spicy Chicken is back.

Reduced to a humble cafeteria by the loss of the famed dish, the reappearance may allow JJ's to reclaim its gastronomic renown amongst connoisseurs of haute poulet.

Tony Hall, General Manager of Columbia Dining Services, said a new JJ's manager cut the Spicy Chicken in an attempt to streamline inventory. This culinary Prometheus attempted to synthesize the glory of the Spicy Chicken with a profane combination of Seasoned Chicken and hot sauce.

Students were not impressed, and after a variety of petitions, the humbled manager bowed to popular will.

- Joe Meyers

JJ's-devotees were certainly in a shock this fall. Sure from a cursory glance, JJ's looks great! So many frozen meals! So much ice cream!

However, once you stepped up to that familiar counter, a perennial favorite was missing- the spicy chicken! The spicy strips of chicken breast were deep-fried to a tender and moist perfection. Great with any dipping sauce, or even on its own. Few items on the JJ's menu could compete with such a culinary delight.

When asked, the JJ's employees could not provide any details on the disappearance of such a widely-demanded item. One employee admitted, "Yeah a lot of people have been asking for it," but denied any involvement with the sudden departure, "[The decision] comes from the higher-ups."

Alas! Do not lose all hope, one inside source suggested that a petition may revive this Columbia cornerstone. We can only hope.

-LT

Because of all the deaths and illnesses attributable to our library's rat-infested coffee shop, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Division of Environmental Health) has seen fit to the uphold the public good and shut down the Butler denizen's only source of sustenance, Blue Java.

Of course Blue Java hasn't killed anybody and isn't infested by rats. Or is it? This notice from the NYCDoHaMH (DoEH), apparently posted at around 11 AM this morning, leaves much to the imagination. But given the recent spate of arbitrary restaurant closings, it's likely that Blue's violations were pretty mild.

To confirm this, Bwog called the Health Department's media desk, where we were brusquely informed that inquiries "take a long while" to process, and we were referred to an e-mail address where we could make a formal request for information (smarkt@health.nyc.gov, for the interested). Since we're not down with bureaucratic red tape, Bwog dialed the media desk again. Much to our relief we were answered by a different receptionist, who said she would try to get to the bottom of the Blue Java mystery by the end of business hours today.

She also told us about the Health Department's nifty search engine feature. It seems that Blue Java has an impeccable inspection record, although Bwog is outraged that a dry establishment would so flagrantly endanger public health by not adequately warning customers about the dangers of "Alcohol and Pregnancy."

UPDATE, 10:21 AM EST, 6/20: There is now a sign right beneath the Health Department notice stating that the Department has required Blue Java to have a two-welled sink, and that the coffee shop will be closed until it complies. Could this be an all-too-transparent cover-up by library management? Doubtful, but for the suspicious: Bwog has been informed that Health Department violations usually hit the public domain after about a week, so if you're still interested check back next Wednesday.

-ARR

Since then, every single poster that I saw has been taken down. It is possible that there are others that I have missed, but last night, I saw three different ones that are now gone. I don't know if this implies an overwhelming interest, or a change of heart on the part of the post-er, or that the pre-existing Ninjas are upset by the prospect of competition and have sought to discourage it. Perhaps this is simply the business of the night.