On Tuesday, December 11, 2001, at 10:30 am, students, faculty, and staff
are warmly invited to attend a special ceremony at 17 Lexington Avenue, in
the colonnade just outside Mason Hall.  A special plaque will be hung that
recognizes the site as the original location of The Free Academy, which
opened at 17 Lexington Avenue in 1849, as the first public college in the
United States and the direct forebear of today’s City University of New
York.

The plaque is being presented to Baruch College by Barbaralee Diamonstein
Spielvogel, chairman of the Historic Landmark Preservation Center in New
York City.  A reception will follow the ceremony, with David Dannenbring,
senior vice president and provost of Baruch College; Kaleen Quereshi,
president of the Student Government; Sandra Roff, author of From the Free
Academy to CUNY;  a representative from the CUNY Chancellor’s office; local
political representatives such as Steve Sanders, New York State assemblyman
from the 63rd AD, and many other visitors. Please see the Baruch College
homepage later today (Friday, December 7) at www.baruch.cuny.edu for a link
to a story featuring more details.