Last May, math-majoring junior Michael Quercia was arrested for possession of 10 ounces of pot in his dorm room, and NYU decided that he should perform 500 hours of community service and would remain suspended until 2007. Quercia thought that was a bit extreme, and a Manhattan judge agreed, calling NYU's ruling "a Draconian measure that is disproportionate to the offense committed." The Daily News reported that Supreme Court Justice Walter Tolub thinks that Quercia should be "reinstated after completing 100 hours of community service" - which Quercia is performing at the Salvation Army Northport Veterans Residence. more ›

Firedancer from sgoralnick's Greenpoint BBQ over the weekend. What, you don't have firedancers at your BBQs? more ›

more ›

business out of the dorms, as Julia Diaco found out with her drug operation. Anyway, Gothamist has this suggestion for He, at least for the lack of cash issue: Photoshop and/or a halfway decent color copier. more ›

And the "Pot Princess," Julia Diaco, the privileged freshman who was busted last year for selling pot and other drugs from her NYU dorm, left the Idaho treatment program she was attending in lieu of serving time. While the District Attorney's office says she failed the program, the judge thought there was issues with the program. Diaco will probably still avoid jailtime if the D.A.'s office agrees with other programs her lawyer suggests. Gothamist on Julia Diaco's exploits, and here's an interesting factoid: Dan Rather, son of THE Dan Rather, is one of the assistant DA's on the case. more ›

The Post has been loving the Julia Diaco story since the beginning. They dubbed her the "Pot Princess" and today's headline, "See Ya Tater, Pot Princess" certainly has a bit of fondness for the co-ed drug dealer. Today, the Post runs a photograph of Diaco going to court (left), looking quite polished and put together, and emphasizes that Diaco's family wealth played a part in her getting a sweet probation deal. A Legal Aid attorney tells the Post, "I would love for our clients to be offered the same deal. But Legal Aid wouldn't be representing a princess." Well, of course - money talks in this world. It's not right, but that's what happens. Diaco's lawyer says the probation at Clear View is not "the lap of luxury" and notes that while Diaco was selling a variety of drugs, Mary Jane was her biggest problem: "She had a very heavy marijuana habit. The morning began with marijuana, and the day ended with marijuana." Gothamist hopes that Diaco manages it through probation; she's the most high-profile bust of a college drug dealer we've heard of, and let's face it, they are a dime a dozen. We'd actually be interested in Law & Order: Class of 2009 where undercovers have to attend NYU, Columbia, Fordham, St. John's, Brooklyn College, Hunter, you name it - it's totally Law & Order meets 21 Jump Street. more ›

- Columbia has a lower crime rate compared to Harvard, Yale and University of Chicago. more ›

The Post ends their article with this sentence: "At the time of her arrest, police sources told The Post Diaco was frequently in the company of men during surveillance, but NYPD officials insist cops simply observed her conducting a series of undercover drug buys." What? The police are suspicious of a female college student, in New York City, hanging out with dudes? And now they are denying it? What are the police trying to say and deny now? And what is the Post trying to say? That Diaco had a crew with her? Her posse of homeless friends? What? more ›

For a different era of Washington Square, read Washington Square by Henry James, made into the William Wyler film, The Heiress, with Olivia de Havilland, and later, Washington Square, starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, directed by Agnieszka Holland (Gothamist prefers The Heiress). But our favorite New York drug movie is New Jack City. more ›

With siblings at Harvard and Princeton, plus attention on her wealthy family, the papers are painting a picture of a rich girl desperately trying to find herself, using the drugs to make friends and drugdealing as a way to be "down." Diaco befriended the homeless and brought them back to her dorm and fed them. But the craziest thing is that Newsday says that many female NYU student avoid Washington Square Park, while Diaco frequented it. There are so many female students in the park! That's how you get the class! Anyway, one of her homeless friends, Jameil Wilson says he warned her about selling drugs in the park, because of the many cops (this is true - even David Lee Roth was arrested there buying a dimebag), as well attests to the quality of the pot Diaco sold, "She sold me some weed a couple of times. It was pretty good stuff." more ›