As promised, a few words about the new
editor of CCT, from the new editor of CCT. I
graduated from the College in 1971, having majored in sociology and
minored in Spectator. The latter helped me land a job as a
sports writer for the Associated Press, where I covered everything
from the World Series to Muhammad Ali fights to U.S. Open tennis,
and also served as the news service’s pro basketball editor.
In 1981 I joined the National Basketball Association as director of
information and later became vice president, editorial, overseeing
all print projects and also the launch of NBA.com, the
league’s popular website. When I joined the NBA it had about
30 employees in one office in New York; when I left in 1996 it had
over 800 people in 14 offices around the world. Along with numerous
magazine and online articles, I have written eight books on
basketball, most recently The Complete Idiot’s Guide to
Basketball with Walt “Clyde” Frazier and The
Chicago Bulls Encyclopedia.
Since my graduation
I had made only infrequent visits to Morningside Heights, so it was
rather interesting to take stock of the old neighborhood. I noted
the passing of Ta-Kome (I was more of a Mama Joy’s fan, to be
honest), Salter’s, the Gold Rail, Chock Full o’ Nuts
and the College Inn, the renaming of Livingston, the rise of East
Campus and the fall of Ferris Booth Hall. But as much of a
sentimentalist as I am, I can’t say I was disappointed when I
went up to Baker Field and found an attractive, functional stadium,
complete with an elevator (an elevator!) to a modern press
box.
A word about Ferris
Booth Hall, which has taken more than its share of abuse. I
probably spent more hours on the third floor of FBH, where the
Spectator offices were located in those days, than in my
Carman and Hartley dorm rooms. I know I spent more time there than
in Butler! And yes, the building was pedestrian at best; it was the
people, the camaraderie and the satisfaction of doing what we were
doing that made the days and nights spent there so much fun. But
the bottom line is that I had a great time in 316-318 Ferris Booth
Hall, and I can only hope the students who will get to use Lerner
will look back just as fondly on their time in the new student
center.
One of my goals with
CCT is to present articles which will give readers insight
into the people who are running Columbia, and particularly the
College, today. Toward that end, this issue of CCT features
the first half of an interview with Austin Quigley, the dean of the
College (the second part will appear in May). While the transcript
of the interview was edited both for clarity and length, it is
presented in a question and answer format so those of you who have
never had a chance to hear Dean Quigley speak (the majority, I
presume) can get a better feel for the way he expresses his
thoughts and states his case. Also, the Q&A format lets readers
form opinions based on the subject’s own words, with as
little editorial filtration as possible—and if there is one
thing of which I am sure, it’s that CCT readers don’t
need much help forming their own opinions.
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