Monday, February 2, 2009

NEWS »

Harms Remembered for Music, Leadership

By Jessica Hills
Feb 2 05:32 am ET

“There are no words, nor songs that any of us may sing to express what you meant to this world,” a friend wrote on his Facebook wall, along with dozens of other posts.

CU Science Values Teaching Over Technology

By Amber Tunnell
Feb 2 05:40 am ET

With universities using innovative technology to spice up introductory science courses, Columbia professors and students have said that it is the quality of teaching that matters more than the method.

Jones Shapes Religious Vision For Global Change

By Stephanie Tecca
Feb 2 05:48 am ET

It did not take long for Reverend Doctor Serene Jones to become accustomed to hectic New York City living, the backyard of her new job. After her November inauguration, Jones became the sixteenth president of Union Theological Seminary—the first female ever to hold the position. “There’s a constant sense that the best and worst is always right outside your door,” Jones said about the transition to New York life. After seventeen years on the faculty of Yale Divinity School—serving as Titus Street Professor of Theology and chair of women, gender, and sexuality studies—she left to pursue her interests in global change and social justice at Union. She said she hopes to further develop Union programs to educate religious leaders to be socially conscious and globally aware. After a few months on the job, Jones has already started putting her vision into action. Along with UTS professors Gary Dorrien and Cornel West, she teaches a class called “Christianity and the Deepening U.S. Crisis,” a course that covers the U.S. market crisis, social oppression, and Christian responses. “I’m very concerned about the massive global shifts that are taking place in religious communities and the need for new models of theological education to prepare religious leaders to address this cataclysmically changing world,” Jones said. She also intends to push UTS to be more active in the city and surrounding neighborhoods. As the first female president of Union and a women’s studies scholar, Jones brings her expertise to a seminary traditionally led by men. “I’ve been really interested in women and religion, and how it is that women think about faith issues, how women think about leadership, and how women relate to the traditions,” she said. Jones said she hopes to work with Columbia’s women and gender studies department. Union, an affiliate of the University, maintains a close relationship and allows cross-registration with Columbia, relationships Jones and professors on both sides of the street say have remained strong. While only three Union professors also teach at Columbia, the relatively small UTS faculty—a total of fifteen professors—means that there is a proportionately high number of faculty shared across the schools, though the UTS professors do not teach on the undergraduate level. The chair of religious studies at Columbia, Mark Taylor, is jointly appointed as a member of Union’s faculty. John McGuckin, a professor at Union who also teaches Byzantine Christian studies at Columbia, said that staff relationships are amiable across the board. “There are very warm relations between colleagues in the two schools—not just between those three Union faculty members, but across the faculty,” McGuckin said. Jones already seems confident that Union’s liberal environment is a good fit for her. “It’s definitely the seminary with the strongest reputation for being both very liberal and academically very rigorous,” she said.

SEAS First Year Dies In Hartley Hall

By Alix Pianin
Feb 2 05:54 am ET

Eric Harms, a 19-year-old first year in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, died Saturday afternoon, leaving Columbia stunned and shaken.

Counseling Services Available in Wake of Tragedy

By Kim Kirschenbaum
Feb 2 05:59 am ET

COLUMBIA: CAVA (Ambulance): 212-854-5555 Uptown Campus Public Safety: On-Campus: 7-7979 Off-campus: 212-305-8100 Counseling and Psychological Services: 212-854-2878 (clinical hours)

OPINION »

The Faces Behind Poverty Statistics

By Kimberly Alzuphar
Feb 1 11:11 pm ET

The Hearts2Our Children in Haiti campaign taught me to place a greater emphasis on every individual instead of on statistical reports that inaccurately depict the plight of the poor Haitian population.

Kosher on Campus

By Loren Berman
Feb 1 11:16 pm ET

As a first-year student, I find that the same amenities in Israel that make being a religious Jew almost effortless are present at Columbia.

Bahá’ís at Columbia: Then and Now

By Elahé Katirai-Ghadimi
Feb 1 11:22 pm ET

With a small but strong and supportive community both on campus and in Morningside Heights, Columbian Bahá’ís are no longer oxymorons.

An Atheist at Columbia

By Alon Levy
Feb 1 11:29 pm ET

It’s not that Columbia’s atheists are apathetic. Most of those I meet are as interested in social and political issues as any religious person. They’re just not defined by their religious views.

A Catholic at Columbia

By Mary Delsener
Feb 1 11:35 pm ET

With that being said, I can honestly say that because of Columbia’s environment, I am sufficiently prepared to tackle any obstacles put before me, whether academic, social, or spiritual.

Of Non-Believers and Curious Disjunctions

By Eric Hirsch
Feb 1 11:46 pm ET

Maybe Columbia gives a “godless is cool” impression to most. But my first impression of the place was a little bit different.

Spirituality 101

By
Feb 2 12:49 am ET

Diversity at Columbia University is not just about differences in nationality and culture—students across the campus ascribe to dozens of different faiths and religions. This Monday, Spectator Opinion hears from four different students on their experiences with religious life on campus.

United in Grief

By Editorial Board
Feb 2 05:33 am ET

As Columbia struggles to cope with the death of School of Engineering and Applied Sciences first year Eric Harms, we can find strength in this difficult time by turning to each other.

Well Student

By Editorial Board
Feb 10 08:40 am ET

While Well-Woman is appropriate for Barnard's all-female student body, Columbia should expand on the idea to introduce a similarly ubiquitous peer-education program for all of its students.

SPORTS »

Columbia Sweeps Yale And Brown

By Lucas Shaw
Feb 2 02:59 am ET

After two consecutive weeks of playing Cornell—and two double-digit losses—the Columbia men’s basketball team swept Yale and Brown at home in the first full weekend of Ivy play. While neither Lion victory compared to the drubbings the Big Red put on the Bulldogs and Bears, the sweep ended a stretch of six games during which the Lions went 1-5 and raised their record to .500 in league play.

After Loss to Yale, Yee Leads Lions to Split

By Sarah Sommer
Feb 2 03:03 am ET

The Columbia women’s basketball team played two hard-nosed games this weekend but finished its road trip with only one victory. The Lions (9-9, 2-2 Ivy) dropped a heartbreaker to Yale on Friday but regrouped to rout Brown the following night.

Fans Prove Columbia's Got Passion

By Jonathan Tayler
Feb 2 03:09 am ET

Yale’s Travis Pinick doesn’t seem like the type to buckle under pressure. A second-team All-Ivy selection last year as a junior, one of the conference’s best rebounders and a league MVP back in high school, it stands to reason that Pinick has faced his fair share of big situations and tough spots.

Women's Swimming Edges Out Defiant Brown, 157-143

By Sara Salzbank
Feb 2 03:13 am ET

In its fifth consecutive victory of the dual-meet season, Columbia’s women’s swimming and diving team edged out Brown, 157-143.

Improved Defense Keys Columbia Triumphs

By Charles Young
Feb 2 03:17 am ET

In Saturday night’s game against Brown, the action was fast and loose during the first half. The Bears grabbed 23 rebounds and made 12-of-26 field goal attempts en route to 29 first-half points.

Lions Fail to Overpower En Route to 63-61 Loss

By Sarah Sommer
Feb 2 03:19 am ET

This weekend, the Columbia women’s basketball team exhibited a glaring weakness—its inability to completely dominate games.

Caldwell Breaks Record, Freshmen Continue Strong at Met Championships

By Jonathan Tayler
Feb 2 03:22 am ET

Head coach Willy Wood’s latest recruiting class is making an immediate impact in the Columbia track and field history books.

Wrestling Falls to Bucknell

By Jacob Levenfeld
Feb 2 03:24 am ET

Closing out its long series of away duals before opening the home portion of its schedule next weekend, the Columbia wrestling team fell 28-12 to Bucknell on Sunday afternoon at Davis Gym in Lewisburg

Men's Tennis Sweeps to Open Season

By Kunal Gupta
Feb 2 03:27 am ET

The men’s tennis team cruised to a 7-0 victory against the Army Black Knights to open their spring 2009 season.

Men's Swimming Downs Bears, 186-112

By Bart Lopez
Feb 2 03:30 am ET

On Saturday the Columbia men’s swimming and diving team hosted Brown for this year’s homecoming meet. The Lions defeated the Bears, 186-112, in front of a packed and enthusiastic fan section.

Light Blue Wins Opener On the Road

By Kunal Gupta
Feb 2 03:34 am ET

The Columbia women’s tennis team began its fall season with a road win against Florida Atlantic University by a score of 5-2.

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