Difference between revisions of "Class Day"
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| − | '''Class Day''' is like graduation, but not really ([[Commencement]], at which students are formally conferred their degrees, is held on a separate day). These celebrations, held for each of Columbia's undergraduate schools, feature keynote speakers (usually alumni), and an occasion for students to have their names called out and walk across the stage. Their existence forces students' parents to spend an extra day or two dealing with their children's commencement. | + | '''Class Day''' is like graduation, but not really ([[University Commencement]], at which students are formally conferred their degrees, is held on a separate day). These celebrations, held for each of Columbia's undergraduate schools, feature keynote speakers (usually alumni), and an occasion for students to have their names called out and walk across the stage. Their existence forces students' parents to spend an extra day or two dealing with their children's commencement. The upshot is that the ceremonies are more intimate and personal. |
==Speaker controversies== | ==Speaker controversies== | ||
| − | Speakers at recent [[Columbia College]] class days have | + | Speakers at recent [[Columbia College]] class days have stirred some conroversy. In [[2006]], Senator [[John McCain]] (whose daughter is [[CC]] [[2007|'07]]) spoke, and some students expressed disapproval arguing that he did not represent the political beliefs of most CC students. [[Matthew Fox]], a star of TV's ''Lost'', was the speaker for [[2007]], and was seen as an underwhelming or inappropriate choice for such a serious occasion, although his speech turned out well-received. These controversies generally involve petulant members of the senior class, who desire a meaningful close to their four year stint at the university, i.e. a charismatic intellectual celebrity. |
== Class Day speakers == | == Class Day speakers == | ||
Revision as of 16:57, 1 December 2007
Class Day is like graduation, but not really (University Commencement, at which students are formally conferred their degrees, is held on a separate day). These celebrations, held for each of Columbia's undergraduate schools, feature keynote speakers (usually alumni), and an occasion for students to have their names called out and walk across the stage. Their existence forces students' parents to spend an extra day or two dealing with their children's commencement. The upshot is that the ceremonies are more intimate and personal.
Speaker controversies
Speakers at recent Columbia College class days have stirred some conroversy. In 2006, Senator John McCain (whose daughter is CC '07) spoke, and some students expressed disapproval arguing that he did not represent the political beliefs of most CC students. Matthew Fox, a star of TV's Lost, was the speaker for 2007, and was seen as an underwhelming or inappropriate choice for such a serious occasion, although his speech turned out well-received. These controversies generally involve petulant members of the senior class, who desire a meaningful close to their four year stint at the university, i.e. a charismatic intellectual celebrity.
Class Day speakers
Undergraduate School Speakers
| Year | Columbia College | SEAS | General Studies | Barnard College |
| 2007 | Matthew C. Fox C '89 | Santiago Calatrava Parent '06, '07 | Deborah Marshall, GS '79 | Anna Deavere Smith |
| 2006 | John McCain Parent '07 | Raymond P. Daddazio E '75 | Antonio Luis Freitas GS '97 | Francine du Plessix Gray BC '52 |
| 2005 | Robert Kraft C '63 | Mynoon Doro E '73 | Michael Margitich, GS '99 | |
| 2004 | Tony Kushner C '78 [1] | Savio Tung E '73 | ||
| 2003 | George Stephanopoulos C '82 [2] | Michael Massimino E '84 [3] | ||
| 2002 | David J. Stern L '66 [4] | Jeffrey Bleustein [5] | ||
| 2001 | David Boies | R. W. Apple, Jr GS '61 | ||
| 2000 | Brian Dennehy C '60 | |||
| 1999 | Claire Shipman C '86 | David E. Shaw | ||
| 1998 | Judge Joseph A. Greenaway C '78 | Norman R. Augustine | Joyce Purnick BC '67 | |
| 1997 | Jonathan Kozol | David Marks | Anna Quindlen BC '74 | |
| 1996 | Robert Rubin | Y.D. Kim | Joseph Califano | |
| 1995 | Tom Brokaw | Samuel L. Higginbottom C '43, E '43 | Madeleine Albright GSAS '68, SIPA '76 | |
| 1994 | Fritz Stern | Eleanor Baum | Sheila E. Widnall | |
| 1987 | Charles S. Robb |
