Columbia College Chicago was up and running with all classes in their regularly scheduled locations on Monday, October 30.
Mark Kelly, vice president of student affairs received word late Sunday afternoon from the Chicago Office of Emergency Management that demolition of the burned Dexter building at 630 S. Wabash had progressed adequately to issue a safety 'all clear' and Columbia administration was given the go-ahead to reopen their 623 and 619 S. Wabash buildings for classes on Monday.
Columbia was forced to evacuate and shut down the two buildings on their north campus due to the 5-alarm fire on Wabash which broke out Tuesday afternoon, affecting hundreds of classes and thousands of students. Administrators had been working around the clock and had a contingency plan in place for Monday and Tuesday.
On Tuesday, October 24, the college evacuated five buildings on the north campus canceling more than 200 evening classes. The next day, the college was directed by OEM to keep the two building on Wabash closed, resulting in the cancellation of a total of more than 300 classes over Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Although the semester will not be extended due to these cancellations, faculty will be expected to adjust curriculum to make up lost time and content, according to the Provost's office.
"We had to be prepared for class relocation on Monday" said Kelly. "We put in the work and were ready to put the plan into effect, but are absolutely thrilled that we can get back to 'education as usual'. This was a real learning experience for all of us."
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UPDATE: Columbia Building Closure Information and Possible Relocation of Classes for Week of Monday, October 30
Chicago, IL (5:30 pm, Thursday, October 26, 2006) -- Columbia College Chicago has developed a contingency plan for the relocation of classes and administrative and student services for the week of Monday, October 30.
A detailed schedule for relocated classes is expected to be completed by Friday afternoon, October 27. Students, faculty, staff and concerned citizens should go to www.colum.edu/students for daily updates on affected classes, as well as temporary locations for student services and administrative offices.
The relocation plan will be put into effect should the city of Chicago's Office of Emergency Management (OEM) determine that the college will not have access to the sidewalks in front of 623 and 619 S. Wabash, directly across from the demolition site of the burned structure at 630 S. Wabash.
The 623 and 619 buildings have been closed since late Tuesday, October 24, when the fire escalated around 4 pm. Classes in the 623 building and administrative functions in 623 and 619 have been suspended since that time.
Columbia's Office of Safety and Security, Campus Environment and other administrative departments have been working closely with OEM officials to monitor the situation as it affects college operations and the safety of the college community.
Late Thursday afternoon, OEM officials informed Columbia administrators that Wabash Avenue between Harrison and Balbo will remain closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic at least through Saturday, October 28, as crews will be working around the clock to demolish the severely fire-damaged structure.
OEM will meet again on Friday, October 27 to assess demolition progress and will advise the college as updates become available.
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UPDATE: Two Columbia Campus Buildings to Remain Closed Through Friday, October 27 - Other Campus Buildings/Services Open and Functioning-- Open House to Go on as Scheduled on Saturday
Chicago IL (Oct 25, 2006: Noon) -- Columbia College Chicago evacuated five of its academic buildings north of Balbo Drive last evening because of a multiple-alarm fire at 630 S. Wabash Avenue, in the vacant George Diamond building.
Two of the college's buildings - 623 South Wabash and 619 South Wabash - remain closed today (Wednesday, October 25). Materials on exhibit in these two buildings will be moved to the back of the structures, out of the "collapse zone" of the Diamond structure.
We expect that those two buildings will remain closed for the rest of this week. All other campus buildings remain open and fully functioning.
College administrators began building evacuations yesterday about 4:45 p.m. - before the Chicago Police and Fire Departments mandated evacuations. The Chicago Fire Department indicated that there was no release of toxic materials into the air during or following the fire. Sensors in the college's air handling systems have not detected particulate matter in those systems.
The college will bring in charcoal filters later this week to address the smell of smoke in buildings on the northern part of the campus.
Demolition of the George Diamond building will begin as soon as the Chicago Fire Department authorizes contractors to access the site. Clean up of the George Diamond site may take as long as two weeks, but access to the 600 block of South Wabash is expected within the next week.
The college continues to work closely with the Chicago Police and Fire Departments, as well as the city's Office of Emergency Management and Community Affairs, to monitor conditions in the affected area.
Although we are assured that there is no threat to public health or safety, employees with medical concerns who work in buildings north of Balbo should inform their supervisors and request time off. Time off will not count against accumulated sick-leave or vacation days.
Open House for prospective students, scheduled for this weekend, will continue with program alterations to accommodate anticipated building closures. For questions about undergraduate Open House plans, contact Ania Greiner (agreiner@colum.edu or extension 7034). For questions about scheduling of this weekend's Graduate Open House, contact gradsch@colum.edu or extension 7260.
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Because of the fire in the George Diamond building, Columbia College buildings at 619 S. Wabash and 623 S. Wabash will be closed on Wednesday, October 25.
No classes will be held and no business transacted in these two buildings.
Partnering for the Humanities
September, 2006 -- With four faculty programs and two days of programming on campus as part of this year's Chicago Humanities Festival, Columbia has joined the growing fellowship of institutions actively participating in this highly respected city-wide cultural event.
This fall's theme, Peace and War, Facing Human Conflict, will be addressed in over 150 programs by noted scholars and artists across the sweep of humanities disciplines. Programming for the 17th Chicago Humanities Festival is scheduled in more than a dozen venues from September 28 - November 12. Visit www.chfestival.org for a full schedule and ticket information.
"This is a stellar opportunity for the college to join with our cultural partners in celebrating the humanities," says Deputy Provost Louise Love. "With the caliber of scholarship at Columbia - in our outstanding liberal education department as well as in the visual, performing, and media arts disciplines - we have a wealth of content to offer. I hope and trust that 2006 will be just the first venture in a long and rich partnership."
Columbia faculty presenting programs at the 2006 Chicago Humanities Festival are Steven Asma (Humanities/Cultural Studies), Annette Barbier (Interactive Arts & Media), Daniel Dinello (Film & Video), Shayna Plaut (Liberal Education), Brendan Riley (English/Cultural Studies), and Louis Silverstein (Liberal Education). Tickets available at www.chfestival.org
Cyberconflict: Representations of War in New Media and Electronic Games examines the culture of conflict in video games and these images effect on our perceptions of war. IAM chair and new media artist Annette Barbier and cultural critic Brendan Riley are joined by video game producer Kevin Scott Mills. Museum of Contemporary Art, Saturday, November 4, noon - 1 p.m.
The Search for Internal & External Peace looks at the philosophies of Buddhism in the context of political realities such as the Cambodian Killing Fields and China's rule over Tibet. Philosopher and author Steve Asma is joined by Ven. Kompha Seth, ordained Buddhist monk and director of the Cambodian Association of Illinois, and Judy Ledgerwood, anthropology faculty at Northern Illinois University. Ferguson Hall, Columbia College Chicago, Saturday, November 4, 1-2:30 p.m.
Teaching a Culture of Peace and Justice discusses the challenges of teaching peacemaking, justice and human rights. Peace studies teachers Lou Silverstein and Shayna Plaut engage with peace activist Kathy Kelly, founder of Voices in the Wilderness. Claudia Cassidy Theater, Chicago Cultural Center, Saturday, November 4, 4-5 p.m.
Dr. Frankenstein's Footsteps traces the pop-culture icon of the amoral mad scientist as filmmaker and author Dan Dinello reflects on irresponsible scientists, military-funded science, and the abuses of modern technology. Rubloff Auditorium, Loyola University, Saturday, November 4, 4-5 p.m.
Columbia will host a total of five programs in the Ferguson Theater on November 4 and 5 (tickets available at www.chfestival.org). In addition to Steve Asma's program listed above, Columbia will welcome:
University of Chicago professor of public policy and social sciences Richard Taub examines racial, ethnic and class tensions in Chicago. There Goes the Neighborhood will be presented on November 4, 11 a.m. - noon.
Tara McKelvy (American Prospect Magazine, editor of One of the Guys), Janice Karpinski (One Woman's Army: The Commanding General of Abu Ghraib Tells Her Story), and Karen Greenberg (co-editor, The Torture Papers and executive director NYU School of Law's Center on Law and Security) disucss Women and Torture on Sunday, November 5, 11 a.m. - noon.
The place of religion in the history of peace and war is discused by Regina Schwartz, professor of humanities and law at Northwestern University and co-director of their Justice Institute. Her book, The Curse of Cain: The Violent Legacy of Monotheism, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Holy Terror and Holy Love is presented Sunday, November 5, 1 - 2 p.m.
Narrative storytelling, exemplified by the battle-filled epic Ramayana, is the connective thread that binds contemporary artists to the rich traditions of India. Betty Seid, curator and specialist in South Asian art, discusses the upcoming Chicago Cultural Center exhibit "New Narratives: Contemporary Art from India" in her presentation, Epic Battles/Epic Pictures. Sunday, November 5; 3 - 4 p.m.
In addition, the college's Museum of Contemporary Photography will mount a related exhibition by Saigon-born American photographer An-My Le, Small Wars and 29 Palms. Small Wars runs October 27 - January 6, 2007. www.mocp.org for details and museum hours.
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