Difference between revisions of "Alma Mater"
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[[Image:AlmaMater.jpg|thumb|180px|Alma Mater]] | [[Image:AlmaMater.jpg|thumb|180px|Alma Mater]] | ||
| − | '''Alma Mater''' is the mother soul of the college/university. | + | '''Alma Mater''' is literally the mother soul of the college/university. In the context of Columbia, Alma Mater almost always means the Daniel Chester French sculpture that graces [[The Steps|the steps]] to [[Low Library]]. |
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It was a gift of Mrs. Robert Goelet and Robert Goelet Jr. in memory of Robert Goelet, [[Columbia College]] Class of [[1860]], and presented in [[1903]]. | It was a gift of Mrs. Robert Goelet and Robert Goelet Jr. in memory of Robert Goelet, [[Columbia College]] Class of [[1860]], and presented in [[1903]]. | ||
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On the back of Alma Mater's chair you'll find the [[Columbia Crown]] and [[Columbia Seal]] lightly embossed in the metal. | On the back of Alma Mater's chair you'll find the [[Columbia Crown]] and [[Columbia Seal]] lightly embossed in the metal. | ||
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| + | == School Song == | ||
| + | In the United States, an "Alma mater" is also the [[school song]]. Columbia University's is "[[School Songs|Stand, Columbia]]", and the [[Columbia College|College]]'s is "[[School Songs|Sans Souci]]". | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
Revision as of 09:34, 27 March 2008
Alma Mater is literally the mother soul of the college/university. In the context of Columbia, Alma Mater almost always means the Daniel Chester French sculpture that graces the steps to Low Library.
It was a gift of Mrs. Robert Goelet and Robert Goelet Jr. in memory of Robert Goelet, Columbia College Class of 1860, and presented in 1903.
Alma Mater was originally intended to be guilt in gold, but never was. The bronze eventually oxidized and the statue was instead coated and sealed.
Rumor has it that back-up Alma Mater's are kept at the ready should need arise. During the 60's and 70's, it seemed likely. One alum recalls hearing an explosion while in class in 1970, and finding Alma Mater skewed off her base later that day, though not fallen. Rumor has it that this was the work of the Weathermen.
An owl is hidden in the folds of Alma Mater's robes. According to legend, the first student of each College class to find the owl would graduate Valedictorian and marry a Barnard woman (back when Columbia College was still all-male.)
On the back of Alma Mater's chair you'll find the Columbia Crown and Columbia Seal lightly embossed in the metal.
School Song
In the United States, an "Alma mater" is also the school song. Columbia University's is "Stand, Columbia", and the College's is "Sans Souci".
