The Congressional midterm elections have come and gone. How has the political layout of the nation changed, and how has the Columbia community reacted?

People from around the nation gathered in Washington D.C. for a Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. A CTV News reporter braves the journey there and back.

Many students on campus do their own cooking. What happens when you gather these culinary connoisseurs and have them face off in a cook-off?

And we take a closer look at one of Columbia's hidden treasures: the rare manuscripts library.

Midterm Election Results

The Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, just two years after the historic election of President Barack Obama. Republicans gained 64 seats in the House, the largest swing in 62 years. This result puts a damper on the President's plan for reforming the economy and health care. Tuesday, however, was not a total defeat for democrats. In the New York gubernatorial race, Democrat Andrew Cuomo defeated Republican Carl Paladino. And in Congress, the Democrats retained a slight majority in the Senate. With Columbia students reemerging from fall break, reactions to the election have varied.

Students react to election results

Rent Theft

Do you know where your rent money is going? A Morningside Heights property manager recently admitted to stealing 879,000 dollars in rent money from Columbia students and others to pay for furniture, jewelry, and vehicle maintenance among other things. Luis Nunez, who was responsible for rent collection and maintenance in five buildings in the neighborhood, told tenants to make rent checks payable to him, whereupon he diverted funds from three different landlords. He now faces up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree larceny and scheme to defraud in the first degree.

Crime in Central Park

The latest New York Police Department figures show that crime in Central Park has risen by 45 percent from last year. Grand larcenies saw the greatest increase in frequency, rising from 35 in 2009 to 56 in 2010. NYPD spokesman Paul Browne noted that Central Park has low crime rates, so any increase in crime will produce higher percentages. Nevertheless, 17 additional police officers have been assigned to the park precinct.

Crowds gather for Stewart-Colbert Rallies

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert co-hosted the rally to Restore Sanity and Keep Fear Alive on October 30, 2010. With free buses sponsored by Arianna Huffington going from New York to Washington D.C., many Columbia students – and people from all over the nation – flocked to the rally.

We asked Arianna Huffington if she could tell us what inspired her to sponsor the free buses to the capital.

"It was a moment of irrational exuberance when I just wanted to make it easier for people to get to Washington and to participate in a rally that's about restoring sanity, whatever your political views – whether you think government should be smaller or bigger – and to be able to debate on these issues without demonizing and scapegoating."

We decided to find out what motivated nearly 10,000 people to wake up at dawn.

Katie Tongalson: "What brought you out here?”

Wesleyan student: "The offer of a free bus."

KT: "Are you a Stewart fan or do you just love free buses?”

WS: “Mostly just the free buses, I've never heard of Jon Stewart.”

KT: “You've never heard of Jon Stewart?”

WS: “No...”

NYU Student: "This is going to be a lot bigger than people think it [will] be, one of those big generational things like, you know, I would say to people years later, ‘I was there.’"

Ghostbuster: "I'm not for fear, and you know who else isn't for fear –? Ghostbusters, because they fight things that scare us."

"I'm pro fear on this one."

Cleopatra McGovern: "Why do you love fear?"

"Because it's an awesome motivator for all things."

CM: "Any political fears?

"That Christine O'Donnell will win."

CM: "Do you think guys like Christine O'Donnell because she's cute?”

"Yes, of course they do...By the way do you know where the pot people are going to be once we get there because this reminds me of being at rallies when we were protesting the Vietnam War and Nixon."

Columbia University Amnesty Group: "We are from Columbia University - the Amnesty Group...Amnesty doesn't take sides, it just supports a dialogue."

At the rally, John Stewart argued that the lack of dialogue in the media is damaging the nation’s political discourse. Still, the event was light-hearted, as concerts and comedians entertained the crowd of over 215,000 people. Though the Huffington Post buses arrived late to the rally, we had a chance to speak with some of the colorful personalities that attended.

CM: “Can you tell me the rationale behind dressing up as vuvuzelas?”

Vuvuzela: "Well, you are what you blow so that's why I went with this. We fear sanity."

CM: “What's your biggest fear? Is it public speaking? That's a little scary.”

Storm Trooper: "Sometimes when I'm late for work, Darth Vader gets pretty upset"

KT: "Do you feel passionately about any of these issues?”

Columbia Alumni: "We feel that things should be done for healthcare."

KT: "Are you going to be the next Jon Stewart?"

Young John Stewart: "Sure why not"

CM: "What do you think that free buses mean for democracy?”

Arianna Huffington: “Well the free buses don't mean anything for democracy. The fact that people were willing to get up early in the morning and stand in the cold and get on the buses, that means a lot for democracy.”

New Dean of Barnard

Barnard has found its next Dean of the College. President Debora Spar announced the selection of Avis Hinkson, Class of ’84, as the new Dean of Barnard. Ms. Hinkson's appointment follows a successful period as director of Undergraduate Advising at the University of California-Berkeley. Beginning February 14, 2011, Ms. Hinkson will oversee the Offices of the Dean of Studies, Admissions and Financial Aid, Registrar, Residential Life, Student Life, and Health Services.

U.S. lagging in life expectancy

A new study conducted by researchers at Columbia University finds that life expectancy in the United States is lagging behind other countries. Researchers fault the health care system, which provides inadequate coverage and demands excessive service payments for specialty care. Other commonly blamed health hazards have been discredited by the study. Smoking, one of the most widely cited causes for premature deaths, is just as prevalent in America as it is in countries with higher life expectancies, and the increasing rate of obesity is also a worldwide trend. If the research is accurate, one can only hope that the Affordable Care Act helps keep Americans healthy.

Greenborough & EcoReps Host Delish-A-Thon

On November 4, the Columbia University EcoReps held their first-ever "EcoReps-Greenborough Delish-a-Thon." The exciting event was in Greenborough House, a Special Interest Community. Undergraduate students prepared foods for their classmates to eat.

"The whole idea of the event is to bring people into Greenborough House, which is [an] 'Environmental Sustainability' Special Interest Living Community, and introduce them to the house and then, also talk about one of the issues that affects everybody, which is sustainable eating," explains Todd Nelson, one of the organizers of the event. "So, we invited some of the campus's top chefs here to have a cooking competition that will be 'crowd-sourced' judged by the people. The cost of entry is a donated good. And we're also going to be doing 'outreach' about various food issues, but then, also about the [Greenborough] House, what it does, what its role in the community is, and also just to get its name out there [because] this is its second year in existence.".

Many students from across campus filled Greenborough House to enjoy the delicious cuisine and festivities. The EcoReps' enormous efforts in organizing the "Delish-a-Thon" finally paid off.

"The EcoReps, as a group, were planning for about three or four weeks," observes an EcoRep member. "It's been in the works, though, for a couple of years, like, the ideas have been floating around. But, now, like, maybe a week in advance, plans got serious. Two weeks in advance, plans were, like, coming together and tonight, two hours before it was happening, we were running around doing a million things."

"We're really excited that people have been donating food," describes Leah, another "Delish-a-Thon" coordinator. "As you can see, we have a lot of non-perishable items that we're donating to Broadway Presbyterian Church. This is really important, I think, in an event surrounding food issues because as we get together to cook all this delicious food, we recognize that we have the privilege to buy these ingredients from the Farmers' Market and to [buy] organic ingredients, which is not a privilege that everyone shares. So, a big piece of this event is giving back in some way, giving food to people who might not have it in the coming cold winter months. So, we're really excited that people have come through with that."

Former Columbia Dean becomes president of Cairo University

A former Columbia Dean has been named the president of the American University in Cairo.

Lisa Anderson joined the Columbia faculty in 1986, and served as the dean of the School of International and Public Affairs from 1997 to 2007. Ms. Anderson had also served at Columbia as the chair of the political science department and the director of the Middle East Institute.

Ms. Anderson will replace David D. Arnold, who will be stepping down from his position as university president in December.

MTA Fares Increase

Drifting off campus will soon become a bit more costly. The board of the MTA approved transit fare increases on subways, buses and commuter railroads for the third time in three years. With the new increases, the cost of a 30-day unlimited card will rise 17 percent to $104. An unlimited weekly pass will now cost $29, and single rides will rise 25 cents to $2.50. Expect to see these changes take effect on December 30th.

Inside Columbia: Rare Book & Manuscript Collection

Butler Library.

You probably know it for the stacks, its expansive reading rooms, and its trademark checkerboard hallways, but not too many people are familiar with Butler’s hidden gem, the Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Located on the sixth floor of Butler, the glass façade of the Rare Book and Manuscript Library stands out from the rooms around it.

Michael Ryan, the Library’s director, described what can be found inside.

“The Rare Book and Manuscript Library is Columbia’s principal depository for special collections, that’s is to say, for things that are considered to be rare books, manuscripts, archives, prints, ephemera, photographs, you name it,” Ryan said. “We have material going back to the second millennium B.C, clay tablets; we have a very large collection of papyri from North Africa and the Roman Empire.”

One would think that such a rare and valuable collection would be kept from Columbia students, but the library thinks otherwise.

“Mi casa es su casa,” Ryan said. “Everything that is here is open to everyone – to all Columbia students and to all researchers."

Gaining access to such a collection could be difficult, but the Rare Book and Manuscript Library makes it easy.

“All you have to do is register at the desk, and just present your Columbia ID and a driver’s license, submit your call slips for whatever it is you want to see, and be seated in the reading room and it’s brought to you,” Ryan said.

Also featured in the library is a museum-style exhibit from its collection that changes once per term. The current exhibit features the work of set designer Joseph Urban.

“Urban is one of the most understudied and under-remembered designers and artists in the twentieth century and yet he was responsible for some of the century’s most memorable creations,” Ryan said. “He did more set designs, for example, for the Metropolitan Opera than any other single designer.”

The exhibit room, however, remains for the most part empty. One of the biggest challenges for the library is getting students to come view its exhibits and take advantage of its large collection for research.

Despite the lack of awareness about the library, Ryan is quick to remind students that all are welcome.

“We do not vet credentials, so, undergraduates, please come join us,” Ryan said. “We would love to have you.”

Sports Roundup

In sports this week, Columbia women's volleyball defeated the Princeton Tigers by a score of 3 sets to 1. They now boast a record of 15-8.

The Columbia football Lions lost to Harvard 23-7 this Saturday. Despite receiver Kurt Williams' first game with over 100 receiving yards, the offense as a whole could not get it going, and the Columbia defense got routed, giving up 412 yards of total offense. Although a winning season is no longer a possibility, Coach Norries Wilson and his squad hope to go out on a high when they play Cornell this Saturday in the final home game of the season.

The Columbia men's soccer team fared better against their rivals from Cambridge, beating the Crimson 1-0 with a first-half goal from first-year David Najem. This victory marks Columbia men's soccer's first W over Harvard in seven years.

The Columbia women's soccer team was blanked by Harvard, losing 2-0. After a relatively uneventful first half, the lions were dominated in the latter stages of the game, getting out-shot 12-3. After starting the season 8-1-3, they have dropped three straight games.

Midnight Mania kicks off basketball season

Dodge’s underground basketball stadium hosted Midnight Mania this Thursday, where students stuffed the stadium to wish the Lions luck in their upcoming season and pick up free merchandise. But what else did Columbia students want to get out of their college pep rally?

"I would like to see some school spirit," said a student. "I don't see any the rest of the year so I'd like to see some today."

Those who attended midnight mania had plenty of spirit in a night filled with dancing and merriment.

The lights were dimmed and the roster for the new men’s and women’s teams were formally introduced.

A slam dunk competition brought fans out of their seats, and a three point shootout kept them on their feet.

Head coach of the women’s team Paul Nixon made his pitch for fans to come out to games.  "If you've seen us play in the last few years you know you'll see a high energy, uptempo brand of basketball with fast-break offense and pressure defense that's very entertaining," Coach Nixon said.

First-year coach of the men’s team Kyle Smith demonstrated his versatility with a cover of hip-hop group Public Enemy.

Students were more than satisfied with the event. " I got a free t-shirt out of it," said a student displaying it with pride. "It's pretty exciting stuff."

There were many dance numbers at Midnight Mania. The cheerleaders and the marching band performed a collaborative piece set to the Columbia fight song. The Columbia dance team and Raw Elements also gave fans a morsel of what's to come at Lions basketball halftime shows.

Responding to the massive roars of approval from the Columbia Lion faithful, Coach Smith said, "if you guys can bring this kind of energy, this kind of enthusiasm, we'll have a terrific season. It means a lot, I've been a lot of places. You bring this, we'll win you some games."