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Columbia Will Celebrate 250th Anniversary in 2003–04

Columbia will kick off a year-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of its founding as King’s College in 1754 with special events and academic symposia on Homecoming weekend, October 16–19. The 250th celebration will continue through the next Homecoming weekend, October 1–3, 2004.

Throughout the year, Columbia will highlight the impact that its scholars and graduates have had during the course of the University’s existence. Columbia will host symposia that look at the past and the future through the perspectives of various disciplines, including constitutional law, genetics, the humanities, information technology and environmental science.

Two academic symposia will be held on opening weekend. “Constitutions, Democracy and the Rule of Law” will take place at Miller Theatre and will be divided into three sessions across two days, Thursday–Friday, October 16–17. Led by Jon Elster, Robert K. Merton Professor of Social Sciences, and Akeel Bilgrami, Johnsonian Professor of Philosophy, the symposium will bring together political scientists, former heads of state, philosophers and other experts to discuss the importance of constitutions.

A second symposium, “The Impact of Genes and Genomes on Medicine and Society,” will be held in Roone Arledge Auditorium on Friday morning. Organized by Professor Tom Jessell of P&S and the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior and Joanna Rubinstein, associate dean for institutional affairs, Health Sciences, this symposium will explore how genetic research will influence the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. Scientists, researchers and scholars will explore the consequences of the availability of genetic information on modern society.

On Friday afternoon, Robert McCaughey will sign copies of Stand, Columbia, his scholarly history of the University that was commissioned for the celebration. McCaughey, Anne Whitney Olin Professor of History at Barnard, has traced Columbia’s evolution from its founding as King’s College in 1754 to its rise as a first-rank university to its future in the 21st century.

Also on Friday afternoon, Michael Richman, author of Daniel Chester French: An American Sculptor and editor of the Daniel Chester French Papers, will offer a lecture, “Alma Mater: History and Legacy,” about the sculptor whose statue on the steps of Low Library celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. To mark this occasion, students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to Alma Mater’s 100th Birthday Party from 5–8 p.m. on Friday evening. Student groups will provide entertainment, and the evening will include a video birthday card, cake and ice cream. Everyone will have a front row seat, as the event will be broadcast on video screens around campus.

Homecoming on Saturday, October 18, will be expanded from a College event to include alumni and students from all schools of the University, who will be welcome to gather under the tent at Baker Field and enjoy Homecoming activities that are being planned. Of course, it wouldn’t be Homecoming without sporting events: Columbia’s field hockey team will take on Penn at Wien Stadium at 10 a.m., followed by a football game between Columbia and Penn at 1:30 p.m. For those not sportingly inclined, Richman will lead a bus tour of French’s work and other public sculpture.

Plans are under way for a Saturday evening concert on Low Plaza to be capped by a fireworks display over the Hudson River. Details will be announced closer to the event.

The College plans to schedule the annual fall Parents Weekend to coincide with Homecoming Weekend so that parents of first-year students may participate in the opening events of the 250th celebration as well.

The College also is planning several 250th-related events and enhancements to existing events, both on campus and around the country.

Programming for the remainder of the year-long celebration will include additional academic symposia, historical lectures, alumni events around the world and school-based events that will highlight the achievements of Columbians past and present.

A complete listing of events will be available on the Columbia 250 website, www.columbia.edu/c250.

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