Former Czech President Václav Havel (shown here with Columbia President Lee C. Bollinger and chair of the religion department Robert Thurman) launches his Columbia University residency at a reception hosted by the CU Arts Initiative Thursday evening, October 26.
Photo by Chris Taggart. |
On Thursday, October 26, Václav Havel—the playwright-turned-president of Czechoslovakia and then the Czech Republic—began a seven-week residency at Columbia University, integrating his work as a writer and leading civic figure into the intellectual and artistic life of the campus. A reception was held at the Stone Rose, in the Time Warner Center. President Havel arrives at the invitation of Columbia President Lee C. Bollinger, and his residency is being coordinated by the Columbia University Arts Initiative, directed by Gregory Mosher.
President Bollinger, in an announcement to the University community, lauded President Havel as an exemplary citizen and artist. "President Havel, a poet, playwright, and champion of humanistic values, embodies the convergence of the arts and humanities with civic leadership," said Bollinger. "We are honored to have one of the truly transformational leaders of our time join us for an extended exchange with Columbia students and faculty."
Events organized around Havel's residency at Columbia will be made available to the general public on an innovative Web site (www.havel.columbia.edu) built by the University's Center for New Media Teaching and Learning. Classes at Columbia will be using the site to study Havel's life and writings while he is in residency. Students will have access to varied resources—including videotaped interviews with prominent supporters of Havel, fellow artists, and Columbia faculty, as well as archival footage, photographs, and documents—many of which will also be available to the general public.
A few highlights of Havel's residency include:
Nov. 10, 1:00 p.m., Lecture: Core Curriculum lecture by Václav Havel,
Alfred Lerner Hall (see below for more information)
Nov. 15, 3:00 p.m., A conversation with President Václav Havel and President Bill Clinton, Moderated by President Lee Bollinger, Alfred Lerner Hall
Dec. 6, 10:00 a.m., Special Event: Center for Human Rights Documentation and Research, Featured Speaker: Wole Soyinka
Tickets for these events and others are available to the Columbia community through www.havel.columbia.edu.
Members of the press who wish to reserve space for these and any other events (see www.havel.columbia.edu for the evolving schedule) should contact Anne Burt at (212) 854-7884 or ab2673@columbia.edu.
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