Nicholas Lemann, Dean of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, cordially invites you to the annual Hearst Foundation New Media Lecture

Brian Storm
Thursday, April 3, 2008 (6:30-9 pm)
Columbia Journalism School
116th St & Broadway (#1 train to 116th St)

Join us to hear Brian Storm, president of MediaStorm.org and former director of multimedia for MSNBC.com – one of most exciting and influential minds in journalism today (bio below). See the work of his company at http://mediastorm.org

6:30-7:00 pm -  reception – drinks and light food
7-9 pm – lecture + Q&A (dessert will be available after the Q&A)

No charge; no RSVP required; all are welcome.

Read/hear previous Hearst New Media Lectures: (more…)

Dear Students:

In light of the recent events at Northern Illinois University, Hanna Seifu and I  wanted to take the time to remind you of some important steps you can take to ensure that you are promptly notified in the event of a campus emergency.     

At a Deans of Students meeting last week, we were told that only 32% of School of the Arts students had registered for CU’s free EMERGENCY text messaging service.  I want to take this opportunity to nudge you to make sure that all of you are registered for this critical service.

Consider yourself nudged – details below on the process, which you should do right away via your computer (though the messages are for your cell). If you are already signed up, no need to do anything else on this – except to remind your friends to sign up via the link below.  It only takes around 45 seconds.  Really.  

For information on enrolling in the emergency text messaging system, I am including a message from Jim McShane of Public Safety below. Please take a moment to read it, then enroll. It’s that easy.

As Jim’s e-mail says:

"In order to receive text messages, Columbia students must register their mobile numbers, which can be done securely and confidentially in Student
Services Online (SSOL). Please register now by clicking here https://ssol.columbia.edu/?tran[1]_tran_name=seni
or by logging in to your SSOL account and clicking on "Text Message Enrollment." These numbers will not be used for any purpose other than important communications."

I also wanted to let you know that drop-in appointments are being offered from the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. today (Saturday). Students are encouraged to drop in to the offices on the 8th floor of Lerner if they would like to have a conversation with a member of the CPS team.

Our hearts go out to the friends and families of those affected by the tragic events at NIU.

Be safe.

—Dave Beeman & Hanna Seifu

For the full e-mail from Jim McShane of Public Safety, click here—> (more…)

The School of the Arts takes pride in presenting the list of its February 2008 graduates, who, as of Wednesday, February 13, having met or surpassed the requirements of their respective programs, have thereby been awarded the Master of Fine Arts degree from the Columbia University School of the Arts.

Congratulations to all these students.  We wish them success in all their future endeavors.  Should you be in contact with one or more of them, please take a moment to acknowledge their hard work and to wish them well: (more…)

Columbia Journalism Review Panel Discussion:
The Case of the Vanishing Book Review, Sept. 18

What:  In the cover article of the September issue of the Columbia Journalism Review, Steve Wasserman, former editor of the Los Angeles Times Book Review, takes a close look at the disappearing book review—a phenomenon, he argues, that is growing at “alarming speed.” CJR will host a panel discussion on the subject at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

When: Tuesday, September 18, at 7:00 p.m.; RSVP not required.

Where: School of Journalism, Lecture Hall, 3rd Floor, 116th and Broadway

Who: The panel, moderated by Evan Cornog, publisher of the Columbia Journalism Review and associate dean for academic affairs at the Journalism School, includes: (more…)

THE HEYMAN CENTER FOR THE HUMANITIES
Schedule of Events, Fall 2007

Admission to all Heyman Center events is free and open to the general public on a first come, first served basis.
For more information, please visit www.heymancenter.org.  or read on… (more…)

An incoming first-year student brought it to our attention that we had neglected to cover both Columbia Dining Services and the Dodge Physical Fitness Center in our presentations yesterday (shame on us!).  In the interest of keeping you (a) fit and (b) fed, I wanted to pass along some information regarding these services.

Marcellus Hartley Dodge Fitness Center

Did you know that, as an SoA student, membership in the Dodge Physical Fitness Center is included in your tuition bill as part of the "Facilities Fee?"   (more…)

Please join Nancy Friedland from the Columbia Libraries for a couple of informative sessions regarding the Film and Performing Arts collections.  Two upcoming sessions are currently offered:

Resources for Film Studies and the Performing Arts
One-hour sessions—learn about our collections

September 20, 1pm-2pm, 306 Butler Library
September 28, 1pm-2pm, 306 Butler Library

Hosted by: Nancy Friedland
RSVP: nef4@columbia.edu  
 
Columbia Libraries: Website
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/
 
Exploring New York City
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eguides/nyc.html

There have been recent reports of Columbia members receiving suspicious phishing emails that purport to be from the Internal Revenue Service.

The IRS does not send out unsolicited e-mails or ask for detailed personal and financial information. Additionally, the IRS never asks people for the PIN numbers, passwords or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank or other financial accounts.

Phishing (as in "fishing for information" and "hooking" victims) is a scam where Internet fraudsters send e-mail messages to trick unsuspecting victims into revealing personal and financial information that can be used to steal the victims’ identity.

Current scams include phony e-mails which claim to come from the IRS and which lure the victims into the scam by telling them that they are due a tax refund.

An example of the phishing message appears as the following: (more…)

A Message from Columbia Unviersity Public Safety:

The NYPD Transit Police is reporting an increase in pickpocketing of wallets from both men & women. The number one target for thieves are people who carry knapsacks or pocket books on their back or on the side.
 
Thieves (Pickpockets) are aware that individuals who carry knapsacks often put their wallets in the middle pocket of their knapsack.
 
Pickpockets usually work in a team of two or three. One will bump you on a crowed bus or train, while the other one is opening up your knapsack & removing your wallet.
 
Other areas where thieves (Pickpockets) target are: Getting on or off the train / bus, or going up or down the stairs of the train station.

• Please carry your bag in front of you while on the train or bus.
• Avoid carrying your wallet in the middle pocket of your backpack or handbag.
• Be aware. DO NOT tune yourself out from your surroundings.  
• Men often carry their wallets in their back pockets which thieves often target. Carry your wallet in your front pocket.
• There is a medical reason why you shouldn’t carry your wallet in your back pocket… You avoid having future back pains.
• Only carry the credit card or ID that you need.
• Leave your social security card or passport at home in a safe place.

Please share this information with your family & friends. The more people know the more we can TAKE A BITE OUT OF CRIME!

Thank you,

Ricardo Morales
Crime Prevention Specialist
Columbia University Department of Public Safety
212-854-8513

Shall We Dance—Favella Rising

Columbia University’s Office of Government and Community Affairs in partnership with Creative Counsel is pleased to present the final night of the Shall We Dance summer movie screenings and dance tutorials. 

Thursday, August 16, 2007 from 7pm – 10:30pm

Where: Columbia University Morningside Campus
no rain: Hamilton Lawn
rain: Low Library Rotunda

From 7:00 pm-8:00 pm:  Samba instruction will be taught by Quenia Ribeiro of The Ailey Extension.

From 8:00-8:30 pm:  guests will have the opportunity to dance to live drumming.

The documentary FAVELLA RISING will be shown from 8:30 pm-10:30 pm (Parental discretion is advised).  

Please email 112459@columbia.edu for more information. (more…)

(From Student Services) 

Dear Continuing Student:

On behalf of the Division of Student Services, I would like to welcome you back to Columbia University. This email outlines important steps you need to take before your return to campus. Please complete the required tasks as soon as possible. (more…)

Columbia Facilities presents: Go Green 2007!

Tuesday, August 14 through Thursday, August 16
8am – 3pm

With the fresh start of a new academic year just around the corner, now is the perfect time to…clean! Bring your unwanted large or bulky items to a drop-off location instead of throwing them away—and CU Facilities will do the rest. Best of all, Facilities will properly separate and recycle your items. that way, when you clean, you can GO GREEN!

• In front of Lerner Hall
• Schermerhorn/Fairchild Courtyard
• The Grove @ 119th & Amsterdam Ave

Items you can bring to the drop-off locations include:  Furniture / Electronic Equipment / Computer Monitors, Keyboards & CPUs / Cardboard / Desk Lamps / Toner Cartridges / Batteries / Paint Cans / Other Large Unwanted Items.

To All Potential October 2007 Graduates:
(If you are not planning to graduate in October, you may stop reading).

First off:  Premature congratulations to each of you.

The posting appearing below this one contains a very important FAQ list that contains useful information on most issues surrounding October graduation.  Please take a moment and read it thoroughly so that you’re not left out.

The three most critical issues are:

1.      The official date of October graduation is October 17, 2007.

2.      If you have even the slightest thought that you may be graduating in October, you MUST complete a graduation application and get it to me by August 15, 2007.  Forms can be found here and can be mailed to me (ASAP) at the following address:   Dave Beeman / Columbia University School of the Arts / 305 Dodge Hall, MC 1803 / 2960 Broadway / New York, NY  10027.   You may also fax it to (212) 854-1309 if you prefer.  If you’re on campus, you can drop them by my office in 305 Dodge, as well.   Again, I must have them by Wednesday, August 15.

3.      Be aware that your Columbia (Chickering) Health Insurance Coverage will terminate on August 31, 2007 (yes, that’s the end of this month).  For more information (you guessed it), please see the previous posting detailing October graduation FAQs.

In any event, I hope all is well. 

Dave Beeman

To All Potential October 2007 Graduates:

Congratulations!  You are (hopefully) soon to be a graduate of the School of the Arts, Columbia University in the City of New York.  I thought you might have some questions about what it means to be an alum, so I’ve put together the following FAQs and their respective answers: (more…)

The School of the Arts takes pride in presenting the list of its May 2007 graduates, who, as of Wednesday, May 16, having met or surpassed the requirements of their respective programs, have thereby been awarded the Master of Fine Arts degree from the Columbia University School of the Arts.

Congratulations to all these students.  We wish them success in all their future endeavors.  Should you be in contact with one or more of them, please take a moment to acknowledge their hard work and to wish them well: (more…)

Archipelago cordially invites the School of the Arts, the School of Architecture, & the School of Journalism to the beginning of collaborative journey.

The graduate schools of Columbia University operate as a kind of archipelago: islands of intense activity that don’t interact much with the other islands around them. Archipelago seeks to bridge these gaps through film, one of the most collaborative & interdisciplinary mediums.

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.
We are seeking committee members & volunteers who are interested in helping us coordinate interdisciplinary events in the coming semester, which include a 24-hour film shootout in September and a film festival in December. We hope to create opportunities for graduate students to collaborate as well as to showcase their work which may not get the chance to be seen outside their own communities.

Join us for a drink, information, inspiration.

May 4th. Avery Hall. 6pm.
Drinks courtesy of the School of Architecture.
Check our website for more information:
www.archipelagofilmfestival.org

Questions?
School of the Arts: Rammy Lee Park (rlp93@columbia.edu)
School of Architecture: Joshua Draper (jwd2107@columbia.edu)
School of Journalism: Mehmet Bozatli (mvb2103@columbia.edu)

The Heyman Center for the Humanities at Columbia University presents:

Gerald Edelman, Nobel Laureate
Lorraine Daston

"The Origins of Norms:
The Place of Value in a World of Nature"

Thursday, April 26, 2007  8pm
501 Schermerhorn Hall
This event is free and open to the general public.
Seating will be on a first come, first served basis.
No tickets, no reservations necessary.
Co-sponsored by the Philoctetes Center (more…)

TONIGHT: Oscar-winning doc & conversation at the Columbia University School of Journalism.

Come see one of this year’s Oscar-winning documentaries and hear from filmmaker Tom Lennon about the innovative way the film was funded and produced.

TONIGHT: Monday, April 23, 2007; 7-8:30 p.m.

"The Blood of Yingzhou District," winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary-Short Subject, will be screened on Monday, April 23rd from 7-8:30 p.m. on the third floor of Columbia’s Journalism School, in the Lecture Hall (2950 Broadway, #1 train to 116th St).

The film, a powerful portrayal of children in China’s Anhui province who have lost their parents to AIDS, is 40 minutes long. Adjunct Professor Betsy West will lead a discussion with the producer of "The Blood of Yingzhou District,"
Tom Lennon, about the film and about the China AIDS Media project, the non-profit organization he co-founded with director Ruby Yang.

Public event – all are welcome. See more about the documentary here:
http://www.silverdocs.com/2006/films/bloo2.aspx