Columbia Spectator 04/16/08

Scarlata Makes Strong Return from Surgery

As Joe Scarlata walked off the mound after the fourth inning against Davidson on March 5, 2006, he had nothing to smile about.

Vagelos Family Named Nexus Donor

Fireworks and sparklers exploded over Lehman Lawn Tuesday afternoon, releasing clouds of smoke into the otherwise blue sky and illuminating the name of the most recent donors to Barnard’s new student center—the Vagelos family—set to open in fall 2009.

Lions Look to Gain Momentum Against 13-1 Fairfield

Coming off a heart-wrenching defeat against Yale last Wednesday, during which the Elis scored six unanswered goals at the start of the match, the Columbia women’s lacrosse team will go on to play Fairfield this Wednesday.

Understanding the Senate

With student-council elections in full swing, University Senate races can all too easily pass unnoticed. Many students know little about the purpose and activities of the senate, let alone the candidates running for office. To keep the University better informed about what it does, and to keep abreast of University opinion, the senate should restructure its Web site and seek out regular input from students and faculty.

Looking Back: Mid-Century Columbia

The University was an intellectual, political, and cultural force in mid-century America. Liberals and conservatives alike recognized this fact. Today, however, it too often goes unsaid.

Wash Those High School Shows Right Out of Your Mind

Lincoln Center’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, which opened last week, joins the current acclaimed revivals of Gypsy and Sunday in the Park With George in what—save for Grease—may be the strongest season for musical revivals in recent memory. Like Sunday in the Park, another rare Pulitzer-winning musical, South Pacific is being revived on Broadway for the first time in its history, and it’s about time.

Philip Glass Could Turn This Newspaper into a Score

To review the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Philip Glass’s Satyagraha in a newspaper—in this old-fashioned, dying form of media—seems particularly apt, as newspapers both physically and symbolically represent one of the strongest forces in the opera. Satyagraha is visually stunning and musically ahead of its time. This particular production comes at a perfect moment and feels extraordinarily relevant, both aesthetically and politically.

Baseball to Face Fordham in Matchup of New York City Rivals

Before the Columbia baseball team heads out on a road trip to Cornell this weekend it will host local rival Fordham for an afternoon doubleheader today at Andy Coakley Field.

Park West Residents Rally Around Lawsuit

Entering the Second Presbyterian Church, Anne Wangh immediately stood out from the stark white, ornately carved plaster walls. A red parka cloaked her petite frame, quiet alertness emanated from behind her gold-rimmed glasses. Wangh, like many of her neighbors, had been drawn to the church Monday night by the promise of change, though the events that would pass there would prove to be more of a beginning than a means to an end.

If You Want a Free Tibet, Know What You’re Fighting For

The invasion and subjugation of Tibet may not be justified, but neither is unquestioning support of a society yet to be fully understood.

Somewhere Between a Twinkie and a Bagel, There's a Snack That Would Make Freud Proud

All over New York, bagel purists are dying inside as yet another effrontery to traditional bagelry hits grocery store shelves.

Revised 125th Street Plan Receives Council Zoning Committee Approval

The New York City Council’s Zoning and Franchise Committee approved a substantially altered vision for the future of Harlem’s “Main Street” Tuesday in a move expected to propel the major rezoning plan to an eventual Council victory.

At Columbia, Different Folks Inspire Different Strokes

Forget paintbrushes: Maria del Mar Granados is making her mark in the art world with comte bars, cloths, spatulas, and sponges. Columbia alumna Mar Granados was selected from droves of contemporary artists to show her work at the Armory Show on March 27-30, 2008.

Former SIPA Dean To Become Provost At American University in Cairo

Former School of International and Public Affairs Dean Lisa Anderson will become American University in Cairo’s provost in fall 2008 in a career change she feels will take her full circle.

GSSC Elections Postponed as Debate Rages Over Write-ins

General Studies Student Council elections, originally scheduled to take place this week, have been postponed for a week while the Judicial Committee decides how to handle a rare write-in presidential candidate.

Barnard Pledges Easier Wireless Access in Dorms Following Complaints

After two years of communication with concerned students, Barnard has developed a dorm-by-dorm plan to create a wireless campus. While currently only Sulzberger and Elliot are wireless, the rest of the Quad and 616 will be outfitted with wireless hubs this summer. Plimpton, 620, and 600 will follow suit during the coming academic year.

The Fastest Way to Travel: Convenience At a Rising Cost

The many wonders and landmarks of New York City are well known. Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, and Times Square exist as a source of pride for New York natives and of excitement for the frenzied tourists. Still, despite my awe in seeing these truly “New York” sites, following my first week in the city I had discovered one New York wonder that outstripped them all in every aspect but size—the MetroCard.