Class Day

Class Day is like graduation, but not really (Commencement, at which students are formally conferred their degrees, is held on a separate day). These celebrations, held for each of Columbia's undergraduate schools, feature keynote speakers (usually alumni), and an occasion for students to have their names called out and walk across the stage. Their existence forces students' parents to spend an extra day or two dealing with their children's commencement.

Speaker controversies

Speakers at recent Columbia College class days have been controversial. In 2006, Senator John McCain spoke, and many were upset that he did not represent the political beliefs of most CC students. Matthew Fox, a star of TV's Lost, is the scheduled speaker for 2007, but has been seen as an underwhelming or inappropriate choice for such a serious occasion.

Class Day speakers

Undergradaute School Speakers

Year	Columbia College	SEAS	General Studies	Barnard College
2007	Matthew J. Fox C '89
2006	John McCain Parent '07	Raymond P. Daddazio E '75	Antonio Luis Freitas GS '97
2005	Robert Kraft C '63
2004	Tony Kushner C '78 [1]	Savio Tung E '73
2003	George Stephanopoulos C '82	Michael Massimino E '84 [2]
2002	David J. Stern L '66	Jeffrey Bleustein [3]
2001	David Boies
2000	Brian Dennehy C '60
1999	Claire Shipman C '86