LIVEBLOG DAY 4: Juniors recuperate and regroup!

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Tomorrow will be our first glance at what effect the Junior Regroup rule instated this year will have. With literally over 100 juniors potentially fighting over the remaining Watt Studio Doubles and Claremont 7s, the scene around 2:30 tomorrow could get absolutely chaotic. Stay tuned to that and more in today's liveblog.

A few miscellaneous other notes:
1) Make use of the option under Spreadsheet view to sort the remaining rooms by square feet.
2) We've found out that the lone River Walkthrough Double has been reserved for Special Interests this year and that a Harmony six-person suite and Harmony double are still available.
3) Expect ~15 Watt studio doubles to be remaining for regroup and a whopping 9 Claremont 7s left over too. Start figuring out your regroup plans now.
Check after the jump for the liveblog.

3:52 : Looks as if we're done for the day!

3:43 : And now, they're taking away the candy...

3:42 : Some girl just compared the lottery system to the Hunger Games.

3:34 : Adele is playing. How inspirational.

3:25 : Some chick just told us her post-housing party plans: going to the Heights and getting champagne drizzled all over her body. Props to this lass!

3:23 : Sandya here! The last Ruggles six-person suite is gone!

3:09: Last group in Watt is thrilled, say they thought they'd be back in McBain again. At least one group didn't get shafted!

3:09: Watt is officially gone! We're suspecting a lot of drops to general selection.

3:08: People are talking about going to The Heights after this and invited another group to join them, so if you're excited or depressed about Junior Regroup, you know where to go.

3:04: Group is screaming and just high-fived Dave the housing guy. They are now discussing taking shots, sounds like it's a pretty good day for some as well.

3:02: First Claremont of the day just taken. [Note: we stand corrected, the first Claremont was picked around noon today.]

3:01: Two guys just picked into Nussbaum.

3:00: And someone else drops down to General Selection. This is a sad day for some.

2:58: Only five Watt doubles left. Last picker tells us that this was the most terrible experience of her life.

2:50: And we're at nine. A line of worried faces is waiting to go into the room to pick.

2:50: Only ten Watt doubles left, uh oh...

2:49: One five person group just regrouped into two, and two people just tried to sneak into picking. They have been apprehended and taken to housing jail. I hear they serve bad candy there.

2:45: I keep thinking everyone is saying "What" but they are in fact saying "Watt." Starting to rub off because literally everyone is picking into Watt.

2:43: One guy just jumped into another's arms. Whole group is now embracing. Surprising to see something other than the dark underbelly that is Columbia housing.

2:42: And another Nussbaum gone. More numbers are being announced. The room has become a symphony of "yays" and "NOOOOO"s.

2:38: First Nussbaum of Junior Regroup just taken.

2:35: BRB gonna go get my earplugs, so much screaming. Watt studio doubles seem to be the hot commodity today.

2:33: Someone just dropped to General Selection, and another group picked into Watt. But don't get too excited for them, they said "It's better than nothing."

2:29: Rooms in Watt and Broadway are the first picks from Junior Regroup.

2:27: So much screaming and banging on pots. The Hunger Games are definitely beginning. MAY THE ODDS FOREVA BE IN YO FAVOR.

2:27: Giving the deets of Junior Regroup. They're telling everyone what to do if you don't pick into anything. Shit's gettin' real.

2:25: More banging on pots, now accompanied by screaming. Junior Regroup must be starting...

2:22: Music is on par. Seriously considering starting a Columbia Housing radio station. Currently playing: Someday by The Strokes.

2:20: Supposedly Junior Regroup is goin' down in less than 5 minutes. What to do in the mean time...Number Two: make friends with the housing people. Again, you could get a date today!

2:18: One room in the brownstones taken. Junior Regroup Update: Pretty sure they just banged pots together to get everyone's attention.

2:15: Nobody has punched anyone yet, this is getting boring. We now begin our series, what to do during Junior Regroup. Number One: try out every pick up line you know. You might not find someone to live with today, but maybe you'll get a date!

2:12: John Jay Lounge has officially turned into the cafeteria from Mean Girls, with a twinge of Survivor-esque alliances. Little pow-wows are happening all around.

2:09: Someone just excitedly announced, "But it has bunk beds!" Things seem grim.

2:07: Sara here! At least 100 people here for junior regroup. They just announced that the Hunger Games will be beginning shortly.

2:02: Second to last 2-person group just walked out of the cage with a Watt studio double.

2:00: JJ lounge is getting loud. Junior regroup time. Things might get messy.

1:58: Ruggles 315-319, a 6-person suite, was just taken. Apparently that was open after all. Still one 6-person suite left on the first floor though.

1:55: The 7-person group that just walked out did not look happy. They're on the floor of JJ lounge and duking it out.

1:52: Sara is switching off the liveblogging. Lanbo is back on.

1:49: Watt 4G gone now too. 1:49 was a big minute for Watt.

1:49: 6A Watt is gone and its new inhabitants could not be happier. They're currently talking about all the christmas lights they're going to put up.

1:47: Now Interpol is on. I would just hang out here in general if it was always like this.

1:45: Two person group is basically cheering...the suspense builds as to where they're living. We predict Watt

1:40: Watt 6E is now gone.

1:36: "Rolling in the Deep" is playing. I don't think anyone even cares about what room they get at this point, all in the world is good.

1:32: And we're back! Sara here, but nobody's showed up for their appointment times yet...

12:40: And that should be all before we break for lunch. 20/2680 was the last group to pick before the afternoon session. Myles, Stephen, and Lanbo signing out. Check back when our coverage resumes at 1:20.

12:36: 20/2673 was "pretty juiced" that they got Watt 3E. 20/2680 on the other hand was less juiced that they picked into the 44A/C singles with the RA. I guess they don't mind the war on fun?

12:34: We're on track to see out our prediction that ~15 Watt studio doubles are going to stick around at the end of the day. Most of the good ones have gone already. I can see another 15 or so gone by the end of regroup.

12:31: But not really. Who is Reese anyways? What made him think that a peanut butter cup might be a good idea? Only in America would that have worked.

12:29: BREAKING NEWS: There are no Reese's left. SOUND THE ALARM.

12:23: The cutoff for a Ruggles 6-person suite was 20/1842 last year. It looks like it's going to be 20/2949 this year. You are welcome to write out a Lagrangian and tell me what that says ... but it's housing. So I will probably tell you that you are full of yourself.

12:21: There is only one 6-person group left. 20/2949. There is also one Ruggles 6-person suite left. So 20/2949 ... if you are reading you are welcome to buy me a thank you present.

12:17: Some tough decisions for anyone looking for a Watt studio double now. What are your priorities? Light? Floorspace? Streetview?

12:16: Watt 3J gets picked! 20/2493. Very smart decision. For my reasoning, look at my 11:56 post.

12:14: Speaking of spies and reports. James Bond is reportedly going to drink a Heineken in the next movie.

They are ruining 007. He's now some pig-headed hitman who knows nothing about suave and spying. Bond drinks vodka martinis and maybe an occasional Jasper. He does not drink beer. Ian Fleming is rolling in his grave right now.

12:10: Group of six just picked into Ruggles with a lottery number so low that they didn't care to remember it. Reconnaissance and detective work on our part shows that it was 20/2328. They picked into 415-419. It was the second to last 6-person suite in Ruggles. Second to last suite in Ruggles full stop. The last suite is 109-114. END OF REPORT.

12:04: A group of six just walked into the cage. I don't even want to know what is going on in their heads.

12:00: Nope. I was wrong. 20/2302 picks 6B, citing floorspace.

11:56: As 20/2289 picks into Watt 6J, any future hopes for a street view room in Watt is fading fast. The only ones left are 5G, 4G, 3G, 3J, 1G, and 1H. The G line isn't all that great and do you really want to be on the first floor? My bet is that the next Watt studio double to go is going to be 3J.

11:52: 20/2206 just picked into Watt 5H without his roommate. Didn't seem to care all that much seeing as though he barely remembered his room number. Is his roommate going to be happy? "Hope so."

11:50: I also don't see why they should show. There aren't any 5-person suites left.

11:46: I see three 5-person groups coming up. Given that the last 5-person group to pick into a suite did was 24/2895 and was scheduled for 11:39 yesterday. I doubt they are going to show.

11:42: 20/2204 was really happy about picking into Watt 2H ... they expected a lot worse. I agree ... they could have done a lot worse.

11:38: First brownstone double down for the day. 536-42. "Close to campus. No security. Apartment lifestyle." But also no kitchen, no private bathroom, and the old PIKE house?

11:34: Speak of the devil. The next 2-person group took the Nussbaum 10 A-1. Like the last group, they wanted a wall/a divde/that thing that makes a walkthrough double not a studio double.

11:32: For 2-person groups that don't particularly care about a kitchen. The Nussbaum A-1 line really isn't that bad ... 260ft walkthrough double. That's more space than most Watt studio doubles. Still available on 3, 5, 9, and 10.

11:28: Nussbaum 4A-1 is taken with 20/2042. First Nussbaum room down!

11:23: Watt studio doubles trickling off the list pretty consistently. We began the day with 46, we're now down to 36.

11:20: Can I just ask? Did anyone read the occupancy agreement? In full?

11:16: 20/1950, Arvin and Finn's number is used on Watt 4J. Arvin's reasoning for a street view over more space and a courtyard view: "I can get a courtyard in suburbia, this is New York."

And Stephen, for the record: I am perfectly happy with my Watt studio double. How much money have you lost?

11:10 a.m. Stephen sneaking in here—Lanbo just left to pick his room. Anyone want 2:1 odds he comes back angry? (Just kidding, that is not a fair bet because Lanbo is always angry!)

11:06: Watt 5J just left the board. More importantly, it's my turn to pick! So liveblogging is going on hold for a couple of minutes.

11:02: Ruggles 715-719 just got taken off the board. This means that there aren't that many 6-person suites left. 2 to be exact.

10:56: Opinion columnist Arvin Ahmadi just pointed out to me that Finn and I shouldn't be liveblogging before we pick rooms ... something about conflicts of interest. Like I said at 10:41 "The Shaft transcends journalism ethics."

10:53: 20/1786 just picked into a Wien walkthrough double ... over Watt. Unlike Finn, city news editor, I, editorial page editor, am allowed to have opinions. She wanted a "wall" because her roommate is leaving halfway through—what? why not Nussbaum? Finn cracks a news/opinion wall joke ... if you don't know what that means I could tell you.

10:51: This is really not that exciting ... the most common expression in the room at the moment might be described as bored. Any ideas on how to jazz this up are welcome in the comments.

10:47: And another Watt studio double 20/1776—"year of our country" ... America that is.

10:45: Watt 3D, another studio double gets picked. 20/1762.

10:41: Thanks, Finn. This is exciting. Journalism ethics generally mean that Finn (news) and I (opinion) can't do anything together. But The Shaft transcends journalism ethics.

10:39: And with this I pass the liveblogging hand to Lanbo, who unfortunately picks in immediately before I do in about half an hour. Don't take my room, Lanbo!

10:38: Watt 6H has been taken. They're excited: "We get to see the street, and all the weird shit that happens there." Agreed!

10:35: Seriously… no activity in the cage in at least the last 10 minutes. Instead, we're rocking out to Lanbo's weird music. In particular, Spectrum editor Stephen Snowder, who's showing off all the dance moves you could ever do while sitting in a chair.

10:30: Lanbo changes it to some obscure dance music. Better. Also, overheard as a group of 2 walks into the cage: "What, honestly, in your opinion, is the best housing for two people?" Dave Roberts dishes out good advice, so you're in good hands!

10:27: Sorry for the slow updates, but there's not much going on here! We're pretty sure only eight groups have selected today, and another three or four have dropped to general. Opinion editor Lanbo Zhang, who's due to take over for me liveblogging pretty soon, has put on some relatively depressing music. Wow, Lanbo.

10:22 a.m.: Ooooh, this is interesting! This group that got the last Ruggles 8 coerced encouraged the group before them to not go for Ruggles and to drop to general and get Broadway. That group that dropped to general is all in the same fraternity as two of these guys, and they all wanted singles, so it worked out for the best.

10:19 a.m.: 20/1607 in the cage now, nabs the last Ruggles 8, on the first floor, jumping ahead of 20/1542, an 8-person group that isn't here! Important lesson: BE ON TIME!

10:12 a.m.: Don't despair, groups of 6 after 20/1871… it seems like a few groups of 6 haven't been showing up and we think one or more may have dropped to general or regroup without making that clear.

10:11 a.m.: Correction, now the last of the K-line has gone (1K), though granted it's a little bit smaller than the other K rooms (not by much—this is 258 sq ft!). Still, this group says they're excited.

10:10 a.m.: Shoutout to my co-editor Sammy Roth, whose group of six just selected Ruggles 515-519. "Exactly what we wanted. We rolled two dice for the doubles." Hooray!

10:05 a.m.: And another Watt studio double goes, this time 3K, the second-to-last of that 276-sq ft K-line. "We've been planning this for days," they say. "We like to entertain, so we wanted a big room." Party on!

10:01 a.m.: Watt 5B is taken off the board! (Yours truly was eyeing that room… still another hour to go until I get my say, though.)

10:00 a.m.: A group of six drops to general! (They couldn't decide who would get the double in Ruggles.) That's good news for 20/1871 at 11:03 a.m., who could now claim the last Ruggles 6! Those fights for the singles bring down a lot of groups.

9:58 a.m.: At this rate, we're predicting the Ruggles cutoff to be 20/1830, picking in at 10:54 a.m. (Those are six-person groups. The eight-person group that has the option to take the last Ruggles 8 is 20/1607 at 10:18 a.m.)

9:54 a.m.: Still pretty quiet here in da Lounge, no music and very few groups. Eat up some of the delicious free candy, fellow juniors, and then turn up the radio! We want to be entertained over here at the Shaft!

9:53 a.m.: A group of 2 drops to general. They really wanted Woodbridge and when that went off the board yesterday, they didn't consider anything else. They're aiming for Broadway or Schapiro. Interesting!

9:50 a.m.: Only one Ruggles 8 left! This group of 8 (20/1222) just picked into the second-floor Ruggles suite of 208-212. "We wanted the third floor, but those stupid boys ahead of us got it!" they jest.

9:48 a.m.: Make that a grand total of 30 groups of 5 (those who couldn't pick yesterday and those who were scheduled today) who will be homeless until regroup or general selection. That's 150 juniors who are going to have to wait.