An announcement by Columbia University president Lee C. Bollinger sent rumors about those plans flying. With previous rumors already suggesting that Obama was considering a move to New York City to teach at Columbia Law School, Bollinger said he’s looking forward to welcoming Obama back to campus in 2017.
According to the university newspaper, the Columbia Spectator,Bollinger did not say anything specific other than to suggest that the president (and perhaps the first lady) would have some sort of official presence at Columbia in the 2017 academic year.
The university promptly responded to the rumors, saying that Bollinger had not made a big reveal. His comments, it said, reflected no further developments concerning Obama’s plans, but rather “reiterated the May 12 statement by the Barack Obama Foundation that it ‘intends to maintain a presence at Columbia University for the purpose of exploring and developing opportunities for a long term association.'”
Obama was previously a law professor at the University of Chicago. He received his undergraduate degree from Columbia.
The White House also responded to the rumors, saying no decision had been made about Obama’s role at the university after he leaves office.
