Lori Meadows
There have been claims that former US President Barack Obama was a foreign student at Columbia University. These claims are based on a purported 1981 Columbia University student ID card identifying Obama as a foreign student named Barry Soetoro. However, the ID card in question has been proven to be a fake, with the image being an altered version of a Columbia University ID card issued to another student in 1998. Furthermore, Columbia University did not start using digital ID cards until 1996, several years after Obama graduated. While there have been questions about Obama's time at Columbia, with some claiming that nobody remembers him from his time there, the university proudly claims him as a 1983 graduate, and he has been profiled in the university magazine and by the New York Times, which included excerpts from the Columbia student directory.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Was Obama a foreign student at Columbia University? | No, he was not. |
| Was Obama a student at Columbia University? | Yes, he graduated with a B.A. in political science in 1983. |
| Did Obama use the name "Barry Soetoro" at Columbia University? | No, this was his stepfather's last name, which he stopped using when he was 10. |
| Is there a Columbia University student ID of "Barry Soetoro" | Yes, but it is fake. |
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What You'll Learn
Obama's Columbia University student ID card
Several sources have debunked the claim that Barack Obama attended Columbia University as a foreign student named Barry Soetoro. An image of a purported 1981 Columbia University student ID card identifying Obama as a "foreign student" named "Barry Soetoro" has been circulating online. However, this image has been proven to be a fake and a pretty bad Photoshop job. The ID card pictured is not a real Columbia University student ID issued to Barack Obama in 1981 but an altered version of a Columbia University ID card issued to another student, Thomas Lugert, in 1998. Furthermore, Columbia University didn't start using digital ID cards until 1996, 13 years after Obama graduated, and the university doesn't label student IDs as "foreign student."
The photograph on the fake ID card is not a picture of a 20-year-old Barack Obama from 1981 but was taken several years later during or shortly after his time at Harvard Law School (1988-1991). The claim that Obama was a foreign student at Columbia University is part of a conspiracy theory that he was foreign-born and therefore ineligible to hold the office of President of the United States. Obama has published his long-form birth certificate, proving that he was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and rebutting these conspiracy theories.
While some have claimed that nobody remembers Obama at Columbia, it is important to note that the enrollment in the early '80s might have been lower, and not everybody would have met or remembered him. However, some people have come forward claiming to know Obama when he was at Columbia. The university magazine *Columbia College Today* profiled him as far back as 2005, after he was elected to the U.S. Senate. The *New York Times* also wrote about Phil Boerner, who roomed with Obama during his first year at Columbia.
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Obama's citizenship status
Barack Obama's citizenship status has been the subject of various conspiracy theories and false claims. One such claim is that Obama was a foreign student at Columbia University, where he attended from 1981 to 1983 and graduated with a B.A. in political science. This claim is based on a purported Columbia University student ID card from 1981 that identifies Barack Obama as a "foreign student" named "Barry Soetoro". However, this ID card has been proven to be a fake and a forgery. The ID card pictured is not a real Columbia University student ID issued to Barack Obama, but an altered version of an ID card issued to another student in 1998. Furthermore, Columbia University did not start using digital ID cards until 1996, several years after Obama had graduated.
The claim that Obama was a foreign student at Columbia University is part of a broader narrative that questions his citizenship status and suggests that he is not an American citizen. This narrative, often referred to as the "birther" movement, has also targeted Obama's birth certificate, claiming that it is fake and that he was not born in the United States. However, these claims have been repeatedly debunked and discredited.
While there have been questions and speculation about Obama's time at Columbia University, including claims that none of his classmates remembered him, this does not prove that he was a foreign student or that he was not a US citizen. Obama's citizenship status has never been officially called into question, and he has served as President of the United States, a position that requires US citizenship.
In conclusion, the claim that Barack Obama was a foreign student at Columbia University is false and based on fabricated evidence. Obama's citizenship status as a US citizen has been widely accepted, and he has met the eligibility requirements for the positions he has held, including President of the United States.
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Obama's classmates at Columbia University
There are several conspiracy theories surrounding Barack Obama's time at Columbia University, including that he was a foreign student. One such theory is based on a purported Columbia University student ID card from 1981 that identifies Barack Obama as a "foreign student" named "Barry Soetoro". However, this ID card is fake. It is an altered version of a Columbia University ID card issued to another student, Thomas Lugert, in 1998. The digital ID card format depicted in the image also wasn't introduced at Columbia until 1996, several years after Obama graduated. Additionally, Columbia University does not label student IDs with terms like "foreign student".
Despite these unfounded claims, there is evidence that Obama did attend Columbia University. Obama is listed as a 1983 graduate of the university, and the university magazine, Columbia College Today, even profiled him after he was elected to the U.S. Senate. Obama's roommate at Columbia, Phil Boerner, recalled that Obama sometimes wrapped himself in a sleeping bag to keep warm in their shared chilly apartment. Obama also had a Pakistani friend, Sohale Siddiqi, and enjoyed playing soccer, watching sports, and jogging around Central Park. He also took classes with famed literary theorist Edward Said. Obama majored in political science and concentrated in international relations.
While many of Obama's classmates at Columbia University have not come forward with recollections of him, there are a few who have. One woman wrote about playing soccer with Obama on campus. Additionally, ABC News' George Stephanopoulos was a classmate of Obama's, although they were not in the same year. Stephanopoulos stated that he never had a class with Obama. Wayne Allyn Root, a political science major who graduated in 1983, claimed that he did not know anyone who knew Obama at Columbia. However, Root was a Libertarian Party vice-presidential nominee in 2008, so he may have had a political motive for his statement.
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Obama's address while at Columbia University
Several sources claim that Barack Obama was a foreign student at Columbia University. This claim is based on a Columbia University student ID card from 1981 that identifies Barack Obama as a "foreign student" named "Barry Soetoro". However, this ID card is not real and has been altered from a Columbia University ID card issued to another student in 1998. Furthermore, Columbia University did not use digital ID cards until 1996, and Obama's ID would not have said "foreign student" as he was born in Hawaii.
Obama transferred to Columbia University from Occidental College in 1981 as a 20-year-old junior. He lived off-campus as Columbia University barred transfer students from its limited supply of campus housing at the time. He lived at 142 West 109th Street during his junior year and at 339 East 94th Street during his senior year. Obama spent most of his time at the university in Butler Library, concentrating on his academic work and making few friends. He majored in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations (now International Politics). He also took classes in other disciplines, including a class with literary theorist Edward Said.
There has been some speculation that Obama did not attend Columbia University as nobody remembers him from his time there. However, this claim has been refuted as it is unlikely that everyone would have met or remembered him, given the large number of students attending the university. Additionally, at least one of his classmates, Phil Boerner, remembers him well, and the university proudly claims Obama as a 1983 graduate. Obama's time at Columbia University has also been documented in the university magazine, Columbia College Today, and in the New York Times.
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Obama's major at Columbia University
There were claims that former US President Barack Obama was a foreign student at Columbia University. This claim was based on a Columbia University student ID card identifying Barack Obama as a "foreign student" named "Barry Soetoro". However, this ID card is not real and is an altered version of a Columbia University ID card issued to another student named Thomas Lugert in 1998. Columbia University didn't use digital ID cards until 1996, years after Obama graduated. Furthermore, Obama's ID would not have said "foreign student" because he was born in Hawaii.
Obama attended Columbia University and graduated in 1983 with a degree in political science. He also took classes in international relations and Western civilisation. Obama's major at Columbia University was political science, and he was a pre-law student. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Obama's time at Columbia University has been the subject of some speculation and conspiracy theories. Some people, including political opponents and members of the media, have claimed that Obama was a foreign student or that he did not attend the university at all. These claims have been debunked by various sources, including fact-checking organisations and university spokespeople.
Despite the claims, there is evidence that Obama did attend Columbia University and graduated in 1983. The university magazine, Columbia College Today, profiled him after he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2005. The New York Times also wrote about Phil Boerner, who roomed with Obama during his first year at Columbia. Obama's name also appeared in the Columbia student directory, showing his addresses during his junior and senior years.
In addition to the evidence provided by Columbia University and the media, at least one of Obama's classmates recalled him well. However, it is true that Obama has consistently declined requests to talk about his years at Columbia or provide school records or the names of any former classmates or friends. This may have contributed to the speculation and conspiracy theories surrounding his time at the university.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Obama was not a foreign student at Columbia University. He was a US citizen born in Hawaii.
There was a fake Columbia University ID card that identified Barack Obama as a "foreign student" named "Barry Soetoro" (his stepfather's last name) circulating online. However, Columbia University didn't use digital ID cards until the mid-1990s, over a decade after Obama graduated in 1983.
Yes, Obama attended Columbia University and graduated with a B.A. in political science in 1983.
ABC News' George Stephanopoulos was a student at Columbia for about one academic year as Obama, but Stephanopoulos was a year ahead. Phil Boerner, who was Obama's roommate during his first year at Columbia, recalled that Obama sometimes wrapped himself in a sleeping bag to keep warm in their chilly shared apartment.
Obama has not released his Columbia University records, leading to speculation about his attendance. However, it is worth noting that the university proudly claims him as a graduate, and he was profiled in the university magazine Columbia College Today as early as 2005.
