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…)

Dear Mac users,
 
Stop by CU Public Safety’s Security Awareness day tomorrow Wednesday, October 10th from 10AM-2PM  on the Low Plaza & have Mac Phone home installed in your Mac for FREE  (CU students, Faculty & Staff only)
 
The enterprise version of Mac Phone Home is currently under construction on the CUIT website. However, specialist from CUIT & CU Public Safety will be on hand to help install Mac Phone home in your Mac. Mac Phone Home locates lost or stolen Mac computers any where in the world.   
 
PC users can still down load PC Phone Home from the CUIT website: www.columbia.edu/acis/software/pcphonehome

Dear Public Safety Friends;
 
CU Public Safety Crime Prevention will be engraving & registering Laptops & electronics in the lobby of the Uris Hall building TODAY from 11am – 1pm (FREE).  Also available, will be the NYPD Blue Light program (invisible ink) and discount laptop locks at $25.
 
For more info on Operation ID, NYPD Blue light & discount laptop locks please call 854-8513.

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…)

Columbia University Department of Public Safety will provide (FREE) property engraving of laptops, PDAs, calculators, etc. (registered with the NYPD & CU Public Safety) on Wednesday, 4/4/07 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm at Greene Hall (Law School) 

Ricardo Morales of the Crime Prevention Office will have two tables setup directly outside the 3rd floor Lenfest Cafe, for the property engraving session.  Crime Prevention information will be dispensed on personal & property safety.  Laptop locks will be available at a discounted price of $25.00.  PC Phone home download (FREE). Phonehome locates stolen & lost computers. (more…)

To All Potential May 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…)

For the first time this year, daylight saving time begins three weeks earlier (March 11) and ends one week later (November 4) than usual, as required by a federal law intended to save energy.

Depending on your computer operating system, your handheld devices, and the applications you use, you will need to take certain steps to update the software. Failing to update your systems may cause you to have problems logging in to campus services, and software with calendar functions (e.g., Outlook, Palm Desktop) may display incorrect times for appointments and events. (more…)

J&R is offering Columbia University employees and students the same corporate pricing and buying power afforded the University. You may buy from J&R at the same prices the University receives. (more…)

A student recently e-mailed me the following query:

"My computer is dying fast and I unfortunately think I’ll need to buy a new one soon. I’ve been looking online through the Columbia Apple website for discounts. I heard a rumor that there are computer loans available to students so I thought I would inquire about the specifics."

Good question!

Owning a computer or upgrading your present computer can be a real asset, but it’s a decision that should not be taken lightly. Did you know that Columbia SoA students are entitled to discounts on computer purchases, software and peripherals? Be sure to visit the following links to find out more: (more…)