Columbia Picks 19th President

Lee Bollinger, who as president of the University of Michigan defended affirmative action on the grounds that diversity improves learning, was named the 19th president of Columbia University on Saturday.

University trustees voted unanimously to have Bollinger succeed George Rupp, who will leave next summer after nine years as Columbia’s president. Bollinger, 55, earned a degree in 1971 from Columbia Law School.

“We are delighted to have Lee Bollinger rejoin the Columbia family,” said David J. Stern, chairman of the Columbia trustees.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be part of such a world-class institution,” Bollinger said after accepting the position. “To have the opportunity to be president of Columbia University is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I am deeply grateful for it and thrilled.”

He said his new job may be tougher because of the World Trade Center attacks. “It’s clear that the fortunes of the university are linked to those of the city, and I think there’s also a powerful sense of responsibility that the university feels for the community, for New York City,” he said.

During Rupp’s tenure at Columbia, applications to the undergraduate Columbia College doubled, and a 10-year plan was instituted to make $1.5 billion in improvements in facilities and infrastructure.

Bollinger has defended the University of Michigan’s affirmative action admission policy against two lawsuits that claim the school discriminates by taking race into account. Both cases are to go before the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati this month.