Congress
Congress is the legislative branch of the US government, located in Washington, DC. Columbia has had a long and varied relationship with the organ, which controls a lot of the federal funding that flows its way.
For example, in 1786, Congress actually shut down during Columbia's first Commencement after the Revolutionary War in deference to the then mere college (it probably made a difference that the capital of the United States, and hence Congress itself, was then located in New York City). However, in 2024 pressure from Congress arguably led to Minouche Shafik cracking down on the Gaza Solidarity Encampment.
Many Columbians have also served in Congress.
Columbians in Congress
(current and former, incomplete list for now)
Senate
- Judd Gregg CC'69 (R-NH)
- William Langer CC 1910 (R-ND)
House of Representatives
- Jerrold Nadler CC'69 (D-NY)
