<p>They’re not going to kill Greek life.</p>
<p>Word on the street is that NYPD spent $11,000 buying drugs from these kids for 5 months to bust them. What on Earth? I’m a graduate student which also means I’m a NYC taxpayer; they’re spending $11,000 of our tax money on buying drugs? Weren’t they convinced after the first $5,000 or so? That’s an average of over $350 per purchase. Who were these kids who had enough money to pay $350 for some LSD?</p>
<p>The $11,000 doesn’t matter; they’ll obviously get that back since it’s tainted “drug money.” No, the real cost of this operation was paying the detectives and undercover agents, especially for overtime, over 5 months! But of course, that’s why they do it. They’re not protecting or serving anyone by locking these five students up. But it’s very lucrative for the NYPD.</p>
<p>^^^^^^^^ I don’t think all students are gonna get locked up. From what I’ve read, they come from very privileged backgrounds, and at least 3 of them can make bail.</p>
<p>well the issue re: greek life, is that the actual national greek systems may end up revoking charters now because of illegal activity coming from the houses.</p>
<p>it isn’t columbia killing it per se, and so folks shouldn’t jump to conclusions. i’m looking at you truazn :)</p>
<p>but i think someone pointed out on the bwog, this is child’s play compared to what beta was allowed to get away with in the 90s, and guess what, beta is back. it is a shame for the greek community because it was just starting to gain a lot of traction, and considered by res life as more legitimate. it will give the admin leverage to be a bit more stern with who lives in fraternity housing and the like. perhaps there may be walking back of the new alcohol policy, though i doubt it. but the real ‘hell’ that will come down wont be from the administration, but from nationals of the various groups.</p>
<p>most have zero tolerance policies. let’s just be clear to have the gaze in the right direction as things materialize.</p>
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<p>as for this being a greek problem, it is not so much a greek issue as it is an issue of pseudo privacy. it is easier to stash things in a house that isn’t being cleaned or looked after by facilities very much, nor do you have to pass a security guard to get in. let’s not conflate the fact that it was in greek housing with a condemnation of it being greek in origin. same with the ICH guy, it has more to do with lack of a strong university presence in those buildings that encourage behavior that is more on the margins of legality. now how to deal with this issue is certainly big and important for columbia and may have ramifications about how to assign housing. it may compel columbia to do what a lot of greek systems already do and have mandatory live-in elders or at times professors who work to monitor things. in fact i’d say columbia’s policy re: greeks is rather lax compared to what i have seen elsewhere.</p>
<p>and regardless, these kids can’t compete with the delivery services that are a lot more reliable.</p>
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<p>They won’t necessarily get it back. It’s standard procedure for buy money to have been marked – which means NYPD wrote down the serial numbers of the money they used and made photocopies of the bills. If they found those same bills in these kids’ rooms when they made the arrests, they’d get them back. If the kids spent most of the $11K, they might not automatically get it back.</p>
<p>And you shouldn’t be thinking that $11K is a big deal to the NYPD. The next time you need to go to your local precinct to file a police report or get fingerprinted, you’ll see a bunch of lazy and useless unionized administrative staffers sitting around doing nothing at far more cost to the taxpayers.</p>
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<p>I doubt any of them will get any jail time. Maybe the main guy Harrison will do a little time, but the rest have no records and the charges against them aren’t too severe. Their futures will be ruined, but they won’t set prison sentences.</p>
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<p>Didn’t think of this – good point.</p>
<p>I hope Columbia doesn’t kill greek life. How does the school try to keep the social life going? Dorm parties were pretty much out of the picture already and going to 1020 every weekend doesn’t constitute a social life. Is UChicago going to become more fun than Columbia?</p>
<p>have you been to hyde park, chicago alma? really? yeah - columbia could chain everyone to cinder blocks and it would still be more fun to go to school in MoHi.</p>
<p>when life gives you lemons…there is always st. a’s.</p>
<p>You don’t have to have greek life to have fun… there are many other ways / places to socialize… I mean, this is New YOrk Cty, not middle of nowhere. </p>
<p>I vote for banning frat… they add nothing but late-nght drinking + partying + occasional drug dealing.</p>
<p>more scandal for Columbia. </p>
<p>[Columbia</a> professor is charged with incest, accused of bedding young relative for 3 years](<a href=“http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/12/09/2010-12-09_columbia_professor_is_charged_with_incest_accused_of_bedding_young_relative_for_.html?r=news]Columbia”>http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/12/09/2010-12-09_columbia_professor_is_charged_with_incest_accused_of_bedding_young_relative_for_.html?r=news)</p>
<p>“…there are many other ways / places to socialize… I mean, this is New YOrk Cty, not middle of nowhere.” </p>
<p>Actually D2 found that it is easier to socialize in “the middle of nowhere”, where life is more centered on and near campus, and people routinely go to near-campus house parties held by their friends, for free. Frat parties at Columbia were the closest analogs she found in the Columbia community, but of course you have to be into that scene to enjoy them. Most of the other places to socialize she found in NYC wind up costing money that is a scarce resource for college students, was her opinion.</p>
<p>From what she told me, the diminution of greek life at columbia would be a real loss, for some students at least.</p>
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<p>I wonder what the relation was - presumably it’s a niece. Anyone know if he’s married / has kids?</p>
<p>Holy sh–… with his daughter, per the spec!</p>
<p>[Prof</a>. David Epstein charged with incest with daughter (UPDATED) | Spectrum](<a href=“http://spectrum.columbiaspectator.com/spectrum/prof-david-epstein-charged-with-incest-with-daughter]Prof”>http://spectrum.columbiaspectator.com/spectrum/prof-david-epstein-charged-with-incest-with-daughter)</p>
<p>i will say his picture looks hella creepster.</p>
<p>It seems like he has good review on CULPA.</p>
<p>[3</a> Columbia frats suspended after members arrested - WSJ.com](<a href=“http://online.wsj.com/article/AP9b14db5256994af5b552b6b6ba1ba75d.html]3”>http://online.wsj.com/article/AP9b14db5256994af5b552b6b6ba1ba75d.html)</p>
<p>I’m sure these 2 events are making some people who didn’t get into Columbia a lot more content with their lives.</p>
<p>While I don’t think Columbia’s decision not to admit someone should make that person discontented with their life, I think it’s absurd to suggest that these events that effect only a couple people would make people happy they were not admitted to their first-choice school. Then again, schadenfreude is a funny thing.</p>
<p>Didn’t the prof go to Harvard undergrad?</p>
<p>^ So what?</p>
<p>@pwoods, I think its absurd that you ignore the fact that its common behavior to bash that which remains unattainable. There are people who are definitely disappointed by not getting into Columbia, and its only human nature to see these events and say “Meh, this school isn’t that great anyway.” I’m not saying such a justification is correct, but its ignorant to say such an event will not occur. It happens all the time in other aspects of life, from failed relationships to failed job interviews.</p>
<p>Oh, I definitely think they will say that. I’m just not sure it will really make them happy and satisfied to do so. It’s kind of an empty victory, so to speak.</p>