Holy shit.

Spec is reporting that the candidates will speak on behalf of ServiceNation, an organization that aims to increase public service participation.

We're trying to figure out whether the event is open to students, and will be updating as we do.

According to the NonProfit Times, 500 seats have already been filled: "500 supporters are expected at the event in New York City. On September 12, leaders representing many sectors of American life will convene to ratify a Declaration of Service and to draw national attention to the platform of ServiceNation." Roone's seating capacity is 1,500.

UPDATE 8:17 PM: Infuriatingly vague news about ticketing in PrezBo's mass email: "Given our limited space, we will ensure that all seating available goes to students in our University community. Students will receive a follow-up email tomorrow with details regarding how to register for the ticket lottery." (full e-mail after the jump).

UPDATE 9:45 PM: The major political campus groups seem to have been completely blindsided by the announcement as well--the College Democrats were just beginning their freshman open house when they got the news, and the packed Broadway room gasped in unison when President Chris Daniels dropped the bomb at the end of his speech. The Dems may ask for a Jumbotron screen on one of the lawns, a la Ahmadinejad last year. Outside the Broadway room, Bwog hailed a rushing CCSC President George Krebs, who said he just heard about it and would be meeting with administration to discuss particulars tomorrow.

Columbia Political Union head Nick Shea said he also found out like everyone else, and that the group will likely plan "one or more events around the same time as the McCain/Obama event." The College Republicans' Executive Director Lauren Salz have not yet responded to inquiries says that the CUGOP "did not hear about Obama and McCain coming until the Spectator asked me for a comment. I think it's amazing that both candidates are going to share the stage at Columbia. We don't have any events planned right now, but if we do plan events, they are not going to be partisan in nature. It's September 11th, and the theme of the event is public service and non partisanship, so we will not be holding any sort of rally in support of McCain."

Bwog noticed the following masterpiece chalked into the sidewalk in front of the Citibank on Broadway. (It reminds us of the chilling day that Ron Paul supporters had somehow obtained and mastered chalk.) To ward off any devastating criticism of a possible political bias, the artist has assured us in a note written next to HRC's cheek, "McCain and Obama to follow." Check back later in the week for photographs of said Portraits of Straight Talk and Change/Hope, respectively.

(Hello, Politico!)

The AP ran a story today in which they talked to Obama's old friends from his days at Alma Mater. There are tales of bravery, like that time on Broadway when Obama courageously fended off a hobo. And fun facts about Obama's developing fashion sense—did you know he was kind of into the grunge look? (So ahead of his time!). Also: he had a heart of gold. "Siddiqi would mock Obama's idealism -- he just wanted to make a lot of money and buy things, while Obama wanted to help the poor." He was also a vegetarian.

Ah, memories.

Tipster Rick Betita noticed that Barack Obama is in New York City today, delivering a speech about the economy at—where else?—Cooper Union. Obama was introduced to the crowd by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

In the speech, Obama explained his rationale for visiting Cooper Union: "In a city of landmarks, we meet at Cooper Union, just uptown from Federal Hall, where George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States."

Also "uptown from Federal Hall?" A certain other university with which Obama might be vaguely familiar.

Debora Spar, pioneer of the economics of fertility, loves babies.

How does one transform the face of the Barnard woman?

Columbia is a national treasure, and Barnard is its jewel.

Ted Kennedy's new best friend still hates his alma mater.

How do you cure administrative schizophrenia?

Next time you think about getting a haircut, consider splitting hairs.

Last week, Bwog brought you the daring discoveries of Columbia's most intrepid research scientists; two weeks ago we uttered our approval (or lack thereof) for newsworthy alums. This week, we bring Columbia's finest faculty and awesomest alumni together in a feature uncreatively titled Monday Medley.

Theatre of the Deterred, Honors for the Deserved

Perhaps the Havel residency was her inspiration; maybe it was just a childhood obsession with the Muppets. Whatever the case, Bwog was amused to hear from tipster Elizabeth Mooers that Barnard Professor Kimberley Marten used an overhead projection of battling finger puppets to illustrate the Axis of Evil to her Intro to International Politics class today. We guess making class like a morning cartoon is one way to trick students out of bed on Monday.

Meanwhile, History of Human Rights professor Samuel Moyn has been named a "Top Young Historian" by the History News Network. In his "personal anecdote" the prof confesses he prefers bookstores to libraries, but has since come to find the "taste of the archive" appealing. Also included: plugs for Moyn's book on Levinas, and quotes rather selectively copied-and-pasted from his CULPA page.

Late Night Loathing, 2008 Foreboding

Apparently Leno was an all-CC lineup on Friday night ; Barack Obama and Maggie Gyllenhaal were the guests. The crowd reaction to the Columbia name has caused a bit of prestige distress on Columbia's anxiety-ridden College Confidential forum page, where some are ashamed Alma Mater's name did not yield as many oohs-and-ahs as Obama's other alma mater, Harvard Law. Some posters took the letdown personally. "I guess since you'd have to be brain dead or borderline-retarded to sit through one of his shows and not contemplate cutting yourself, that apathy is to be expected," one wrote. We're sure the Columbia PR department is actively tracking down the audience members to make sure they gasp in proper overawe in the future.

Speaking of Barack, the Times has it that he's semi-kinda-officially now thinking of making a bid for the White House in 2008. He may have to face GS alum Mike Gravel, a former Alaska Senator, who has been among the few Democrats officially file for the race so far. And if one of them winds up facing Columbia Law alum George Pataki in the general election? Bwog envisions the electoral map painted nothing but light blue.

-CJS

Continuing Bwog's rare tradition of saluting the sons and daughters of Alma Mater, we would like to take the time to recognize the achievements (and stupefying failures) of some of Columbia's most recent headline-making alumni.

We begin with Lee Phil-sang, a Korean journalist who earned his M.A. and Ph.D. here. Lee was just selected to become President of Korea University. All hail PrezPhil- an alumnus who makes Bwog proud. We also note that Korea University seems to have presidential term limits...and wonder what PrezBo would be up to as a lame duck.

We turn now to Democratic Party luminary Barack Obama C'83. After learning that he had inadvertently killed one journalist's chances at landing a hot date by presuming he worked for a college newspaper and calling him "baby-faced" during a press conference (and apparently exiling him to the Henry Daily Herald, "serving Stockbridge, Hampton, McDonough, and Locust Grove," Georgia), Obama had the class to call him up (listen to the mp3!) "I'm calling to publicly apologize for messing up your game," the Senator said. Barack, as always, you're an alumnus who makes Bwog proud.

Finally, the pièce de résistance. Gawker has the story (via the NY Post's interview entitled "The Socialist"...which Gawker doesn't get, though we at the University of Havana North would) of socialite Tinsley Mortimer, a Columbia alum whose cringeworthy quotes could fill pages. One example: "Everyone I've met in Japan has been absolutely adorable. They have big smiles on their faces, and they just are so cute and seem so happy to meet you or work with you or something."

Suspended production of the Spectator during midterm week has effaced Bwog's sense of purpose. We've found an unworthy substitute in ripping off NY Times headlines. Enjoy!

New Gatehouse Theatre for the Harlem Stage opens in former water pump thing at 135th Street and Convent (fairly close to us). There's still rushing water inside, just one of the reasons it was a hell of a restoration job:

"The building, vacant since 1984, was dilapidated, its heavy iron doors corroded by rust — 'touch them and they would crumble,' Ms. Cruz said...There was an element of mystery at the outset: the architects didn't know what they would find when they started digging in 2004. "We discovered mercury down there...There is a minefield of stuff below us that we can't touch.'"

Barack Obama, C'83, has a new book out; the Times gives it reserved praise. Apparently it's a little less colorful than his last book, though. The last review went like this...

"it was equally candid about his youthful struggles: pot, booze and 'maybe a little blow,' he wrote, could 'push questions of who I was out of my mind,' flatten 'out the landscape of my heart, blur the edges of my memory.'"

...while the most recent book's review like this...

"Obama strives in these pages to ground his policy thinking in simple common sense — 'growing the size of our armed forces to maintain reasonable rotation schedules.'"

Some of the better anecdotes from the Obama review after the jump...