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Barack Obama Doesn't Talk Much About Columbia


By

Jen Chung

Published Sep 2, 2008

Modified Sep 2, 2008


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By

Jen Chung

Published Sep 2, 2008

Modified Sep 2, 2008


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2008_09_barackcol.jpgThe NY Sun ponders the "mystery" of Barack Obama's Columbia years. While most of his life is mentioned in his speeches or his DNC biopic, "one chapter of the tale remains a blank — his education at Columbia College, a place he rarely speaks about and where few people seem to remember him." His campaign hasn't released his college transcript, which adds to the intrigue (FWIW, President Bush got C's at Yale--and John Kerry's Yale grades were lower!) and suggests, to some, that he's holding back in case people accuse him of benefiting from affirmative action. What is known: He transferred there from Occidental College (but didn't get housing, so lived off campus on East 94th), his grandparents visited him while he was in NYC (photo) and he says he spent most of his time studying.

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barack obama

columbia

columbia university

education


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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