Havel at Columbia

• The Residency
  • Schedule
  • Notebooks
  • This Day in 1989
  • Galleries

The Residency

This part of this site includes information about the various events that were scheduled at Columbia and in New York City during the residency in the fall 2006. For many of the events users will find online video--in the site and available as podcasts--which they can access. This section also highlights the history of Havel’s relationship with the Columbia community. This visit to Columbia is his fourth-the early 1970s, 1990, 1997 and now the fall 2006.

Václav Havel's visit to Columbia focused on an exploration of the connection between art and citizenship. In addition to the events with President Havel, the Arts Initiative organized a series of symposia on specific art forms (theatre, music, art, film, literature) and citizenship. Each of these will be moderated by Columbians; several were presented in partnership with some of New York's leading cultural institutions.

Havel at Columbia Panels

Václav Havel's visit to Columbia focused on an exploration of the connection between art and citizenship. In addition to the events with President Havel, the Arts Initiative organized a series of symposia on specific art forms (theatre, music, architecture, art, film, literature) and citizenship. Each of these were moderated by Columbians; several were presented in partnership with some of New York's leading cultural institutions.

This Day in 1989

A daily event in the history of the Velvet Revolution 1989 that were highlighted to coincide with Havel's residency at Columbia University.

October 26: Dissidents call for demonstration

October 27: Havel detained by police, released to hospital

October 28: Independence Day demonstration in Prague

October 29: Crowd supports Havel at hospital

October 30: Czechoslovak security forces remain on alert

October 31: East German communist leader calls for a slowing of reform push

November 1: East Germans cross into Czechoslovakia on way to the West

November 2: East German upheaval intensifies

November 3: East German leader purges Politburo, promises extensive reforms

November 4: 500,000 protest in East Berlin

November 5, 1989: Conference in Poland serves as protest forum for Czechoslovaks

November 6, 1989: Pressure on East German communists mounts

November 7, 1989: Protest against trial of dissident in Bratislava

November 8, 1989: Havel predicts change in Czechoslovakia, but not necessarily soon

November 9, 1989: Berlin Wall opened

November 10, 1989: Soviet leaders warn Czechoslovak regime against delay of reforms

November 11, 1989: Czechoslovak dissidents plan for December rally

November 12, 1989: Czechoslovak dissidents plan for December rally

November 13, 1989: Travel restrictions for Czechoslovaks lifted

November 14, 1989: Bush to discuss changes in the Eastern Bloc with NATO allies

November 15, 1989: Gorbachev endorses changes in Eastern Europe

November 16, 1989: Police disperse peaceful demonstration in Bratislava

November 17, 1989: Police violently suppress demonstration in Prague; the Velvet Revolution begins

November 18, 1989: Havel leads theater strike

November 19, 1989: Civic Forum founded

November 20, 1989: 300,000 demonstrate in Prague

November 21, 1989: Prime Minister meets with Civic Forum

November 22, 1989: Havel makes first address to demonstrators

November 23, 1989: Civic Forum moves into new headquarters at the Laterna Magika Theater

November 24, 1989: Communist Party Presidium resigns; crowds cheer Havel and Dubček

November 25, 1989: Rally on Letná Plain in Prague draws 500,000

November 26, 1989: Communists begin negotiating a new government with opposition representatives

November 27, 1989: Millions of Czechoslovaks observe strike called by opposition

November 28, 1989: Czechoslovak Communist Party renounces monopoly on power

November 29, 1989: Guarantee of communist power removed from Czechoslovak constitution

November 30, 1989: Czechoslovak border opened

December 1, 1989: Havel meets with minority party leaders

December 2, 1989: Havel warns that delay on transition will lead to conflict

December 3, 1989: Opposition leaders reject new cabinet

December 4, 1989: Protestors call for new cabinet's resignation

December 5, 1989: Havel chosen as Civic Forum's nominee for president

December 6, 1989: Negotiations with Prime Minister Adamec break down

December 7, 1989: Prime Minister resigns; Havel says he is prepared to take on presidency

December 8, 1989: Communists agree to minority role in government

December 9, 1989: President Husák announces he will resign after swearing in new government

December 10, 1989: Havel nominated for presidency

December 11, 1989: Czechoslovaks celebrate arrival of democracy

December 12, 1989: Electoral-procedure debates begin in Federal Assembly

December 13, 1989: Electoral controversy resolved; Czechoslovakia ready for first new president in fourteen years

December 14, 1989: Czechoslovakia and Soviet Union begin talks on troop withdrawal

December 15, 1989: Concerns of national divide over Presidential election

December 16, 1989: Havel talks with Dubček to avoid national split over presidency

Schedule

Guests subject to change without notice. Some events are open only to the Columbia community and require a UNI to purchase tickets. For questions about tickets please call (212) 851-1872 or send an e-mail to
cuarts@columbia.edu

Notebooks

Havel Notebooks allow users at Columbia to organize their research on Havel, add annotations, and shape their own presentation of the multimedia found in this site. These personal workspaces can be shared with Columbia classmates, or the world. They can also be kept private. Listed below are public notebooks, including model notebooks compiled by Columbia faculty. Browse, enjoy, and if you have a Columbia UNI, feel free to start your own notebook.

Notebook Help Guide: Download PDF | View Online

Galleries

Havel at Columbia

Announcements