Difference between revisions of "Class Day"

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==Speaker controversies==
 
==Speaker controversies==
  
Speakers at recent [[Columbia College]] class days have been controversial. In [[2006]], Senator [[John McCain]] spoke, and many were upset 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.
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Speakers at recent [[Columbia College]] class days have been controversial. In [[2006]], Senator [[John McCain]] spoke, and many were upset 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 only students from the senior class, who desire a meaningful close to their four year stint at the university.
  
 
== Class Day speakers ==
 
== Class Day speakers ==

Revision as of 03:26, 27 September 2007

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.

Speaker controversies

Speakers at recent Columbia College class days have been controversial. In 2006, Senator John McCain spoke, and many were upset 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 only students from the senior class, who desire a meaningful close to their four year stint at the university.

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