Office of Public Information and Communications Columbia University New York, N.Y. 10027 (212) 854-5573
Columbia University will hold commencement exercises completing its 242nd academic year at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, May 15, in colorful outdoor ceremonies expected to draw tens of thousands - graduating students, their families and friends - to the plaza of Low Memorial Library on the Morningside Heights campus. Approximately 8,000 degrees will be conferred on graduates of the University's 15 schools as well as the affiliated institutions, Barnard College and Teachers College.
Among honorary degree candidates will be musician Wynton Marsalis, U.S. Senator from Oregon Mark O. Hatfield, Russian statesman and reformer Andrei Kozyrev and U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata. The University Medal for Excellence will be awarded to Barnard alumna Dr. Helene Gayle, director of the National Center for HIV, STD, TB at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. (These names are for your information only and are not for release before Wednesday at 10:30. Honorary degrees are not awarded in absentia. Please confirm with this office that they were conferred.)
Following Columbia tradition, the University President, George Rupp, will deliver the commencement address. Dr. Ogata will be the featured speaker at a luncheon for University alumni following commencement. Her address will begin at 2 P.M. in Low Rotunda.
These are the arrangements for press coverage: The first three rows of seats in the east front section facing Low Library will be reserved for the press. Photographs should be made from these rows, which are close to the dais. Photographers must remain there during the exercises. Tickets for press seats are available in this office, Room 304, Low Memorial Library, until 5 P.M. Tuesday, May 14. On commencement day press may enter the campus through the 116th Street gates at Broadway and at Amsterdam Avenue. Commencement Press tickets or New York City Press credentials are required for admission.
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