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Columbia University was originally founded as King's College in 1754, making it the oldest institution of higher learning in New York State.
Answer: True
Explanation: King's College was founded in 1754 by royal charter, establishing it as the oldest institution of higher learning in New York State.
The motto of Columbia University, 'In lumine Tuo videbimus lumen,' translates to 'Knowledge is Power' and is derived from ancient Greek philosophy.
Answer: False
Explanation: Columbia University's motto, 'In lumine Tuo videbimus lumen,' translates to 'In Thy light shall we see light' and is derived from Psalm 36:9, not ancient Greek philosophy.
The American Revolutionary War led to a brief two-year suspension of instruction at King's College, after which it quickly reopened under its new name.
Answer: False
Explanation: Instruction at King's College was suspended for eight years due to the American Revolutionary War, not two years, and its building was repurposed as a military hospital.
Columbia College was renamed Columbia University in 1896, a change that coincided with its move to the current Morningside Heights campus.
Answer: True
Explanation: Columbia College was indeed renamed Columbia University in 1896, and this change coincided with the university's relocation to its present Morningside Heights campus.
Seth Low Junior College was established to provide an alternative for women seeking higher education at Columbia and was eventually merged with Barnard College.
Answer: False
Explanation: Seth Low Junior College was established to manage the number of Jewish applicants to Columbia College, not to provide an alternative for women. It was closed in 1936 and its students were integrated into the university at Morningside Heights, not merged with Barnard College.
Columbia College first admitted women in the fall of 1983, following successful negotiations to merge with Barnard College.
Answer: False
Explanation: Columbia College first admitted women in the fall of 1983, but this occurred after a decade of *unsuccessful* negotiations to merge with Barnard College, which remains an affiliated all-female institution.
The Columbia University Senate includes representatives from Teachers College and Barnard College who have full voting privileges on university-wide matters.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Columbia University Senate does include faculty and student representatives from Teachers College and Barnard College, who are granted full voting privileges on university-wide matters.
Columbia University's 1919 college application was notable for being the first to require a personal essay and letters of recommendation.
Answer: False
Explanation: Columbia's 1919 college application was notable for requiring a photograph, the applicant's mother's maiden name, and religious background, not a personal essay and letters of recommendation.
The Office of Environmental Stewardship was established in 2006 to manage the university's green building certifications and energy efficiency projects.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Office of Environmental Stewardship was established in 2006 to initiate, coordinate, and implement programs for reducing the university's environmental footprint and promoting sustainability.
What is the current acting president of Columbia University?
Answer: Claire Shipman
Explanation: As of the provided information, Claire Shipman is the current acting president of Columbia University.
What is the English translation of Columbia University's motto, 'In lumine Tuo videbimus lumen'?
Answer: In Thy light shall we see light
Explanation: The English translation of Columbia University's motto, 'In lumine Tuo videbimus lumen,' is 'In Thy light shall we see light'.
Which two prominent former students were instrumental in placing Columbia College under a private board of trustees in 1787?
Answer: Alexander Hamilton and John Jay
Explanation: Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, both former students, were instrumental in establishing a private board of trustees for Columbia College in 1787.
What was a key initiative during Lee C. Bollinger's presidency starting in 2002?
Answer: The launch of the World Leaders Forum.
Explanation: A key initiative during Lee C. Bollinger's presidency, which began in 2002, was the launch of the World Leaders Forum.
What is the full official name of Columbia University?
Answer: Columbia University in the City of New York
Explanation: The full official name of the institution is Columbia University in the City of New York.
In what year did the institution adopt its current name, Columbia University?
Answer: 1896
Explanation: The institution adopted its current name, Columbia University, in 1896.
Who was the first president of King's College, the original institution of Columbia University?
Answer: Samuel Johnson
Explanation: Samuel Johnson was the first president of King's College, the original institution of Columbia University.
How did the American Revolutionary War impact King's College?
Answer: Instruction was suspended for eight years, and its building was used as a military hospital.
Explanation: The American Revolutionary War led to an eight-year suspension of instruction at King's College, during which its building was used as a military hospital.
How long was instruction suspended at King's College due to the American Revolutionary War?
Answer: Eight years
Explanation: Instruction at King's College was suspended for eight years due to the American Revolutionary War.
When did Columbia College first admit women?
Answer: Fall of 1983
Explanation: Columbia College first admitted women in the fall of 1983.
Which of the following is an official undergraduate college at Columbia University?
Answer: The School of General Studies
Explanation: The School of General Studies is one of the four official undergraduate colleges at Columbia University.
The Manhattanville campus expansion is primarily intended to house new athletic facilities and student dormitories.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Manhattanville campus expansion is primarily designed to house academic buildings for various schools and research centers, not athletic facilities and student dormitories.
Pupin Hall is a National Historic Landmark primarily because it was the site of the invention of FM radio.
Answer: False
Explanation: Pupin Hall is a National Historic Landmark because it was the site of the first experiments on uranium fission in the U.S., not the invention of FM radio, which occurred in Philosophy Hall.
Columbia University's library system, with over 15 million volumes, is the second largest collegiate library system in the United States.
Answer: False
Explanation: Columbia University's library system, with over 15 million volumes, is the fifth largest collegiate library system in the United States, not the second largest.
Which architectural style characterizes Columbia's main Morningside Heights campus?
Answer: Beaux-Arts
Explanation: Columbia's main Morningside Heights campus is characterized by the Beaux-Arts architectural style and planning principles.
Which building on the Morningside Heights campus is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places for housing the first experiments on uranium fission in the U.S.?
Answer: Pupin Hall
Explanation: Pupin Hall is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places as the site where the first experiments on uranium fission in the U.S. were conducted.
Columbia scientists were instrumental in the initial research and planning for the Manhattan Project during World War II, including creating the first nuclear fission reactor in the Americas.
Answer: True
Explanation: Columbia scientists played a pivotal role in the initial research and planning for the Manhattan Project, including the creation of the first nuclear fission reactor in the Americas.
Columbia University is classified among 'R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity' by the Carnegie Classification, reflecting its extensive research engagement.
Answer: True
Explanation: Columbia University is indeed classified as an 'R1: Doctoral University – Very high research activity' by the Carnegie Classification, signifying its extensive research endeavors.
Columbia University offers a unique graduate degree program in military strategy in partnership with the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Answer: False
Explanation: Columbia University offers a unique graduate degree program in organizational psychology in partnership with the United States Military Academy at West Point, not military strategy.
The Jerome L. Greene Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior on the Manhattanville campus focuses on research into neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Jerome L. Greene Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior is indeed dedicated to conducting research on neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Which of the following awards is administered by Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism?
Answer: Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award
Explanation: The Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award is administered by Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.
How is Columbia University classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education regarding research activity?
Answer: R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity
Explanation: Columbia University is classified as an 'R1: Doctoral University – Very high research activity' by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Which prestigious national award, for achievements in journalism, literature, and musical composition, does Columbia University administer annually?
Answer: The Pulitzer Prize
Explanation: Columbia University annually administers the Pulitzer Prize, which recognizes achievements in journalism, literature, and musical composition.
The Alma Mater statue on the Low Memorial Library steps features a hidden owl, and legend states the first freshman to find it will become valedictorian.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Alma Mater statue does indeed feature a hidden owl, and a Columbia legend states that the first freshman to discover it will become valedictorian.
The Columbia Daily Spectator is the nation's oldest continuously operating daily student newspaper.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Columbia Daily Spectator is the nation's *second-oldest* continuously operating daily student newspaper, not the oldest.
The Philolexian Society, founded in 1802, is the oldest student group at Columbia and annually administers the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Philolexian Society, founded in 1802, is indeed the oldest student group at Columbia and administers the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest annually.
The Columbia University Orchestra, founded in 1896, is the oldest continually operating university orchestra in the United States.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Columbia University Orchestra, established in 1896, is recognized as the oldest continually operating university orchestra in the United States.
The Columbia Queer Alliance, founded in 1967, is recognized as the oldest gay student organization in the world.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Columbia Queer Alliance, founded in 1967, is indeed recognized as the oldest gay student organization in the world.
The Columbia Lions football program holds the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision record for consecutive losses, with 44 games between 1983 and 1988.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Columbia Lions football program holds the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision record for 44 consecutive losses between 1983 and 1988.
The 'Urban Beach' on Columbia's campus refers to a designated recreational area with sand and water features for student relaxation.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 'Urban Beach' on Columbia's campus refers to the long series of granite steps leading to the upper terrace, a popular meeting area, not a recreational area with sand and water features.
The first televised regular athletic event in history was a football game between the Columbia Lions and the Princeton Tigers in 1939.
Answer: True
Explanation: The 1939 football game between the Columbia Lions and the Princeton Tigers was indeed the first televised regular athletic event in history.
The Varsity Show, a long-standing Columbia tradition, is a full-length play performed by faculty members to satirize university life.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Varsity Show is a full-length musical written and performed exclusively by *undergraduates*, not faculty members, to satirize university life.
The Yule Log ceremony at Columbia University is a tradition that dates back before the American Revolutionary War and was revived in 1910.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Yule Log ceremony at Columbia University is a tradition that indeed dates back before the American Revolutionary War and was revived in 1910.
Which of the following is a pioneering undergraduate campus radio station at Columbia?
Answer: WKCR-FM
Explanation: WKCR-FM is identified as one of Columbia's pioneering undergraduate campus radio stations.
What is the name of the annual award given to the winner of the football game between Fordham University and Columbia University?
Answer: The Liberty Cup
Explanation: The Liberty Cup is the annual award presented to the winner of the football game between Fordham University and Columbia University.
What is the significance of the Columbia Daily Spectator?
Answer: It is the nation's second-oldest continuously operating daily student newspaper.
Explanation: The Columbia Daily Spectator is notable for being the nation's second-oldest continuously operating daily student newspaper.
Which student group, founded in 1802, is the oldest at Columbia and annually administers the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest?
Answer: The Philolexian Society
Explanation: The Philolexian Society, founded in 1802, is the oldest student group at Columbia and is responsible for the annual Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest.
Three U.S. presidents have attended Columbia University, with all three having attended Columbia College for their undergraduate studies.
Answer: False
Explanation: While three U.S. presidents have attended Columbia University, only Barack Obama attended Columbia College for his undergraduate studies; Theodore and Franklin Delano Roosevelt attended the law school.
The three core members of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 'Brain Trust' during the New Deal were all alumni of Columbia College.
Answer: False
Explanation: The three core members of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 'Brain Trust' were law professors at Columbia, not necessarily alumni of Columbia College.
The Union Theological Seminary, affiliated with Columbia, is recognized as the birthplace of both Black theology and Womanist theology.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Union Theological Seminary, affiliated with Columbia, is indeed recognized as the birthplace of both Black theology and Womanist theology.
Edward Said and Gayatri Spivak are widely considered the founders of the field of postcolonialism, with Said's 'Orientalism' being a seminal work.
Answer: True
Explanation: Professors Edward Said and Gayatri Spivak are generally considered the founders of the field of postcolonialism, with Said's 'Orientalism' being a seminal text.
Which influential thinker from the Frankfurt School affiliated with Columbia from 1934 to 1950?
Answer: Theodor Adorno
Explanation: Theodor Adorno, along with Max Horkheimer and Herbert Marcuse, affiliated with Columbia from 1934 to 1950 as part of the exiled Institute for Social Research.
Which of the following film directors is an alumnus of Columbia University?
Answer: Kathryn Bigelow
Explanation: Kathryn Bigelow, known for films like 'The Hurt Locker,' is an alumnus of Columbia University.
Which of these Founding Fathers was an alumnus of Columbia University?
Answer: Alexander Hamilton
Explanation: Alexander Hamilton is listed among the Founding Fathers who were alumni of Columbia University.
As of 2024, Columbia University's endowment is $14.8 billion, and its annual budget is $6.6 billion.
Answer: True
Explanation: As of 2024, Columbia University's endowment is indeed $14.8 billion, and its annual budget is $6.6 billion.
Columbia University's academic staff numbers over 9,000, while its postgraduate student population is less than 10,000.
Answer: False
Explanation: Columbia University has 4,628 academic staff members, not over 9,000. Its postgraduate student population is 26,888, which is significantly more than 10,000.
The 2008 financial crisis severely impacted Columbia's endowment, with over 50% of its operating budget relying on it, leading to a slow recovery.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 2008 financial crisis impacted Columbia's endowment less severely than some peer institutions, as only 13% of its operating budget relied on it, not over 50%.
Columbia University was removed from U.S. News & World Report's 2022 rankings due to a change in ranking methodology, not data inaccuracies.
Answer: False
Explanation: Columbia University was removed from U.S. News & World Report's 2022 rankings due to accusations of submitting inaccurate data, not a change in ranking methodology.
For 2025-2026, Columbia University is ranked 5th nationally and 3rd globally by U.S. News & World Report.
Answer: False
Explanation: For 2025-2026, Columbia University is ranked 13th (tie) nationally and 10th globally by U.S. News & World Report, not 5th and 3rd respectively.
The Columbia Global Centers network primarily focuses on establishing satellite campuses for undergraduate studies in various international locations.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Columbia Global Centers network primarily aims to increase global engagement and international student enrollment, not to establish satellite campuses for undergraduate studies.
Columbia University's student body, as of May 2022, is predominantly composed of Asian students, followed by White students.
Answer: False
Explanation: As of May 2022, Columbia University's student body is predominantly composed of White students (33%), followed by foreign nationals (18%), and then Asian students (17%).
What is the total student population of Columbia University, comprising both undergraduates and postgraduates?
Answer: 36,649
Explanation: The total student population of Columbia University, including both undergraduates and postgraduates, is 36,649.
What percentage of Columbia's student body is composed of White students as of May 2022?
Answer: 33%
Explanation: As of May 2022, White students constitute 33% of Columbia University's student body.
As of 2024, what is Columbia University's annual budget?
Answer: $6.6 billion
Explanation: As of 2024, Columbia University's annual budget is $6.6 billion.
What was the primary reason for Columbia University's removal from U.S. News & World Report's 2022 rankings?
Answer: Accusations of submitting inaccurate data for college rankings.
Explanation: Columbia University's removal from U.S. News & World Report's 2022 rankings was primarily due to accusations of submitting inaccurate data for college rankings.
What is the main objective of the Columbia Global Centers network?
Answer: To increase global engagement and international student enrollment.
Explanation: The main objective of the Columbia Global Centers network is to enhance global engagement and increase international student enrollment for the university.
What is the racial and ethnic composition of Columbia University's student body as of May 2022, for the largest group?
Answer: White students (33%)
Explanation: As of May 2022, the largest racial and ethnic group within Columbia University's student body is White students, at 33%.
What is the national ranking of Columbia University by U.S. News & World Report for 2025-2026?
Answer: 13th (tie)
Explanation: For the 2025-2026 academic year, Columbia University is ranked 13th (tie) nationally by U.S. News & World Report.
Social Activism and Institutional Response
The 1968 student protests at Columbia University led to the resignation of the university's president and the establishment of the University Senate.
Answer: True
Explanation: The student protests at Columbia University in 1968 indeed resulted in the resignation of President Grayson Kirk and the subsequent formation of the University Senate.
The 2023 pro-Palestinian campus protests at Columbia led to a federal investigation into antisemitism and a $220 million settlement to resume federal funding.
Answer: True
Explanation: The 2023 pro-Palestinian campus protests at Columbia University did lead to a federal investigation into antisemitism and a $220 million settlement to resume federal funding.