Alex Kedler/Chronicle Columbia students Aaron Lorence and Nic Krebill, members of On The Ground, discuss the possibility of war with Iraq and the country’s history at the Iraq teach-in on Feb. 20 in the Hokin Gallery, 623 S. Wabash Ave. The panel was presented by On The Ground and Not In Our Name, two student groups that oppose war with Iraq.

Former student dies at popular nightspot
Radio major among 21 dead; Classmates call him quiet; say he dreamed of becoming a sportscaster

Former Columbia student Da Shand Ray of Hillside, Ill. died of injuries he suffered on Feb. 17 as a result of a disturbance at E2 a Southside nightclub. Born May 4, 1978, Ray was 24 at the time of his death.

“The incident of Sunday night was a horrible tragedy and the [Columbia] community mourns the loss of life,” said Dean of Students Sharon Wilson-Taylor.

Ray was not enrolled at Columbia when he died, but attended the college on and off between the fall semesters of 1999 and 2002 as a radio major.
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Spring enrollment lower than expected
Columbia now third largest undergraduate school in Illinois

Columbia’s spring enrollment increased this semester by 2 percent from a year ago, prompting college officials to call the rise a healthy, but not dramatic, shift in school attendance.
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Intramural sports seek slam dunk
Unknown to many students, program offers volleyball, basketball

Columbia’s intramural sports program is going strong in its second year, even if it seems to operate below the radar of most Columbia students.
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Theater professor bids farewell
Credited with building Theater Department, Harrison plans move to NYC

Under the red hues of the Hot House lights, with flowers and gifts in hand, lines of people gathered around former Theater faculty member Paul Carter Harrison to offer him their final farewells.
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Dean candidate suggests ‘Columbia Award’
Advertising professor bids for School of Media Art’s top post

Columbia’s search committee screened the second of four contenders on Feb. 17 in its search for a new dean of the School of Media Arts. The school, which is the largest of the four in Columbia’s offering, has not had a permanent dean for more than a year. If selected to fill the position, Dr. E. Lincoln James said he would take steps to improve the “brand image” of Columbia, perhaps even introducing a Columbia Award, akin to an Oscar, to be given to a deserving filmmaker.
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Swastikas, hate speech shock Northwestern U.
University officials continue to investigate random hate messages

(U-WIRE) EVANSTON, Ill.—The simple lines of the swastika—making two appearances in Bobb and McCulloch halls in the past week—have triggered complex feelings of fear and anger for many Northwestern University students, faculty and staff.
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Indiana U. professor’s letter cause for series of forums
Several students say document spurred strong feelings of anger and pure shock

(U-WIRE) BLOOMINGTON, Ind.—A letter opposing the admissions process at the Indiana University School of Law written by an Indiana University professor sparked a series of discussions concerning the practice of affirmative action, one of which occurred Feb. 18.
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Terrorist threat prompts Columbia U international students to leave New York
Many foreign students feel their lives are in danger with the onslaught of a possible war

(U-WIRE) NEW YORK—Beyond the snow and sub-freezing temperatures, renewed fears of terrorist attacks have made the climate in New York City even less appealing. City residents have begun to wonder aloud if war in Iraq will cause terrorists supporting Iraq to strike America at its center. Columbia University student Yago Amerlinck-Huerta, decided that he would not stay to find out.
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The Editor's Desk

I want to start smoking again, but Chicago keeps stopping me.
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