I was delighted to read the supportive article on Mike Alexandroff`s achievements as president of Columbia College in your Chicagoland section March 22. However, I am concerned that the article may possibly have conveyed a misconception about the college.
Columbia is a liberal arts college-not a trade or technical school, as a casual reading of your article might seem to imply. Although we emphasize hands-on, practical studies in the arts, media and communi-cations, our mission is not focused on merely producing competent technicians, but rather on providing our students with a well-rounded education.
It has always been Columbia`s conviction that one cannot learn to be a mature and insightful filmmaker, journalist or painter without an education firmly grounded in the liberal arts and sciences. We are as proud of our alumni who are accountants, lawyers and professors as we are of our alumni who are writers, dancers or graphics designers. We are serious about our mission, and we try to explain our position whenever it has not been clearly stated. Anything less would be a disservice to our faculty, students and alumni.
