People's Professor

Professor turns to face his students whose eyes are directed at the great thinkers shown in his favourite painting. "Raphael was trying to capture a community engaged in the philosophy of the mind. Socrates and Plato and Aristotle and all the other great philosophers depicted here began a long tradition of street philosophy, a tradition that lives on in the streets of Harlem-the exchange of ideas, a passion for education and idealism, a community of learning and idealism, a community of learning and teaching." "If only Columbia-the school on the hill-understood the importance of it."
Professor Dalton has taught for 38 years in the political science department of Barnard, the all-women's school of Columbia, University of Harlem. Like many Ivy League schools positioned near low-income communities, Columbia has a strained relationship with its neighbours, working-class people who are not only kept out, but are threatened with displacement by the grand vision of the universities leadership. The school wants to seize property through eminent domain in its plans for a new $6.3 billion expansion into West Harlem.
Professor Dalton invites members of the community to attend his classes. He encourages residents of Harlem to encroach into Columbia and one way is to attend his classes gratis. He says that "These are my friends. You wouldn't tell any other professor that he couldn't invite his friends to sit in on his class."
Dalton has made an effort every day of his 38 years of teaching at Barnard to follow Gandhi's advice and "be the change you wish to see in the world."
What a wonderful teacher. Sad that Utne chose to print an article about professor Dalton when he retired and new students could not attend his classes. Hopefully, Dalton is enjoying time with family as the article suggests he plans to do.