Columbia and Fordham Presidents Announce the Cancellation of the Football Game on Sat., Sept. 15, 2001

After considering together the interests of our university communities, we have concurred that the Columbia University-Fordham University football game scheduled for this Saturday, September 15, 2001, should be cancelled. This decision was not an easy or simple one. The players on both teams wanted the game to go forward, and many of those closest to the players, coaches, athletic directors and academic advisers, believed it would be in the best interests of these student athletes to play the game as another step toward normalcy. While we respect these views, we have decided that, at a time when dozens, if not hundreds, of Columbia and Fordham alumni are among the missing, our sense of solidarity with the fallen is better expressed by canceling this year’s game. We pray for all those families, including those with Columbia and Fordham links, who have suffered such terrible losses this week. George Rupp, President, Columbia University Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., President, Fordham University