Hoax.
http://www.politico.com/static/PPM116_obamaessay.html
An essay Obama wrote for a Columbia magazine while attending Columbia.
http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct_archive/jan05/cover.php
An article from Columbia College today about Obama class of 83’.
http://www.college.columbia.edu/news/barack-obama-83-becomes-first-college-alumnus-to-win-presidency
And finally, Columbia crowing about their first alumni to be elected president.
No hoax. If it were a hoax, Obama would ignore Pastor Manning. Which he isn’t . :-)