Let's Take It To Court

A Night at the Columbia vs. NYU Law Dean’s Cup.

By Ana Sorrentino

Illustration by Ines Alto

As if this were any usual Columbia basketball game, I smuggled my Chef Mike’s sandwich along with three bags of hot cheetos into my purse as I entered Levien Gym. I took my usual seat on the left, angled for a clear view of the scoreboard. As Columbia has never been known for its abundant school spirit, I expected only thin, uneven waves of baby blue-clad attendants and more empty rows than crowd. But this was no usual basketball game. 

Sub in hand, noise was already spilling out into the hallway by the time I reached the doors. I was buoyed forward by the crush of bodies whether I wanted to move or not. I threaded and squeezed and ducked, practically crawling until I landed somewhere near the top of the bleachers. In the clamor driven by maniacal Columbia Law students, Levien Gym was unrecognizable. 

This was the Dean’s Cup: an annual charity basketball game between NYU and Columbia Law School (CLS) that started in 2002. The proceeds raise money for public interest and community service organizations at both universities. As the NYU emcee wryly put it, this game supported “the cause that we always say we want to help but never end up actually helping.” By the final buzzer both schools had raised around $8,000 for an unspecified collective of public interest law groups.  

Students were decked head to toe in royal purple and Columbia Blue, tossing pompoms and foam fingers. By the game’s end I had accumulated so many cowbells that a line formed in my row for redistribution. As I settled into my seat, five minutes till tip off, pamphlets and fliers were shoved onto my lap. They listed the day's line-up and team coaches (Columbia had three, NYU only one). The teams were co-ed. Each pamphlet listed every player’s “preferred height,” with most reaching well over 6 feet; crowd-claimed MVP Jack Boyle peaked at 6 '10. 

A head-to-toe blue man began sprinting through the rows, screaming chants into a megaphone. Then, the buzzer finally sounded and the game sprang into motion. Immediately, Columbia won the tip off, with #11, Paul Akere, getting a lay-up and a foul. An aggressive spirit infused the room. Fouls came left and right. With airballs every now and then and plenty of miscommunication, it was clear this wasn’t a room of total pros. However, at brief moments of finesse, players were crossing each other up and taking shots with surprising intensity and accuracy. This became especially true for #18, Steven Chung, (“6’9,” NYU ’26) and #34, Jack Boyle, (“6’10,” CLS ’28) who were the lead scorers for their respective teams. 

By halftime Columbia was leading 34-19. The blue man, now soaked in sweat in various spots of his face and body, got everyone on their feet for a ceremonial half court shot. As a part of admissions programming, several incoming students were in attendance. Admitted student Khadeeja said “honestly, I thought I’d just come watch for a bit, but it’s kind of impossible not to get into it now that I’m here.” It’s also a big night for current students, such as Sara, (2L, CLS ’27) who said: “These are probably the closest two law schools in the country—because of this game, because of the interactions we have with other student organizations prior to this game. It really stems from this tradition.” 

In fact, in order to beat the Violets, the team begins training in early February, when the Law School hosts tryouts for interested players. From there, according to CLS coaches, the team practices weekly to prepare for game day. “You learn to perform under pressure,” said Cedric Lewis, third-year student and three-time NYU Dean’s Cup team member. “That’s what law school exams are all about—you have four hours to turn up and show out; the only difference here is that the game’s about two hours.” Despite a mural of NYU posters ranging from “That’s my TA” to “Columbia Drops the Ball Like They Did In US News Rankings,” the second half saw no comeback from NYU. CLS ultimately surged ahead to take the trophy 50-42. The proclaimed MVP, Jack Boyle, ended the game with a triple-double to bring his team to victory. 

As the shot clock was counting down to zero and I was screaming “I believe that we will win!” for a law school I don’t attend, surrounded by people I had just met—I could not believe how much fun I was having. There was an approachable nature to each person that made everything and everyone in this gym feel alive. After declining an invitation to the after-party, I stood to the side and people-watched. Everyone lingered a little longer than needed, drifting in clusters, half in conversation, with foam fingers hanging loosely at their sides. The court felt lighter, but not empty.