CAMPUS NEWS: Hillary Clinton teaches first class at Columbia SIPA

The auditorium at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) that held the first 'Inside the Situation Room' lecture on September 6. (Photo/Emily Muller)

By Emily Muller

On September 6, Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo held the inaugural “Inside the Situation Room” lecture at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)

This class marks its debut following the announcement made in March 2022 and is centered on the dynamics of political decision-making.

Comprising more than 360 students from Columbia SIPA, Columbia College, Barnard College, and Columbia School of General Studies, the course is scheduled to convene weekly throughout the fall semester.

Enrollment in the class required students to submit applications, with participants selected through a random process.

Matthew Lundgren, a second-year Master of Public Affairs (MPA) student, expressed, "When they launched the application, and I applied and got in, I was super excited." He added, "Professor Clinton coming here felt like confirmation that yes, I came to the right school."

Isabella Lee Oyarce, a second-year Master of International Affairs (MIA) student shared similar sentiments, saying, "I think it's a pretty cool experience to be taught by any high level person to hear their perspectives and to get an insight into their personal history."

"Today, I had the opportunity to ask Secretary Clinton about how gender will be incorporated into the class, especially from her perspective," Lee Oyarce continued. "They said there will be a class focused on gender with some new data that sounds pretty exciting, but I’m really hoping that the gender focus is going to be more consistent than that."

Outside the primary entrance to the International Affairs Building, protesters waved Haitian flags and distributed leaflets demanding Clinton's removal from the Columbia University campus.

In addition to her Professor of Practice position, Clinton has held a joint appointment at Columbia World Projects since February 1. She was also conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Columbia University in 2022.

Emily Muller (MIA ‘24) is the Editor in Chief of The Morningside Post.