Difference between revisions of "International Affairs Building"
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[[417 IAB]], also known as the Altschul Auditorium, is one of the largest lecture halls on campus and is the location for a number of the most popular undergraduate courses. | [[417 IAB]], also known as the Altschul Auditorium, is one of the largest lecture halls on campus and is the location for a number of the most popular undergraduate courses. | ||
| − | ===Those goddamn elevators == | + | ===Those goddamn elevators=== |
Many people know and loathe the IAB elevators, a bank of four cramped, outrageously slow machines that are often covered over in cardboard to make them run properly. According to Political Science professor [[Robert Amdur]], [[Grayson Kirk]], president of the university during the IAB's construction, would brag to his friends about how he'd saved a fortune in the building's quick construction by buying elevators from a dirt-cheap supplier rather than an industrial leader like Otis. Amongst other things President Kirk did (like propose that [[1968 protests|gym in Morningside Park]]), this one makes him one of Columbia's least-favorite presidents, especially amongst the econ and poli sci majors who often simply walk the thirteen flights of stairs needed to get to their departments rather than rely on "Grayson's Folly." | Many people know and loathe the IAB elevators, a bank of four cramped, outrageously slow machines that are often covered over in cardboard to make them run properly. According to Political Science professor [[Robert Amdur]], [[Grayson Kirk]], president of the university during the IAB's construction, would brag to his friends about how he'd saved a fortune in the building's quick construction by buying elevators from a dirt-cheap supplier rather than an industrial leader like Otis. Amongst other things President Kirk did (like propose that [[1968 protests|gym in Morningside Park]]), this one makes him one of Columbia's least-favorite presidents, especially amongst the econ and poli sci majors who often simply walk the thirteen flights of stairs needed to get to their departments rather than rely on "Grayson's Folly." | ||
Revision as of 20:01, 19 November 2007
The International Affairs Building or IAB is known as the home of the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) but also used by the Political Science Department and the Economics Department, along with several faculty research institutes. Lehman Library, one of the two Language Resource Centers, and Alice's International Cafe are located here, along with a 24-hour lounge on the sixth floor.
All of this makes IAB a very crowded building. One SIPA student has observed that being in IAB across the plaza from the law school was like being "on the Mexican border across from the U.S."
Layout and features
IAB has two main entrances: one on the fourth floor (confusingly, street level), and one on the sixth floor (confusingly, campus level). One can only move between its two main lobbies via the annoying elevators (see below) or ugly emergency stairs.
417 IAB, also known as the Altschul Auditorium, is one of the largest lecture halls on campus and is the location for a number of the most popular undergraduate courses.
Those goddamn elevators
Many people know and loathe the IAB elevators, a bank of four cramped, outrageously slow machines that are often covered over in cardboard to make them run properly. According to Political Science professor Robert Amdur, Grayson Kirk, president of the university during the IAB's construction, would brag to his friends about how he'd saved a fortune in the building's quick construction by buying elevators from a dirt-cheap supplier rather than an industrial leader like Otis. Amongst other things President Kirk did (like propose that gym in Morningside Park), this one makes him one of Columbia's least-favorite presidents, especially amongst the econ and poli sci majors who often simply walk the thirteen flights of stairs needed to get to their departments rather than rely on "Grayson's Folly."
Trivia
At one point, was purportedly slated to be named "Noble Hall".
Map
<googlemap lat="40.807555" lon="-73.959838" type="map" zoom="16" width="500" height="300" controls="small"> 40.807555, -73.959838, International Affairs Building (IAB) </googlemap>
