Columbia Asks 'Is Religion Political?' - March 2

Dialogue Launches Kraft Family Fund Series About Religion and the Public

Sphere

NEW YORK, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia University President Lee C.
Bollinger today launched a series of faculty-generated programs on
religion in the public sphere with a provocative symposium on the
evening of March 2, exploring the question: "Is Religion Political?"
The Kraft Program Series, sponsored by The Kraft Family Fund for
Interfaith and Intercultural Awareness, is in its inaugural year. The
program is free and open to the public. Register online at
https://www.college.columbia.edu/calendar3/projects/president/kraft.php

"Is Religion Political?" features the following panelists: Randall
Balmer, professor of religion at Barnard College; Jay Lefkowitz,
partner, Kirkland and Ellis LLP, and Special Envoy on Human Rights in
North Korea; The Rt. Rev. Catherine S. Roskam, the first female Bishop
in the Episcopal Church in the state of New York; David Allen White, a
longtime professor of literature at the United States Naval Academy;
and moderator Marianne Hirsch, professor of comparative literature,
Columbia University.

"Is Religion Political?" will explore what role religion plays in
American politics, and how religious institutions exert their
political power in US elections. Panelists will examine what happens
when human rights issues and religious teaching conflict, and will
look at how those conflicts might be resolved. They will also discuss
the effect of the First Amendment on religion in social life and in
the political sphere. "As a political force, organized religion today
is mainly on the conservative side. This was not always the case. How
did it happen?" notes Nicholas Lemann, dean of the Journalism School,
who proposed the panel and a member of the faculty committee planning
the series.

"The Columbia community always has valued and celebrated the diversity
that enriches academic study and life here on our campus," said
President Lee C. Bollinger. "We are grateful for the generosity of
Robert and Myra Kraft, and we are honored to have nationally acclaimed
experts from outside the University join Columbia faculty and students
as we embark on expanded thought and discussion on diverse religious
and cultural perspectives with an important dialogue on religion and
the public sphere."

The next Kraft Program Series panel will be "The Courts and the
Church- State Line" on March 28. President Lee C. Bollinger will
moderate this panel, which will explore church-state issues,
especially as they relate to the Supreme Court and other high courts.

The faculty programming is developed by a committee of distinguished
faculty on behalf of the Offices of the President and Provost. The
committee includes Carol Gluck, the George Sansom Professor of History
and professor of East Asian languages and cultures; Eric Kandel, Nobel
laureate and University Professor; Nicholas Lemann, dean of the
Graduate School of Journalism and Henry R. Luce Professor of
Journalism; and Robert O'Meally, the Zora Neale Hurston Professor of
English and Comparative Literature and director of the Columbia
University Center for Jazz Studies.

Kraft Commitment to Interfaith Awareness

"What Robert Kraft has done with his contribution is making interfaith
and intercultural awareness a 'cool' activity for Columbia University
students. It is wonderful to see the programs being initiated by
students through the support of this fund," University Chaplain Davis
said. "Robert Kraft and his family have affirmed the imaginations of
students, allowing them to stretch beyond the familiar. Hundreds of
students have already participated in programs cosponsored by The
Kraft Family Fund for Interfaith and Intercultural Awareness."

The Kraft Family Fund reflects the deep and continuing commitment of
Trustee Emeritus Robert Kraft and his family to his alma mater. Kraft,
a businessman and philanthropist, is best known outside Columbia as
owner of the three-time Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots.
While an undergraduate at Columbia College, he distinguished himself
as a student, athlete and class leader. One of Columbia's most
dedicated and involved alumni, Kraft served as a University trustee
for two six-year terms, the maximum length of trustee service. Kraft
-- awarded the 2004 Alexander Hamilton Medal and the recipient of the
2005 National Collegiate Athletic Association Theodore Roosevelt Award
-- is also a principal benefactor of the Robert K. Kraft Family Center
for Jewish Student Life, which was dedicated in 2000.

For more information on The Kraft Family Fund for Interfaith and
Intercultural Awareness and other programs from the Office of the
University Chaplain, visit
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/earl/programs.html.

Kraft Student Programs

The Kraft Program Series includes both faculty-generated programs and
student-initiated programs that began in the fall of 2005. The
student- initiated programs, already underway, build upon existing
activities organized by various cultural, ethnic and religious student
groups. A nine-person committee composed of students and
administrators is chaired by University Chaplain Jewelnel Davis, who
selects and administers the allocation of the fund to support these
programs.

In addition to the events held earlier in 2005 -- including an
interfaith iftar, a meal served at the end of the day during Ramadan
to break the day's fast-the following student-initiated events are
planned for the 2006 spring term:

* Amen, a series of dance, theater, music and comedy performances

exploring common misperceptions about the three Abrahamic faiths of

Christianity, Judaism and Islam, suggested by Columbia/Barnard Hillel

and Turath.

* The Veritas Forum, a February benefit concert and panel discussion

exploring issues ranging from HIV/AIDS to poverty and human rights

violations, created by Inter Varsity Christian and Columbia Students for

Christ.

* Confronting Racism: Intercultural Dialogues, a one-day workshop for

students on ways to increase understanding among various racial and

ethnic groups, conceived by the Columbia University School of Social

Work Diversity Caucus, the Asian Caucus, the Student Social Workers for

a Progressive Society, the Black Caucus, the Jewish Caucus, the

Christian Caucus, and the Latino/a Caucus.

* Community Student Dinners, a series of dinners co-hosted with Community

Board 9, which represents West Harlem, to discuss issues of mutual

concern, suggested by the Student Coalition on Expansion and

Gentrification and Students Promoting Empowerment and Knowledge.

About Columbia University

Founded in 1754 as King's College, Columbia University in the City of
New York is the fifth oldest institution of higher learning in the
United States and today is one of the world's leading academic and
research institutions. Columbia has more than 3,000 faculty members
and enrolls nearly 24,000 students, including more than 5,000
international students. The University spans three undergraduate
schools, 13 graduate and professional schools, a school of continuing
education, four affiliated institutions, a world-class medical center,
22 libraries, and more than 100 research centers and institutes. For
more information about Columbia University, visit
http://www.columbia.edu. SOURCE Columbia University