What Immortal Hand Or Eye Dare Frame Thy Fearful Symmetry?

Time was, Columbia University owned massive amounts of Manhattan real estate, including multiple parcels in Lower Manhattan and the land on which that humble little development known as “Rockefeller Center” now sits. Today, the university club is forced to share facilities with — oh, the indignity! — Princeton:

The Columbia University Club of New York, consisting of roughly 2,000 members and open to all current students, faculty, and alumni, shares a building with the Princeton Club at 15 West 43rd St., while Harvard, Cornell, and Yale own buildings of their own nearby.

“We do not have our own clubhouse and the sense of identity that comes with a clubhouse,” said Young Alumni board member Michael Foss.

Walking past the Princeton-orange, rugged entryway, one walks into the Tiger-covered walls of a bar and grill decorated with Princeton paraphernalia, including napkins, cups, and accordingly attired waiters, leading to questions about what claim Columbia has to the building.

Tracy Chung, CC ’08 and a student council presidential candidate of the REBEL CC party, said: “This is our city, and it’s ridiculous to share a clubhouse with Princeton. We need to establish Columbia’s identity outside of the immediate campus, and this needs to be a main concern.”

“We are anxious to increase the membership,” said Foss. “We believe that our strongest growth will come from recent graduates, but the club pursues and has new members join monthly, of all ages and schools.”

But the Princeton presence creates potential difficulties for recruiting new members. “The reason for sharing the address is mainly financial,” said John Celock, a member of the Board of Governors, a committee that runs the club.

Chung said that financial reasons shouldn’t force the club into its present situation. “In light of the capital campaign and a $4 billion budget, why is it that we can’t afford our own clubhouse?” Chung asked. “The intellectual environment that Columbia students spend years fostering during their studies deserves a rightful place outside of campus after graduation.” She later added: “Columbia pride! We need to make our clubhouse a priority.”

No doubt, that mighty intellectual environment deserves its own building:

With such speakers as the executive producer of Brokeback Mountain, the Teachers College admissions director, a former contestant on CBS’ Amazing Race, and University President Lee Bollinger, the club is host to many events open to members.

Emphasis added (snark factor: 7).