COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY RECORD  January 21, 1994  Vol. 19 No. 14

         SOVERN HONORED FOR CIVIC LEADERSHIP BY CITIZENS UNION

      Citizens Union has presented its annual Civic Leadership Award to 
      Michael I. Sovern, president emeritus and professor of law at 
      Columbia.

      Cited as a leader "whose career is the very definition of civic 
      achievement," Sovern received the honor at Citizens Union's 96th 
      anniversary dinner Dec. 7 at the Hotel Pierre.

      The non-partisan organization was founded in 1897 to promote 
      honest and efficient city government. One of its first acts was to 
      support Seth Low, then president of Columbia, in his successful 
      bid to become reform mayor of the newly consolidated City of 
      Greater New York.

      "The life of Michael Sovern can be described very simply--he is a 
      contributor," said Richard J. Davis, vice chair of Citizens Union. 
      "He is someone who at critical times finds ways to contribute to 
      the fundamental betterment of the society in which he lives, 
      whether as a leader of the Columbia faculty helping heal the 
      wounds of the late 60's, as Dean of the Columbia Law School or as 
      President of the University, as a major force in such 
      organizations as the Mobilization for Youth legal arm, the NAACP, 
      Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational 
      Funds or the American Foundation for AIDS Research, as chair of 
      the New York State/New York City Commission on Integrity in 
      Government or as chair of the 1982 Charter Revision Commission, he 
      has spent his life contributing to enriching the life of others as 
      well as institutions which are so important to our city."

      The organization also presented its Business Leadership Award to 
      Harry P. Kamen, chairman and chief executive officer of 
      Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.