An immigrant from the former Yugoslavia who has worked as a janitor for Columbia University for two decades graduated Sunday with a bachelor's degree in classics, with honors. Full time custodian Gac Filipaj took classes at the school for free, often studying late into the night after the end of his 2:30 to 11 p.m. shift, then taking classes in the morning. Yesterday all his hard work paid off, and he joined his fellow students at commencement ceremonies on the sunny Columbia quad, where he also received an honorary degree in making everyone else feel like a lazy, entitled bum.
"This is a man with great pride, whether he's doing custodial work or academics," Peter Awn, dean of Columbia's School of General Studies and professor of Islamic studies, told the Associated Press. "He is immensely humble and grateful, but he's one individual who makes his own future." Another thing about Filipaj? He doesn't own a cell phone or a computer. At press time, it was unclear how he survives without Tweeting about his favorite Sunday night cable TV shows.
What's next for Filipaj? He intends to pursue a master's degree, and perhaps a Ph.D. in Roman and Greek classics. He'd also like a better job—like maybe custodial supervisor. In a post-graduation interview with the AP, Filipaj explained, "The richness is in me, in my heart and in my head, not in my pockets." Once the interview was done, Filipaj went to do kegstands and smoke celebratory blunts with his fellow graduates "picked up a broom and dustpan and WENT BACK TO WORK." [Emphasis added.] Here's a short but sweet video clip from the ceremony:
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