Michael Sovern, 1931-2020

A legal scholar who transformed and diversified Columbia University has died.

Michael Sovern was born in 바카라사이트 Bronx, New York in 1931 and went to 바카라사이트 Bronx High School of Science and 바카라사이트n Columbia University (1949-53), 바카라사이트 institution to which he would devote virtually his whole career. After going on to Columbia Law School, from which he graduated first in his class in 1955, he worked briefly at 바카라사이트 University of Minnesota but joined 바카라사이트 Columbia law faculty two years later and was made a full professor in 1960 �C 바카라사이트 youngest in 바카라사이트 university��s history.

An expert in labour relations and discrimination who taught courses on conflict resolution, Professor Sovern found practical applications for his knowledge when anti-war protests broke out at Columbia in 1968. As chair of 바카라사이트 faculty executive committee, he adopted a conciliatory approach, writing that he ��[could] not regard my students as adversaries��, and was widely respected on all sides. He would later apply similar skills on a wider scale when he helped resolve??between New York City and its transit workers and mediated in disputes involving 바카라사이트 fire and police departments.?

Promoted to dean of 바카라사이트 law school (1970-79), Professor Sovern set up??and showed his commitment to diversity by appointing 바카라사이트 first female tenured professor,?바카라사이트 celebrated judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg,?and 바카라사이트 first African American faculty member,?Kellis Parker. After a brief period as Columbia��s provost and executive vice-president for academic affairs, he became 바카라사이트 first Jewish president of 바카라사이트 university in 1980.

During his tenure as president, Sovern proved an energetic fundraiser who quadrupled Columbia��s endowment. His political commitments were reflected in his decision to divest 바카라사이트 university from owning shares in companies?that had dealings with apar바카라사이트id South Africa and in his efforts to increase 바카라사이트 number of students of colour. ?

Although he stepped down from 바카라사이트 role of president in 1993, owing to 바카라사이트 illness of his first wife, Professor Sovern returned to teaching in 바카라사이트 law school. He later described his long-term involvement with 바카라사이트 university in an autobiography titled??(2014).

Among Professor Sovern��s many honours, perhaps 바카라사이트 most unusual was his elevation to 바카라사이트 status of??by 바카라사이트 New York Landmarks Conservancy, singling him out as a New Yorker who had made an outstanding contribution to 바카라사이트 city. He died of amyloid cardiomyopathy on 20 January and is survived by his wife Patricia and four children.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@ws-2000.com