More than 1,000 alumni, students, parents and friends gathered under the big tent at Homecoming 2009 and proved once again that they know how to have a good time.

Columbians of all ages flocked to the Baker Athletics Complex on October 17 to enjoy gourmet barbecue fare and convivial conversation at the annual Homecoming pre-game picnic and carnival. It may have been gray and cold outside, but inside the toasty tent, fans showed off their best light blue outfits, and Roar-ee the Lion made his rounds with the band and cheerleaders in tow. With their faces painted like lions, the hardiest children (and some adults as well) braved the drizzle to run through giant inflatable obstacle courses and toss around footballs.

Not even a 27-13 loss to Penn in the afternoon football game at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium could dampen the spirits of the lively crowd. The Lions had hoped to build on their dominating victory over Princeton two weeks earlier, but Penn took advantage of several turnovers and pulled away to drop Columbia's record to 1-1 in the Ivy League and 2-3 overall.

The festivities began on Thursday and Friday with a two-day "Especially Open House" at the new Columbia Alumni Center at 622 W. 113th St. that featured tours and prizes. Parents gathered on campus on Friday for special Family Weekend programming, and a record crowd of more than 300 alumni and friends convened at Branch in midtown for the annual Black Alumni Homecoming celebration on Saturday night.

View the photo gallery from Homecoming 2009.
View the photo gallery from the Black Alumni Homecoming celebration.

-Ethan Rouen '04J

More than 150 Columbia College Fund/Parents Fund Class Agents came out to swap fundraising tips and hear Dean Michele Moody-Adams speak during the seventh annual Columbia College Fund Leadership Conference, held at Low Library on October 3.

"It was everyone working together last year that made this happen," said Mark Amsterdam '66, chair of the College Fund, announcing to the crowd that the fund had exceeded its Fiscal Year 2008-09 $14 million goal by raising $14.6 million.

Amsterdam gave his introduction over breakfast, which was followed by a lecture on social networking by Sreenath Sreenivasan, professor of professional practice and dean of student affairs at the Journalism School.

Class Agents, who volunteer to solicit classmates and other College parents for donations, then headed to Hamilton Hall for breakout sessions on "The Basics of Volunteering," "The Heart of the Annual Fund: Reunion Giving," "Successful Fundraising Strategies in a Challenging Economic Climate" and "Dollars vs. Donors: Why Participation Matters."

The day ended with a speech and question-and-answer session during lunch with Moody-Adams, who discussed topics ranging from the Core Curriculum to the Dean's Teas she plans to host with students.

"It was a day for volunteers to see the importance of their work, that we are here to support them and that there is a large and diverse community doing this together," said Susan Birnbaum, executive director of the College Fund. "We received some really good ideas, and that made it successful. The volunteers felt ready and excited to go out and do their work."

-Ethan Rouen '04J

Conrad H. Lung '72 will be honored on Thursday, November 19, at a black-tie dinner at which he will be presented with this year's Alexander Hamilton Medal. The medal, given at the Alexander Hamilton Award Dinner in Low Rotunda, is the highest honor paid to a member of the Columbia College community. It is awarded annually by the Columbia College Alumni Association to an alumnus/a or faculty member for distinguished service to the College and accomplishment in any field of endeavor.

Lung was born in Canton, China, and attended schools in Hong Kong before matriculating at the College, where he majored in Oriental studies. He then earned a master's and an M.Phil. at Yale, where he taught briefly and was a tutor. In 1977, Lung was hired by a Hong Kong apparel manufacturer to start a marketing operation in New York, Wrightfox International, which was acquired by Jordache Jeans in 1979. He moved to Maurice Sassoon Jeans as v.p. of operations and in 1981 was hired by New York Jean Co. as e.v.p. in charge of merchandising and marketing.

Lung co-founded Sunnex, Inc., a manufacturer and wholesaler of women's career clothing that develops and markets five brands in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and China, in 1985. The next year, he co-founded Sun On-Sunnex International Holding Corp. in Hong Kong as a buying office for Sunnex. In 1987, Lung co-founded China Silk Enterprise Ltd., which operates manufacturing facilities in the People's Republic of China. In 1992, Lung co-founded Sun On Trust, a not-for-profit organization that performs charitable work in China.

In 2003, Lung sold Sunnex and its related companies to various Asia investors, and in 2004 he participated, with a group of Asia investors and two College alumni, in a leveraged buy-out of Mudd Jeans in New York. Lung then became its president. In the same year, he co-founded, with a group of College alumni, a consulting and boutique investment banking firm, Ivy Capital Management LLC, as well as a brand management and marketing firm, Collegiate Brand Management Group, both based in New York.

Lung has been extensively involved with the College and alumni affairs. He helped found the Asia Columbia Alumni Association and was the group's first president, and, along with other alumni, assisted in the founding of the Columbia Club in Singapore and improved the link between Columbia and various Columbia Clubs in Asia. Lung serves the College as a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and as an emeritus member of the Board of Visitors. The College honored him for his distinguished professional achievements with a 2002 John Jay Award.

Lung is married to Yin Yee Lung '74 Barnard, and they have three children: Jennifer '01E, '08 P&S; Stephanie '04 and Jonathan '05E.

For more information on the dinner, contact Meghan Eschmann, associate director, alumni affairs: 212-851-7399 or me2363@columbia.edu.

Carl F. Hovde ’50, former dean of Columbia College and professor emeritus of English and comparative literature, died on Sept. 5, 2009. He was 82. Hovde, who served as dean 1968-72, helped guide Columbia out of its most tumultuous period of history.

Read the New York Times obituary.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship: A general information session
When: Thursday, September 10th, 1 PM PST / 4 PM EST
This webinar information session will discuss international education at Cambridge University through the Gates Scholarship, including:
•Experiences of undertaking a graduate degree at Cambridge University
•Experiences as a Gates Scholar
•Process for application and criteria for selection to the Gates Scholarship

How to Attend: Go to www.gatesscholar.org/coffeehouseto register and receive call-in information, or email us at coffeehouse@gatessholar.org.

Please Note:This webinar will discuss the application process for U.S. Citizens only, and a separate webinar for non-U.S. applicants will be held shortly. However, all interested scholars are welcome to attend to learn more about this opportunity.