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FEATUREColumbia Welcomes the Class of 2007By Joan Kane
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| Glorious,
sunny August skies greeted students, faculty, family and friends
at the Convocation ceremony for members of the Class of 2007,
which was held for the first time on South Field. |
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| The flags
made a colorful backdrop as (left, left to right) SEAS Dean
Zvi Galil, Dean of the College Austin Quigley and University
President Lee C. Bollinger take in the proceedings in full
academic regalia. |
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| Students wearing
Columbia250 T-shirts lead a procession that included 89 flags, one for each home state or country of the members of the first-year class. |
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Following a processional that featured flags from the 89 states and countries from which members of the class hail, Dean of Student Affairs Chris Colombo greeted the new students and their families. “Today marks a time of ending, but also a time of new beginnings,” he told them. “Each of our students is unique and makes a valuable contribution to our community.” Colombo reassured parents that the Student Affairs staff “is ready to assist your sons and daughters for the next four years.”
Cedrick Mendoza-Tolentino ’05, chair of the New Student Orientation Program Committee, recounted his first days on campus. “As soon as I stepped foot on campus, I knew that I had fallen in love with Columbia,” he said, telling members of the class: “That’s what Columbia is to you now — your new home.”
Charles J. O’Byrne ’81, president of the Columbia College Alumni Association, welcomed the students on behalf of alumni. “As a representative of 50,000 Columbia alumni, I can say that you are surrounded by many visible reminders of alumni, and that Columbia is a magnificent place to grow.”
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| For help, first-years
only had to look for the volunteers in yellow T-shirts. |
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Quigley, who is beginning his ninth year as dean of the College, emphasized the special challenges facing new students. “This generation of students will change careers — not only jobs — three or four times,” he said. “We have to educate students for change.” But he also urged the students to preserve their pasts in this new environment. “We must hold on to our hopes, ideas and interests. … As we prepare students for a world of change, we also must prepare them for a world of continuity.”
Bollinger declared, “I do not believe there has been a time that is better, more critically important, to be in college.” The “circumstance of the world has shifted considerably,” he noted, and we are “experiencing issues and problems of a kind and magnitude that we haven’t seen before.” In this environment, Bollinger said, “I am convinced that Columbia University is the best of universities to be at.” Particularly, he added, “at a time when Columbia celebrates its illustrious history.”
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| (above
left) Students celebrate as they march through the Broadway
Gates, marking their "official" entrance to Columbia
as the Class of 2007 at the end of Class Act, an evening program
for all first-year students on their first night on campus.
Earlier, in Roone Arledge Auditorium, Dean of Student Affairs
Chris Colombo greeted the students and presented their class
banners (one for College students, one for SEAS), CC Young
Alumni President Andy Topkins '98 spoke to the first-years
on behalf of the alumni and student groups (above right) performed
songs from past Varsity Shows. |
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Moving day is a busy
one for students and parents alike: (clockwise from top left)
Cars and taxis pull up onto College Walk to unload students
and their belongings. A hammer came in handy as Janice and
Dan Gail helped their son, Harry ’07, set up his room
in John Jay. Finally, a laundry cart filled with boxes provided
a good place for one weary first-year to take a break. |
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