Nora Beck to be inducted into the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame

July 19, 2012

Nora Beck, James W. Rogers Professor of Music, has been selected for induction into the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame. She will be honored at a special Black Tie Induction Ceremony on the Columbia campus on October 18.

As described by the Columbia Spectator, “Beck was a member of the Barnard basketball team from 1979-1983, as the schools faced the tough transition into consortium status. Despite the early lack of success competing at the Ivy level (she remembers one crushing 98-14 loss to Princeton), Beck was Columbia’s first All-American basketball player. Team captain for three years, Beck graduated in 1983 as a Small School Second-Team All-American and held 32 of 36 school records. Though she experienced many successes on the court, Beck insists to this day that it was ‘more [about] the experience back then.’ The camaraderie on the struggling team failed to impress fans as much as wins might have, but, as Beck says, ‘It was a labor of love.’”

Nora will join a select group of honorees, including Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Sid Luckman, Olympic Gold Medal swimmer Cristina Teuscher and baseball legend Lou Gehrig.