ROTC Resolution

After over 40 years of absence from Columbia's campus, ROTC may soon return.  Originally banned from campus as a result of sentiment surrounding the Vietnam War, ROTC has, in recent years, been banned from Columbia due to the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy which barred openly gay and lesbian people from serving in the military.  Following the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy earlier this year, debates were held in the University Senate to see if ROTC could be reinstated. 

This Friday, the Senate voted 51-17 in support of a measure supporting the military's return to Columbia.  Amid protest from student groups citing continued discrimination against transgender people by the military, the measure will be reviewed by University administration to see if it is in agreement with the university's non-discrimination policy.  Even if the administration does approve the resolution, it does not necessarily mean the military will return.

Class of 2015: admissions statistics

JENN: The admissions office has just announced the undergraduate class of 2015, out of the largest pool of applicants the University has yet seen. Hailing from 73 countries, and 50 U.S. States - there were 33 % more applicants this year than last year - making the Class of 2015 more competitive than ever. Both Columbia College and SEAS admissions have been announced, and the combined admission rate was 6.9 % - which means over 34,000 hopefuls applied, and less than 2500 students got in. Congrats to these future Columbians and their families.

Potential Housing Shortage

Yet while the class of 2015 is just starting to celebrate, the housing pool for freshmen is dwindling. Apparently housing services didn't calculate how many rooms they'll need for newcomers. This week, an email was sent to students set to live in Furnald and Broadway dorms- announcing the tenuous nature of their residence. Here is a portion of the email from Housing Services, which reads:

"...we did not feel this year that adding a large number of new rooms would be necessary on top of last year’s changes. With responses to this year’s offers of admission already outpacing those of past years by a wide margin, we now believe we were mistaken..."

What does this mean for you? Don't get too comfortable. You could be kicked out, and the only alternative spaces are the 2 fraternity houses involved in last fall's drug bust. And though you may think it would be cool to live in a former dealer's frat house - you may want to re-think telling your folks.  

Samantha Power speaks

Special Assistant to President Obama, Samantha Power spoke in the Italian Academy on Monday for 2011 European Institute's Donald and Vera Blinken lecture. One of the top advisers to President Obama on foreign policy, Power spoke at length about the Obama administration's policies for international relations, and what to do in the current political climate. Although she did not speak much about Libya, so as not to upstage Obama who would deliver a national address hours later, she did emphasize the need for military intervention in the event that diplomacy and other alternate routes prove ineffectual.

Weather Report

It's been a beautiful weekend, but sadly the rains will return with the start of the week.  Similar to last week, we will be hit with a combination of sunny days and rainy days.  On Monday we will have rain all day, with a surprisingly high high of 65 and a low of 52.  On Tuesday, the rain will continue but the weather will drop a bit, with a high of 53 and a low of 37.  On Wednesday and Thursday we will have clear, sunny skies, both with highs around 57 and lows around 45.  Friday will be rainy with a high of 50 and a low of 41, but the sun will return over the weekend, where the weather will stay in the mild mid-fifties. This is Emily Ellis with your weekly weather report, and be nice to the prospies that will be joining us for Days on Campus next weekend!

Bacchanal lineup announced

This Friday, the lineup for this year's Bacchanal Spring Concert, Abacchalypse, was announced: Snoop Dogg and Das Racist will be playing on Low Plaza on April 30th.  Opening for them will be the winner of CU Records' Battle of the Bands.

Baseball: Lions lose both games in double-header

The first in-conference games of the season were played this weekend, beginning with a double-header against defending Ivy League champs the Dartmouth Big Green. Dartmouth beat Columbia in a three game playoff series last year to decide the conference championship. Could Columbia send a message on Saturday by upsetting their rivals?

Top of the first, first batter up, Dartmouth's Joe Sclafani goes yard. Chris O’Dowd would also hit a solo homer in the inning to go up 2-0 early. Top of the second now, runner on first, Sclafani again with the RBI triple to take a 3-0 lead. Columbia would narrow the deficit in the bottom of the third, after Alex Godshall doubled to start the inning, followed by some excellent small ball. Columbia pitcher Pat Lowery would begin to settle in, and fanned eight Dartmouth hitters through six and a third.

Both teams benefited from some impressive defensive play. Bottom of the sixth same score, runners on first and second when Dartmouth pitcher Kyle Hunter balked, advancing the runners to second and third, which led to this: Alexander Aurrichio with the base hit to drive in two, Columbia takes the lead. Top of the seventh, Lowery looking to finish Dartmouth off, gets the first batter, but then struggles and gives up a walk and a single. Brett Boretti lifts him, brings in Tim Giel to close things out. On the very first pitch, Jason Brooks, who went three for four in game 1 delivered with a three run jack.

Columbia would go quietly in the bottom of the inning and Dartmouth would go on to win 6-4. Game 2, more of the same early, first inning Chris O’Dowd hit another homer, this one brought in two. Bottom second, Cole Sulser dominated, striking out the side. The rest of the game was all Dartmouth, scoring runs in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth. Columbia could barely muster up any offense at all, and the Lions lost game two 8-1. They wrapped up this weekend with a double-header against Harvard and then will go on the road to play Rutgers on Wednesday and Brown and Yale in doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday respectively.