Claire Shipman will soon step down from her yearlong role as Acting President of Columbia University, as University of Wisconsin-Madison President Jennifer Mnookin assumes the role. With the impact she’s had on the lives of the class of 2026, many felt it wouldn’t be right to let Shipman leave this campus and these beautiful closed gates without a proper way to remember all she has done for the university. So, in order to immortalize a moment that will go down in history as Columbia’s best and brightest, the Class of 2026 chose to fundraise for a legacy gift to the school.
Picture this: At the top of the sundial, overlooking the lawns, maintaining order and harmony, Claire, her head carefully bowed, her arms positioned together, up and pointing in the same direction, covering her face. She’s dabbing. In a display of pure affection and devotion, the class of 2026 naturally chose to remember Claire through her signature catchphrase: “Dab on ‘em haters.” Now, forever, she will stand at the center of our campus, monitoring the student body as she loved to do, just dabbing away all of those haters. The Fed commends the Class of 2026’s gift. What a sentimental way to remember the past, and a new way for Columbia to continue its tradition of poor judgment and even worse architectural design.
Note: This statue design was selected after the Class of 2026’s original proposal, Shipman hitting the 6-7 (with a speech bubble), was vetoed by the Board of Trustees.
