Columbia University in the City of New York   Romanian Club Statement of Purpose v. 09/01/2006 Home Members Links Events Contact Romanian Club Statement of Purpose    The Romanian Club at Columbia University serves to raise awareness about Romanian culture in the Columbia Community and to assemble those with an interest in Romania, its history, culture, and current situation.    The Romanian cultural conference is an opportunity for the Romanian community to interact with each other and present issues to the Columbia community. Held bianuualy by the Romanian club, it is our flagship event. Guest speakers are invited and students from Columbia and selected schools are encouraged to participate by presenting their own relevant work.      At Columbia, the combination of academic rigor and the nearly infinite menu of extra-curricular activities provides a club representing a Eastern European nation with a considerable challenge. But it is a challenge certainly worth facing. One hundred years ago Romania was called the Paris of the East. It was regarded as a center of culture, history, and intellectual discourse. Ravaged by WWII and Communism, Romania has struggled to hold on to that tradition. But with its accession to the EU in 2007 and its cooperation with the West, Romania will likely be of significance in the critical region of south-eastern Europe. This motivates us to overcome the above obstacles and bring a dialogue about Romania to Columbia.   Last Update: Oct 27, 2007