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ALUMNI CORNER
Thoughts on Turning 250
By Charles J. O'Byrne '81
President, Columbia College Alumni Association
What does one say about a 250th birthday? Columbia
is such an immense place and our experiences so
disparate that I think it best to say little except
to update you on some of the celebrations that kicked
off the University’s grand fête. Thanks
to my predecessor, Jerry Sherwin ’55, president
emeritus of the Alumni Association, for covering
some of these events.
There were plenty of parties. From the gigantic
birthday cake on South Field, to the Homecoming
tent at Baker Field bursting with thousands of alums,
friends and families, to the concert on South Field
and Low Steps with Wyclef Jean — all of Columbia
seemed to be in party mode.
But there was reflection as well. Miller Theatre
was packed as University President Lee C. Bollinger
shared his First Amendment expertise during the
Fred Friendly seminar “Liberty and Security
in an Age of Terrorism.” Two symposia considered
the role of constitutional law and the impact of
genes and genomes on medicine and society, and sentiment
blended with scholarship for Michael Richman’s
lecture, “Alma Mater’s History and Legacy.”
Low Library was packed with those who joined Barnard
Professor Robert McCaughey for the launch of his
incisive University history, Stand, Columbia.
Alumni returned to campus mark the occasion, attending
celebrations throughout the weekend. The Society
of Columbia Graduates held its Great Teacher Awards
ceremony in Low Rotunda while more than 250 former
football players, supporters and friends celebrated
with a dinner charged by the spirit that’s
enlivening this year’s program. The weekend
closed with a screening of Ric Burns ’78’s
sensitive tribute to the University, Columbia
University: A Celebration, in Lerner Hall.
The film captures much of the University’s
history with beautiful images and thoughtful commentary
from members of the University community, including
former Associate Dean Michael Rosenthal and Brian
Dennehy ’60. The film is a remarkable tribute
from a talented filmmaker who remains devoted to
the College and its tradition of the Core and teaching
excellence.
Bollinger’s Op-Ed piece in the October 15
issue of The Wall Street Journal reminded
us of Columbia’s many extraordinary contributions
to the fabric of our society — from the 64
Columbians who have won the Noble Prize (the College
holds the record of having graduated more laureates
in science than any other American college) to the
creation of whole fields (anthropology) and theories
(plate tectonics). Our president, whose leadership
as a public intellectual adds more luster to Alma
Mater, concluded his essay with a prediction that
Columbia, like other great universities, will become
increasingly globalized.
In each CCT issue, I try to communicate
to you some of the happenings on campus and to encourage
you to become more active in the College’s
life. However you choose to celebrate the University’s
250th anniversary or to remember your days at the
College, there is no better time than now to become
involved. Perhaps your experiences at Columbia left
something to be desired; perhaps those years on
Morningside Heights were the best in your life.
Wherever you find yourself along the spectrum of
alumni experience, one overriding message in the
250th kickoff resonates for each of us: Columbia
is the inclusive community par excellence. The hallmarks
of the University, its greatest strengths, are diversity
and tolerance. There is room for everyone here,
perhaps more than anywhere else.
Alumni play an indispensable role in making Columbia
what it is. I hope that you will find or renew your
place as we begin a new century, a new era, and
move forward together.
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