Patriotism has bound the students of the municipal colleges of New York City together since the Civil War. By 1917, the year that the United States entered World War I, the two municipal colleges in New York City were The College of the City of New York which included the downtown campus now named Baruch College, and Hunter College, the women’s college located on 68th Street and Lexington Avenue. Both of these colleges showed their commitment to the cause and participated in the war effort. At City College, a few days after the declaration of war, faculty members adopted a resolution in support of the war. The “College of the City of New York should take whatever steps may be necessary to co-operate with other colleges and universities in placing at the service of the National Government the physical and intellectual resources of these institutions”(Rudy, 349). Students at The College of the City of New York trained for the military, while students of both campuses participated in political activism, raising money for Liberty Bonds, ambulances and other vital social services. Faculty developed and offered new courses and were innovators in scientific and technological advances.
The municipal colleges of the City of New York came together to serve their country in time of war and many students, alumni and faculty paid the ultimate price. Both colleges take pride in the role they played and we honor all who served their country.