2012ers are probably aware of tonight's event, but upperclassmen on campus might not know that Lerner has been taken over by NSOP. It appears that they're going for a Boardwalk-like theme, as the entertainment includes "free popcorn and photo booths," as well as caricature portraits! Roller coaster tickets not included, but free popcorn does mean free food!

Tomorrow NSOP wraps up with a "performance showcase" in Lerner from 2:00 - 5:30, and then "JJ's Freedom Festival" at JJ's that night.

Most of the NSOP schedule leaves freshmen with two choices: go to the "required" event, or skip it. Tonight, though, newly-convocated Columbians have at least five choices for their entertainment.

• NSOP is asking you to join them at Victorian Gardens to "meet your class for a tantalizing night under the stars. Who knows who you might meet?" Bwog's just guessing at the answer here, but you'll probably meet your class. Doors opened at 7:30.
  
• One 2012er has taken the night into his own hands by throwing his own party. Yes, it's Jose "Stephan" "Pregame Lol" Perez's "Sexxx in the City" party. Doors to the bar (thoroughly stocked with fruit juice and Coke!) open at 10.
• Those who want to stay closer to campus might be considering the various party options around as upperclassmen arrive. Doors open whenever their stuff gets unpacked.
  
• Sleep. Doors stay closed.
  
• For those seeking more of a national profile, Barack Obama is accepting the Democratic nomination later tonight at Invesco Field in Denver. Those of you of the Democratic persuasion can join the Columbia Democrats in the Tasti Lounge Hartley 3B starting about 8:30. Bwog's Political Weekly will be liveblogging the speech right here as well.
  

Bwog enlisted yet another freshman corresponder, Aseel Najib, to summarize this year's incarnation of the NSOP-sponsored scavenger hunt, CU: Remix.

Before the Remix could start, Columbia continued its schedule of live PSAs. Entitled "Community Forum", this one aimed at bringing together students of various ethnicities, religions and sexual orientations, and highlighted the importance of social activism and diversity on campus. Skepticism ran high as incredulous students shuffled out of the auditorium, raising their eyebrows and plugging in their iPods.

Unlike previous versions that stayed on campus, CU: Remix's scavenger hunt took place all over Morningside Heights. At the start, freshmen reluctantly crowded Low Steps and College Walk, searching for their teammates, as orientation leaders took to yelling out the names of their groups in Bazaar-like fashion.

Bwog enlisted freshman correspondent Peter Thompson to report back with all the exciting details of the semester's first Lit Hum class.

Notebooks and laptops in hand, the thousand or so 2012s filed in to Roone Arledge Auditorium this afternoon for their very first Columbia class. Professor Gareth Williams, chair of Lit Hum, started speaking at 12:35 PM, but it took almost a full minute for the 12s to quiet down.

Williams began by talking about how wonderful the Core, and specifically Lit Hum, is. Then he spent several eloquent minutes waxing poetic about the marvels of the Iliad, calling it a "human document" and saying it exists in a "timeless vacuum." He also declared it a "miracle of advanced technology." Just like an iPod.

The highlight of his lecture came when he asked the members of the audience whether they were on Agamemnon's or Achilles' side. The first girl who ventured to the mike was wearing a pink bandana, and at first had trouble getting the mike to work, but she told everyone not to worry, she could project.

Bwog followed the Class of 2012 to one of NSOP's headline events, After Hours at the Met. From the overly large museum, freshman correspondent Will Leonard reports.

Before they could arrive at the hallowed destination, 2012ers had to deal with the double danger of novice New Yorkers: Metrocard machines, and getting across Manhattan on the subway. With only a few casualties, mobs of 2012ers made their way down to 5th Avenue for the second major event of NSOP 2008: an evening cocktail party and gallery showing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Most of the students from the four schools made it out, accompanied by their oddly sleepy RAs and overly perky Orientation leaders. 2012ers were welcomed into the Grand Hall of the Met by stern security guards and even sterner catering staff, who distributed meager amounts of gummy bears and M&Ms to the mingling freshmen. As they sipped their so-called mocktails, 2012ers engaged in small talk at their cocktail tables. Topics of discussion included upcoming parties on Carman's 11th floor and the long lines for food in the now "trayless" John Jay Dining Hall. "An environmentally friendly dining hall for freshmen? That's just AWESOME," one freshman declared.

Embracing all things collegiate, Bwog joined the class of 2012 last night in Roone Arledge Auditorium for Class Act: Advance Screening.

Day One of NSOP challenged the wily troop of 12s with long lines, dorm room design, and familial farewells followed by awkward introductions and icebreakers. But no odyssey draws to a close without its due reward. To initiate the 12s into dear alma mater, NSOP offered up an Class Act, an evening of campus tips and trivia and brazen leonine spirit.

As is tradition with all Columbia events, Class Act began a full half hour late. OLs and their charges kept busy with the multiple-choice quizlets projected on a screen at the front of the auditorium. Although this competitive and cognitive exercise quickly won the crowd's attention, the first skit, featuring a cell phone toting personification of the Alma Mater statue, dragged on with repetitive, but well-received, nods to the new class.

It's Convocation time, and to celebrate, Columbia began by playing some warm-up music, including "525,600 Minutes," which is a song from the tragedy RENT and is also what we predicted to be the amount of time this thing would start late. Fortunately, we were mistaken, and at 2:35 PM, the OLs marched in with colorful flags from many countries to the tune of many majestic horns -- it was just like the Olympics, except no sports or competition. (We apologize for our thumb blocking your view of the top left corner of the photograph. There's nothing behind it except more of Lerner and the tops of some flags.)

Interim Dean of Student Affairs Kevin Shollenberger welcomed the class of 2012 and congratulated them for being a part of our "family." He talked a bit about alumni and how important they are (and then the 12s, and how diverse they are) before telling the the new students to stop by and have a cup of coffee with their adviser, all the time, just to chat. He then introduced Belinda Archibong, CC '10, who is the coordinator of NSOP.

Welcome to the Columbia Olympics. Through this series, Bwog hopes to prepare you for at least some of the events that you will participate in at Columbia. Unlike the real Olympics, no one's too young, too old, too juiced, or too angry to participate. Since everything must be judged, though, we have included gold medal outcomes at the end of each post.

Thanks to the constantly long lines on move-in day, and the rather packed schedule at the start of Orientation Week, many first-years (Columbia-speak for freshmen) no doubt are still contemplating just how to make that special 110 ft. single or half of the 215 sq ft. double their own. How does one turn that whitewashed cell into a new home? Use the comments to add your own advice.

• Decide immediately whether you want to loft your bed or put it on risers. Even if you don't want the extra space (or can't leap in and out of a lofted bed), you don't want to have to rearrange everything later.
• Use every corner and every tabletop of space for bins, refrigerators, etc.
  
• Know how to loft a bed - nobody wants to start their college experience with their father in the hospital with a gash from a falling bed frame.
• If you didn't loot your local Virgin megastore for cool posters (or are ambivalent about defining your identity so early in the year), a New York subway map looks good on any prison wall (and is actually pretty useful when first adjusting to the city).
  
  (Read more...)

This morning, the rest of 2012 has arrived on campus to be greeted by happy NSOP leaders and their first Columbia challenge: move-in lines. Reports from campus indicate that the lines are manageable, though. Free food mavens, be aware: the family lunch is starting right about now, allowing you to test the efficacy of NSOP security (we'd love to hear your test results).

Finally, with the first day of Orientation also comes our first "Overheard" of the year, courtesy of a B&W staffer:

At the elevator, with a bin of stuff, a male Orientation Leader is seen talking to a first year's proud mother while the student is off picking up her keys and NSOP paraphernalia.

Mother: So what are you studying?
OL: I'm in the Engineering School, but I haven't picked a major yet. Probably Computer Science. What does your daughter want to study?
Mother: [Sighs] I don't know. She was chosen as a John Jay Scholar. She's good at almost everything.

More exciting Action Shots after the jump.

Bwog spies report that the first batch of West Coast Terrible 12s have arrived on campus, with the others following in the next day or so. Because we were all once first-years -- and the 12s need all the help they can get -- we've put together a list of Surprisingly Useful Last-Minute things to pick up on the way to school. Use the comment section to suggest your own (or argue with ours). The 12s will reward you lavishly with praise and appreciation.

• Stationery, even if it's just a set of Post-It notes, you will make surprisingly good use of it
  
• A pair of scissors
  
• Stamps and envelopes
  
• A Sharpie, or perhaps a set of several
  
• For girls: A box -- an old shoebox is fine -- for all your jewelery. It will get dusty in desk/bureau drawers
  
• Towels, bring more towels than you think you'll need
  
  (Read more...)

While the first 2012ers are off hiking, biking, or rafting somewhere north of New York, and three days before the rest of their classmates arrive, NSOP has released its 2008 schedule to the public. Mind-numbingly boring rituals like Convocation, Under1Roof, and the academic assemblies are of course part of the schedule. For the more "fun" events, NSOP 2008 seems to be sticking to Manhattan. The highlights:

• Tuesday: "After Hours At The Met," a private party and viewing of three galleries - Egyptian Art, Roman and Greek Art, and Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. Budding activists looking to get a head start will no doubt protest the lack of Asian Art.
• Wednesday: "CU: Remix," this year's incarnation of the BlaZe. At this time, it is unknown what, if anything, NSOP will be remixing.
  
• Thursday: "Victorian Gardens." Instead of Coney Island or Ellis Island, NSOP has gone with Victorian Gardens for the Thursday night out.

It's time for our exciting first look at NSOP 2008! Seems as if this year's festivities will not include the traditional Orientation Concert on the Steps. You'll recall that last year Clipse performed with the World Famous Vampire Weekend.

A Columbia Concerts insider explained that it's "not entirely clear" why there's no concert, only that "we're trying to put all of our eggs into the Bacchanal Concert basket, I guess." He also promises that the Spring Concert will be huge.

Remember when famous prefrosh/Internet savant "Stephan" invited everyone in school to his Carman dorm on the first night of Orientation for a party? No?

Well it turns out the party's been relocated -- to an undisclosed location! "Why go 2 a small dorm party, or a frat. party, when you can go to the biggest Party in the city?" asks our Stephan, we believe rhetorically.

Nearly 1200 people (four guests are pictured above) have been invited to the fete, which takes place in "N.Y.C." -- that's "Now Your [sic] Coming."

2012's Facebook half-life began with Simon H.'s creation of "Columbia — Class of 2012." Early decision applicants were notified online of their acceptance at 5pm, and by 7pm, the group's ranks had reached 50. Mere days later, the Facebook group is brimming with 276 members—including one confused Brown 2012 pre-frosh who is "not sure if we are rivals or not." Proud papa Simon H. has even provided a chronological history of the group's membership:

Dec 11. 6 members
Dec 12. 84 members
Dec 13. 170 members
Dec 14. 216 members
Dec 16. 271 members

Hot topics like senioritis ("B's are the new A's," insists Kyle M.) and the swim test—Harrison S. prefers doggie paddle and prefers that you know it—fill the group's Wall. Discussions about dorms and drinking are good places to spot the group's early alpha males and females. Natassia M. states that "Carman sounds like a plan" and is echoed with rallying cries of agreement and disbelief: "Carman sucks, theres throwup and shit everywhere, all the girls and ugly and the ra's are the biggest assholes everywher," maintained Dhruv V., who himself is actually CC '11. Dhruv, a wizened elder and Furnald devotee is a major presence amongst 2012's blossoming (and depressing) cyber-society.

Marginal topics like "dorms" and "academics" aside, one group of 12s wants to know: "Who says Ivy Leaguers don't party hard?!?!?" Probably the same people who say Ivy Leaguers can punctuate!!11!eleventyone!1

The "The Columbia University Class of 2012 is Ready to Party" has a predictable agenda. "We should all meet up sometime before august... and party :) " suggests Carolyn M.

But no one could accuse the hard-partying 12s of not being efficient: To wit, they have an email address of the most official capacity: readytoparty@2012.com. You know, to fake arrange the fake partying electronically.

UPDATE 12/17: The end... it's near!

- JNW