At Thursday night’s fireside chat, University President Lee Bollinger asked about as many questions as he answered.
Nearly 50 students, chosen by lottery, visited Bollinger’s Morningside Drive mansion for the chat, where they were greeted with a spread of cheeses, produce, mini-hamburgers, and other assorted foods.
With little introduction, and a warning that he would soon turn the tables on the audience, Bollinger opened the floor to questions, the first of which concerned financial aid at the School of General Studies. In the wake of sweeping financial aid changes within Columbia College and the School of Engineering and Applied Science that replaced all loans with grants, among other enhancements, some GS students felt they got shortchanged with the announcement that the University would only spend $1 million more on GS aid annually.
Bollinger explained that restricted endowments limited the amount by which the University could increase GS aid, and stressed that the University is committed to GS fundraising. Bollinger added that Columbia has put GS on the trajectory to bring it closer to CC by “putting the University on a course, deliberately, of greater integration of General Studies.”
Students’ questions then moved to personal aspects of Bollinger’s life. Sara Koo, GS, asked “Do you wake up in the morning thinking, ‘Wow I’m a really important person’?” Koo also asked about the connection between academia and politics and about Bollinger as a public figure.
After much laughter, Bollinger replied—in an answer garnering giggles—“Did all of you hear this? Do I wake up in the morning feeling like an important person? No. Do I expect to be criticized in the papers? ... Yes. I’ve been involved in some fairly large controversies.”
Bollinger elaborated on choosing to take a large role in public dialogue. “Most people who go into positions like this realize that there is a pretty good likelihood that they will be involved in controversies. I think the level of controversy, like affirmative action ... is much greater than the average. And I’ve also taken a lot of positions on issues, free speech issues, obviously the president of Iran.”
In response to questions about a potential delegation to Iran—discussed at the World Leaders Forum featuring Iran president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad—Bollinger said, “I’ve decided since then that the ... risks of being part of a propaganda event are too great. We just need time to sort this out.”
After answering questions about advising, technology, study abroad, and commenting that the University is working to raise more money for career services, Bollinger turned the tables and put students on the spot.
“Alright, I get to ask you questions,” he said. “How do you feel about the election?”
Some students said they were disillusioned by campaign work, and others saw different levels of vigor in the presidential dialogue on campus. Bollinger would stop students, asking them politely to refine their answers. He once said, “I’m not sure I get the point. I heard you say in the beginning you were somewhat disappointed with the infatuation with public figures rather than with the issues ... Now what?”
Bollinger’s subsequent questions concerned global issues.
“Do you have the feeling that life as you’ve known it, the odds are it’s going to continue to be that way? Or do you have the feeling that the world is changing, will change, very significantly?” He had students answer initially by a show of hands. “I’m talking about burgeoning global economy, getting through this recession, and continue these kind of major issues ahead of global governance ... The other view might be it’s the end of an era. There is 50 years of economic growth interrupted by periodic downturn, but all of that had been driven by enormous amounts of spending that cannot be sustained over time.”
Bollinger’s probing fostered lively discussions about free trade, markets, and global attitudes.
After Bollinger finished, one student seemed star-struck—while Bollinger was on the way to his private elevator, she stopped him to take a picture. He obliged, smiling.
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