The Schapiro fire alarm has been christened.

Let the year begin!

A few Schapiro residents are regretting they stayed at Columbia to party last night.

From Ben Isham...

A urinal on the 8th floor opened up some time close to midnight, putting about two inches of water on the eastern double tower there, and sending water cascading down the building (all the way to the second floor) Rooms on the floors below had water literally raining from the ceilings. The fire alarm was sounded to evacuate the building due to the risk of electrical fire (the water was flowing down around the recessed lighting on some floors) and eventually people were let back in. Hopefully everyone will be able to move out tomorrow successfully.

Bwog welcomes tales from the flood.

• The Times is a bit behind the times, but hey, at least it proves we're not the only disappointed ones.

• That's ok though, because PrezBo just became a board member of the Times' main rival, joining such blue-chip luminaries as Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett (this coming after being appointed to the board of the New York Federal Reserve). Although we shouldn't count on the Post going to bat for Mathew Fox either.

• Got plans for Passover? No? Now you do. I mean, how are you going to turn down a seder with people who make rockabilly trailers for the high holidays? Spot the rabbi!

• And finally, a cry of help, sent by one Joseph Kaptur at 1:50 AM this morning:

  12th Floor Schapiro.
  Urinal water everywhere.
  Short circuit fire alarm.
  
  11th Floor Schapiro.
  IT'S ON MY BED.
  Tears of God rain down.
  
  13th Floor Schapiro
  All Clear.

Welcome back to our semi-weekly feature, in which Bwog contributor Mark Krotov takes you to the lesser known gems on our fair campus, forever ruining them for those who didn't need the hint.

In last year's debate over Flash access to Columbia dorms for Barnard students, opponents somewhat arrogantly hypothesized that a free-flowing student body would overtake valuable Columbia facilities, such as East Campus gyms or Schapiro practice rooms. This didn't make much sense to me until I entered the Schapiro sky lounge, at which point I decided that opposing Flash access is not enough. Every student, no matter what their undergraduate affiliation, should be banned from the 17th floor of Schapiro—except for me. Because I want the whole room to myself.

But because my dreams of solitude will probably remain unfulfilled, I must resign myself to enjoying the space in equally contended company. While the building itself may be better known for tiny doubles and tinier showers, the sky lounge is massive, covering a large portion of the floor's surface area.

This year's dorm themes make Bwog want to live in all of the dorms at once!

East Campus' Diverse and Tolerant!: Most Cuddly

Continued after the jump!