"The definition of a college president is someone who lives in a big house and begs for money," goes an old line that college presidents like to say to appear self-deprecating. Fortunately, college presidents are very well compensated for their efforts.

It's nice to have famous friends, especially when you're running for office.

Designer Tom Ford turns 48 today. Disgraced media columnist Michael Wolff is turning 56. Gary Cohn, the No. 2 man at embattled Goldman Sachs, is 49. Bob Kerrey, the embattled president of the New School, is 66. Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan is turning 40. Actress Sarah Chalke is 33. Grey's Anatomy star Chandra Wilson turns 40. The R&B singer Mario turns 23. Imprisoned telecom CEO Bernie Ebbers is 68. The rapper Mase is turning 31. Olympic ski champ Jonny Moseley is 34. Former MTV VJ Downtown Julie Brown is turning 50. And Pee-wee Herman celebrates his 57th birthday today.

Spectacularly unpopular New School president Bob Kerrey will quit in two years. Building occupations work!

Remember the angry protest outside the New School a few weeks ago, the one in which students barricaded themselves inside a building and demanded the university's controversial president, Bob Kerrey, resign? Well, they're getting their way! Bob Kerrey will, indeed, be leaving the institution. In, like, two years or so. [NYT]

The New School kids just won't stop getting arrested. At 10 p.m. last night, 200 protesters gathered in Union Square and tried to march en masse to New School president Bob Kerrey's house.

A protest outside the New School turned violent this morning when students seeking the ouster of the university's president, Bob Kerrey, clashed with cops. According to the NYPD, 19 people were arrested in the melee. The department's spokesman, Paul Browne, also said the operation "was done in a very organized, orderly fashion," and the arrests were made in an "orderly fashion," although this video taken by an activist seems to dispute that account. Consider your faith in NYPD flacks shattered! [NYT/City Room]

Recent student takeovers at the New School and NYU were allowed to drag on for days with negotiations and demands; but today's New School takeover has already been crushed by cops! And there's no amnesty:

Alert: student activists have taken over one of the New School's buildings, near Union Square. Again! They just did this shit a few months ago, winning nothing except ridicule. This time they might do better!

Just in time to solve America's education crisis, the exclusive private Greenwich Village High School backed by Graydon Carter and John Leguizamo is preparing to open its doors. It's worse than you think.

If your child is in eighth grade, you have lots of money, and you've been having trouble snagging a reservation at the Waverly Inn, you now have another potential path to those $55 bowls of truffled macaroni and cheese. Greenwich Village High School—the private school backed by Vanity Fair editor (and Waverly co-owner) Graydon Carter, actor John Leguizamo, and New School president Bob Kerrey, among others—is taking applications for its first freshman class through January 15. [NYO]

The Siege of the New School, in which students occupied buildings, fought off cops, and terrified school president Bob Kerrey, has ended. Revolution wins! Exclusive first hand journalism—and wanton violence—below:

Terrified and unpopular New School president Bob Kerrey has canceled his scheduled meeting with student reps tonight, citing "security" reasons. Pussy! Meanwhile the student revolutionaries may clash again with police stormtroopers!

Breaking: The student revolutionaries currently occupying the New School's Faculty building have triumphed over the Fascist security guards, winning a meaningless victory! And they have issued a "Communique" from inside the occupied territory:

What's more important than anything in these uncertain times? Making sure that your kids are given the ruling class advantages of a private school education, even if it means starting up a school yourself! Aimee Bell, who works at Vanity Fair, and Sara Goodman, the great-granddaughter of Bergdorf, are West Village neighbors who, unsatisfied with the choice of high schools available to their daughters, decided—why not?—to start their own with a little help from their friends.

Fashion designer Tom Ford—he of "perfect stubble, manicured nails, and not an ounce of fat"—turns 47 today. Other less glamorous folks also celebrating today: Vanity Fair columnist Michael Wolff is turning 55. New School president (and former U.S. senator) Bob Kerrey is 65. Goldman Sachs co-president Gary Cohn is 48. Actress Sarah Chalke of Scrubs fame is 32. Pee-wee Herman (aka Paul Reubens) is 56. Disgraced telecom exec Bernie Ebbers will be celebrating his 67th behind bars. Pop star Mario is 22. The rapper Mase is 30. And Olympic skier Jonny Moseley turns 33.

The former governor of Nebraska and a former U.S. Senator, Bob Kerrey was president of the New School from 2001-2010 amidst constant rumors of returning to politics.

Bob Kerrey, the former fitness center operator and former Debra Winger dater and SEAL team leader of the murderous 1969 raid on Thanh Phong, will stay on as president of the New School and not run for Nebraska Senator. [City Room]