Passing on the mace

the University will inaugurate its new president while remembering its founding days

During President Bruininks' inauguration, Governor Tim Pawlenty will pass him the mace, symbol of presidential power. The University's first official mace made its debut in 1961 at the inauguration of O. Meredith Wilson (1960-67), 110 years after the University was founded and eight centuries after the mace's warlike image faded and it became a symbol of peaceful leadership. As early as the 13th century, kings were removing the spikes from this weapon and encrusting their ceremonial maces with jewels and precious metals.

Art professor Philip Morton designed the University's mace, choosing a star as its crowning feature. Why a star? "As far as I could discover, the University has no particular symbol except the gopher, which didn't seem quite appropriate," he said. The University machine shop made the mace with a solid aluminum handle set with the regents' seal and a 4-inch crystal sphere surmounted by the aluminum "Star of the North."

From M, winter 2003

On February 28 at 12:45 p.m., a sea of people in long capes and colorful hoods will flow across Northrop Mall from Coffman Memorial Union. This procession of academic regalia-clad faculty members, administrators, student leaders, and other invited guests (regents, governors, mayors, and other university presidents) is part of the University's inauguration ceremony at Northrop Memorial Auditorium to install its 15th president--Bob Bruininks.

Governor Tim Pawlenty will present Bruininks with the University mace and then our new president will give his inaugural address. The University's Symphony Orchestra and choirs will provide musical interludes throughout the hour-and-a-half event. A public reception will follow at 3 p.m. in the Great Hall of Coffman Memorial Union.

The University's inauguration day activities come nearly at the end of an event-filled Founders Week, February 23-March 1. Events during these seven days, which are meant to commemorate the University's founding 152 years ago, include a conversation about civil rights and human dignity between Archbishop Desmond Tutu and University Vice President Robert Jones on February 25, a day-long technology showcase featuring products spawned by University research on February 27, and a jazz festival on March 1.

For a complete list of the University's 2003 Founders Week events, including inauguration day details, see www.umn.edu/inauguration or call Andrew Chelseth at 612-625-5512.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Of inaugurations past

U of M presidential inaugurations are by no means carbon copies of each other. They reflect both the presidents and the times in which they serve, with some interesting twists of fate thrown into the mix.

The first presidential inauguration was held at the height of the Christmas season when William Folwell took the oath on December 22, 1869. President #2, Cyrus Northrop, chose early summer. He was inaugurated on the afternoon of June 10, 1885, and guests were invited to attend commencement ceremonies the next morning.

Inaugurations were suspended during the Depression and world wars. Neither Marion Burton (1917-20) nor Guy Stanton Ford (1938-41) nor Walter Castella Coffey (1941-45) had a formal ceremony. For his part, and in deference to the times, President Burton sent announcements in 1918 that proclaimed, "Owing to the war, and at the request of President Burton, the customary formal celebration was reluctantly abandoned."

The inauguration of president #3, George Vincent, in October 1911, was the most elaborate at the time, with three days of festivities that included, according to archive notes, "a monster torch-light procession of alumni and students." An estimated crowd of 6-8,000 marched and carried torches, and 500 women students "in fancy costumes bearing lighted Japanese lanterns executed a beautiful and unique drill. The lanterns of the dancers," the notes conclude, glowed like "a myriad of huge fireflies."

Malcom Moos, president #10, was inaugurated just a month after the murder of Martin Luther King in 1968. Civil rights protesters tried to block entrances to Northrop the night before the inauguration during a speech by national security adviser McGeorge Bundy. Protesters also walked on stage during an inauguration-related speech by alumnus and former head of the U.S. Information Agency Carl Rowen.

In 1974, president #11, C. Peter Magrath, called for a "simple, low-key" inauguration. Although no special events were held, a November snowstorm descended on participants as they marched in their academic regalia from Walter Library to Northrop.

Mark Yudof, president #14, was the first president to receive inaugural congratulations by e-mail.