Dinner Brings College $1.7 Million

Columbia raised over $1.75 million for Thursday night’s Alexander Hamilton Award Dinner in honor of Mark Kingdon.

Kingdon, a University trustee, is co-chair of the University’s $4 billion capital campaign and a former recipient of the John Jay Award for professional achievement. At the event, 10 girls from the Harlem Children’s Zone danced for administrators, big-time donors, and Low Rotunda’s neo-Greco busts—but not Kofi Annan.

Rumors flooded campus beginning Wednesday that former U.N. Secretary General would appear at the event, sparking a massive rally from a coalition supporting the hunger strikers currently camped on South Lawn after leaders announced—falsely—that the administration sought to dismantle their tents in preparation.

The dinner raised more than four times as much as the combined total of the John Jay and Hamilton award dinners ten years ago.

Kingdon is an accomplished investor and chief portfolio manager and strategist of Kingdon Capital Management. The dinner awarded Kingdon, who graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1971 and served as sports and features editor of Spectator as a student, for his commitment to the University and education.

Columbia College Dean Austin Quigley addressed the two “pillars” of Columbia—excellence and inclusion. “We know that our excellence derives from our inclusiveness,” he said. “There are some students out there on a strike right now. ... They exemplify what that inclusiveness presents as a challenge as well as a resource. ... People of good will can disagree on fundamental issues.”

Quigley noted that the 60th annual dinner came as the University celebrates the 100th anniversary of Hamilton Hall—which Columbia bought for $500,000, a mere .185% of the money the University has raised thus far in its capital campaign.

After dessert, University President Lee Bollinger waked on stage to a large applause. “If you think your life is bad, let me tell you about mine,” he said as he faced the crowd of donors, who laughed uncomfortably.

Bollinger discussed the Manhattanville expansion plan, and asked for alumni aid in ensuring its execution. Referring to the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, Bollinger said that “If that vote succeeds we are done rezoning ... If it is not successful, the process will be over as we have envisioned it. This is a critical moment."

“We have the capacity to make this happen. It’s really important. Really important,” he added. “I promise you that we will do well by the surrounding communities. ... You will be proud in the institution—not only in having the plan and the opportunities but also in how we related to our neighbors.”

The president also thanked the crowd for helping the University come in ahead of schedule on the seven-year, $4 billion capital campaign, which currently stands at $2.7 billion.

Bollinger said of Kingdon: “He is a very gentle person. He is also a seventh level black belt in karate. There’s a 10-year-old person locked in his body. It’s just lovely to see the innocence with which he approaches life and issues.” Bollinger also praised Kingdon for his intelligence and for being “very compassionate. There is an inner steel to mark that when it comes to doing right for the world, you can always, always, count on him.”

“Maybe I should get up here and dance? That’s not going to work,” Kingdon said as he accepted the medal. He thanked the central administration for their work on the creation of an “institute for the promotion of religious and cultural tolerance,” in which he is involved. He also spoke of the hope inherent in education, saying that the King and Queen of Jordan have asked Columbia to open a school there to promote moderate secular education. “Columbia has, by far, its best academic and administrative team in living memory.”

The ClefHangers ended the night with a rendition of the Columbia College alma mater “Sans Souci,” sending a wave of nostalgia through the sated crowd.

Joy Resmovits can be reached at joy.resmovits@columbiaspectator.com.