The head of Columbia University ignited a wave of speculation Monday about President Barack Obama’s post-White House activities, though the school later said there were no plans for the commander-in-chief to return to a teaching job.
Lee Bollinger, speaking to new students at the upper Manhattan campus, said he was excited to welcome Obama back to campus in 2017, the Columbia student newspaper The Spectator reported.
Later, the school clarified Bollinger was referring to a component of the Obama presidential center that was announced in May.
The Barack Obama Foundation announced then it would “maintain a presence at Columbia University for the purpose of exploring and developing opportunities for a long term association.”
The main library and presidential center will be located on Chicago’s South Side.
Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said Monday that Obama “has long talked about his respect for Columbia University and his desire to continue working with them.”
“However, at this point no decisions have been finalized about his post-Presidency plans,” Earnest said.
Originally enrolled at Occidental College in Los Angeles, Obama eventually transferred to Columbia in 1981 as a junior, majoring in political science with an emphasis on international relations.
In one recent interview, Obama’s thoughts drifted back to his time on Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus.
Asked what his favorite bagel flavor was, Obama recalled excursions south to a now-shuttered Upper West Side bagel institution.
“I would walk down from Columbia just to get H&H bagels on Saturdays or on the weekends,” he said.
His order: “Lox and capers, OK, but generally just your basic schmear.”
