Columbia University

Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly called Columbia University, is a private Ivy League research university in New York City, United States. It was founded in 1754 as King's College by royal charter under George II of Great Britain. This makes it the oldest university in New York and the fifth-oldest in the United States.

After the American Revolution, the school was renamed Columbia College in 1784 and later became Columbia University in 1896 when it moved to its current campus. Today, it has 17 schools and is known for its important research work in areas like earth science, space studies, and technology.

Many famous and important people have been part of Columbia University, including leaders of countries, justices of the United States Supreme Court, winners of the Nobel Prize, and creators of major scientific discoveries. The university continues to be a leading center for learning and discovery.

History

Main article: History of Columbia University

Discussions about starting a college in the Province of New York began in 1704. Classes started in July 1754, led by the first president, Samuel Johnson.^{: 8–10  : 3}  The college was officially founded on October 31, 1754, as King's College by a royal charter from George II. This made it the oldest college in the State of New York and the fifth oldest in the United States.

During the American Revolutionary War, the school stopped teaching for eight years. The building was used as a hospital by both American and British soldiers. After the war, the school was renamed Columbia College in 1784. In 1787, it was placed under a board of trustees led by Alexander Hamilton and John Jay.

In 1813, the college added a medical school. In 1857, it moved to a new campus on Madison Avenue. By the end of the 1800s, the school grew into a modern university. In 1889, Barnard College was created because the university did not accept women at that time.

During World War I, Columbia started a training program for future officers. In the 1940s, faculty members helped start research that led to the first nuclear reactor in the Americas. After World War II, the school created a new program for international studies.

In the 1960s, students protested on campus. Women were first allowed to enroll in Columbia College in 1983. Over the years, the university has grown with new schools and programs.

In 2002, Lee C. Bollinger became president and focused on expanding the campus and improving financial aid. In 2023, Minouche Shafik became president but resigned in 2024 during protests related to the Gaza war. In 2026, Jennifer Mnookin was chosen to be the next president.

Campus

Morningside Heights

Most of Columbia University's classes happen in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City. This campus was designed by the architects McKim, Mead & White and covers more than six city blocks, or 32 acres. The university owns many apartments for its teachers, students, and staff in this area. There are also many student dorms on or near the campus.

Butler Library is the biggest library at Columbia and was finished in 1934. As of 2020, Columbia's libraries hold over 15 million books, making it one of the largest university libraries in the United States.

Several buildings on the Morningside Heights campus are important historic places. Low Memorial Library is a famous building known for its architecture. Philosophy Hall is where FM radio was invented. Pupin Hall is another important building where early experiments with uranium were done. Other notable buildings include Casa Italiana, Earl Hall, and buildings from the Union Theological Seminary.

A statue called Alma Mater by Daniel Chester French sits in front of Low Memorial Library. The statue shows the university as a "nourishing mother" and includes symbols like a laurel wreath, a scepter with a crown, a book for learning, and lamps for wisdom. There is also a hidden owl on the statue that students look for.

The Steps, also called Low Steps or the Urban Beach, are a popular spot for students to meet. They are a long set of granite steps that go from the lower part of campus to the upper terrace.

Other campuses

In 2007, Columbia University bought a large area in Manhattan called Manhattanacity to build a new campus. This new area includes buildings for the Business School, School of International and Public Affairs, School of the Arts, and a research center for mind and brain studies.

The university also has other campuses in different parts of New York City and beyond, including a medical center in Washington Heights, a sports field in Inwood, and research centers in Palisades and Irvington.

Sustainability

In 2006, Columbia started an Office of Environmental Stewardship to help the university be more environmentally friendly. The university has been recognized for its efforts to reduce its impact on the environment.

Transportation

Columbia has its own bus service called Columbia Transportation, which anyone with a Columbia ID can use. The university is also served by several New York City subway and bus lines. The main campus is located between Amsterdam Avenue, Broadway, 114th Street, and 120th Street, with the nearest major highway being the Henry Hudson Parkway.

Academics

Columbia University is a diverse school where many students come from different backgrounds. About half of the students identify as people of color, and many undergraduates receive financial help from the university. In 2007, the university received a large donation specifically for helping students pay for school.

Columbia offers many programs, including joint degrees with other schools like the Juilliard School and Teachers College. Students can also study abroad at places like the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. The university is known for its research, with scientists making important discoveries in areas like technology and medicine.

Columbia is part of special programs for veterans and also gives out many awards, including the Pulitzer Prize.

Student life

Columbia University has a large and diverse student body. In 2020, there were over 31,000 students, with many coming from different backgrounds. About half of the students come from families earning less than $60,000 a year, and many are the first in their families to go to college.

Students at Columbia can join many groups and clubs. There are fraternities, sororities, and other social groups. Some students also write for school newspapers and magazines, such as the Columbia Daily Spectator, which is one of the oldest student newspapers in the country.

There are also groups for music, theater, and debate. Students can join radio and television stations run by the university, like WKCR-FM and CTV. Columbia has groups that help students start new businesses and learn about technology. There are also forums where world leaders come to speak to students. The university has many traditions and clubs that students can be part of.

Athletics

Main article: Columbia Lions

Columbia University is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and competes in Division I FCS. The school has teams in 29 sports and is a member of the Ivy League. The football team plays at a stadium that can hold 17,000 people, called the Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. There are also special places to play baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, tennis, track, and rowing. Basketball, fencing, swimming, volleyball, and wrestling happen at a center on the main campus.

Some famous former Columbia students were great athletes, like Baseball Hall of Famers Lou Gehrig and Eddie Collins, and football Hall of Famer Sid Luckman. In 1939, Columbia had the very first televised sports event when NBC showed a game between Columbia and Princeton Tigers.

Columbia has some special moments in sports history. The football team had a very tough time in the 1980s, losing many games in a row. But in 1988, they won an important game against Princeton University. There is also a yearly game against Fordham for a trophy called the Liberty Cup.

Traditions

The Varsity Show

Main article: Varsity Show

The Varsity Show is a long-standing tradition at Columbia. It began in 1893 to help raise money for the university's new sports teams. Today, every April, students come together to perform a full musical that makes funny comments about life at Columbia. All the writing and acting are done by Columbia students. Many famous writers, composers, and actors got their start by working on the Varsity Show when they were students, including Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Lorenz Hart, Herman J. Mankiewicz, I. A. L. Diamond, Herman Wouk, Greta Gerwig, and Kate McKinnon.

Some well-known shows from the past include Fly With Me (1920), The Streets of New York (1948), The Sky's the Limit (1954), and Angels at Columbia (1994). The show Streets of New York was so popular that it was shown off-Broadway in 1963 and won an award in 1964. Another show, The Mischief Maker (1903), was first performed at Madison Square Garden in 1906 under the name Mam'zelle Champagne.

Tree Lighting and Yule Log ceremonies

The campus Tree Lighting ceremony started in 1998. It marks the lighting of trees along College Walk in front of important university buildings. This happens just before final exams in early December. The lights stay on until February 28. Students gather at the sundial for free hot chocolate, singing by music groups, and speeches by the university president and a special guest.

Right after the Tree Lighting, Columbia has an older holiday tradition called the Yule Log ceremony. This celebration goes back to before the American Revolutionary War, but it was restarted in 1910. Students dressed as soldiers from that time carry a large log to a special room where it is lit while everyone sings holiday songs. The ceremony also includes readings of A Visit From St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore and Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus by Francis Pharcellus Church.

Notable people

Main article: List of Columbia University people

Columbia University has educated many important people throughout history. Among its alumni are leaders who helped shape the United States, including several presidents and members of the Supreme Court. The university has also produced winners of top awards like the Pulitzer Prize and the Oscar.

Famous faculty members have included thinkers who influenced big ideas in many fields. During important times in history, like World War II, Columbia professors helped solve problems and advance knowledge. The university continues to be a place where people from around the world come to learn and teach.