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WindowShopping · 11-09-2005, 06:44 PM

Sac, it's sometimes good to flush out the negative aspects of a school, even if you disagree with some highly held opinions. It's sometimes difficult to ascertain if you don't live through it on a daily basis. I haven't tried Barnard food just yet, but I'll give it a shot next time I have to use their library. You should also be aware that while WKCR operates as Columbia's radio station, it's mostly a jazz (and classical) station, funded by the alumni, to serve the citizens of Manhattan. WBAR is the student "club" station, in place to serve the interests of the students (meaning lots of cussing, lots of technical snafus, decent indie music, etc).

I think slipper makes some really good points, and the Spec, probably once a semester, pumps out an article along the same lines. There is perhaps far too much of a hierarchial feeling and nowhere near enough unity amongst the three undergrad schools and the affiliates. A hot-button topic for years has been Barnard and GS unable to gain swipe access to the dorms. A more recent topic is not letting us (Barnard and GS) into the new LionLink student networking interface run by the university.

I'm still really unsure why CC/SEAS (and even Barnard?) students sometimes feel that GS kids got in through a back door, though it's been a pervasive misconception since I began at Columbia. I don't know everyone's story, but quite a few that I do know have really remarkable backgrounds that drove them to Columbia. I'm in total agreement with you that I wish the differences between the divisions - at least at the bureaucratic level - would fade away, but there's far too much entrenched in the culture of the university for this to possibly ever take place. I mean, the number of student affairs offices (3), the number of advising systems (4), the number of financial aid offices (3), the number of admissions offices (3), the different wording on the degrees, and whether they get printed in English or Latin; yet when it comes to money, there seems to be a single bursar's office (for Columbia) and a single ID office (for Columbia and Barnard). There's also a consolidated library network (CLIO) for Columbia and Barnard (though lacking the other affiliates that Columbia/Barnard card-holders can borrow from). The sports teams are one in the same (for CC/SEAS/GS/Barnard; everyone's a Columbia Lion). In fact, 95% of the student groups are open to everyone. The flex and dining dollars system is also fully integrated.

11-09-2005, 06:44 PM	#75
WindowShopping Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Columbia University Threads: 1 Posts: 269	Sac, it's sometimes good to flush out the negative aspects of a school, even if you disagree with some highly held opinions. It's sometimes difficult to ascertain if you don't live through it on a daily basis. I haven't tried Barnard food just yet, but I'll give it a shot next time I have to use their library. You should also be aware that while WKCR operates as Columbia's radio station, it's mostly a jazz (and classical) station, funded by the alumni, to serve the citizens of Manhattan. WBAR is the student "club" station, in place to serve the interests of the students (meaning lots of cussing, lots of technical snafus, decent indie music, etc). I think slipper makes some really good points, and the Spec, probably once a semester, pumps out an article along the same lines. There is perhaps far too much of a hierarchial feeling and nowhere near enough unity amongst the three undergrad schools and the affiliates. A hot-button topic for years has been Barnard and GS unable to gain swipe access to the dorms. A more recent topic is not letting us (Barnard and GS) into the new LionLink student networking interface run by the university. I'm still really unsure why CC/SEAS (and even Barnard?) students sometimes feel that GS kids got in through a back door, though it's been a pervasive misconception since I began at Columbia. I don't know everyone's story, but quite a few that I do know have really remarkable backgrounds that drove them to Columbia. I'm in total agreement with you that I wish the differences between the divisions - at least at the bureaucratic level - would fade away, but there's far too much entrenched in the culture of the university for this to possibly ever take place. I mean, the number of student affairs offices (3), the number of advising systems (4), the number of financial aid offices (3), the number of admissions offices (3), the different wording on the degrees, and whether they get printed in English or Latin; yet when it comes to money, there seems to be a single bursar's office (for Columbia) and a single ID office (for Columbia and Barnard). There's also a consolidated library network (CLIO) for Columbia and Barnard (though lacking the other affiliates that Columbia/Barnard card-holders can borrow from). The sports teams are one in the same (for CC/SEAS/GS/Barnard; everyone's a Columbia Lion). In fact, 95% of the student groups are open to everyone. The flex and dining dollars system is also fully integrated.