The University Record, September 24, 1997
Snapshots of the Festivities
The procession began in front of the Rackham Building. Photo by D.C. Goings
The 386 members of the procession, including Provost Nancy Cantor (left) and Graduate School Interim Dean Earl Lewis, spent the early morning hours in Rackham Auditorium, where robing activities took place.
The procession also included student flag bearers, each representing the school or college in which they are enrolled; the Inauguration Planning Committee; the Presidential Search Committee; student delegates; delegates of learned societies; delegates of other colleges and universities who appeared in the order in which their institution was followed, from Oxford in 1231 to Pole Universitaire Leonard de Vinci in 1995; faculty members, deans and executive officers; emeritus presidents and Regents; government speakers; the guest speaker and current Regents.
Prepared for most any contingency, an army of support staff helped marchers with their robes and hoods, and had extra hoods, robes and tassels on hand for those who may have forgotten them. Also at the ready were safety pins and hair pins.
Jacque Dunham of the University Events Office helps Bollinger with his robe and hood. Photos by Bob Kalmbach
Academic processions follow a strict order of individuals that is dictated by tradition. Bollinger (left) brought up the end of the procession. U-M-Dearborn Chancellor James C. Renick (right) wears a special medallion designed by a Dearborn faculty member. Solid links in the chain carry the names of each of the Dearborn chancellors. Photo by Bob Kalmbach
The Inauguration of Lee C. Bollinger Regent Philip H. Power (left), shown here with Regent Shirley M. McFee, delivered the “oath of office” during the ceremony.
The Constitution of the State of Michigan, in Article VIII, Section 5, establishes a body corporate known as the Regents of the University of Michigan. One of the duties prescribed for the Regents is the election of the President, the principal executive officer of the University. In November, 1996, the Board of Regents elected Lee C. Bollinger to be the President of the University. This ceremony is to formally install him in that office.
‘By the authority invested in us by the people of the State of Michigan, we, the duly elected Regents of the University of Michigan, do hereby install you, Lee C. Bollinger, as the twelfth President of the University of Michigan, on this, the nineteenth day of September, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven.
‘We pledge our faithful efforts to join with you and your colleagues in advancing the great work of this University, through teaching to increase the knowledge and wisdom of our students, through research to push forward the frontiers of what is known and understood, and thus serve the citizens of Michigan, this nation, and the world.’ Photo by Bob Kalmbach
The University’s 12th president, Lee C. Bollinger (left), with three of his predecessors; James J. Duderstadt (second from left), Harold T. Shapiro (second from right), now president of Princeton University who delivered the inauguration speech; and Robben W. Fleming. Photo by Bob Kalmbach
A rare moment in University history—the gathering of four presidents, the eight current Regents and 10 emeritus Regents during robing activities in Rackham Auditorium. Photo by Bob Kalmbach
Bollinger (left) with emeritus Regents Nellie M. Varner (center) and Thomas A. Roach. Varner was a member of the Board when Bollinger was selected to be president last fall. Commenting during the ceremony on the length of time between his arrival on campus last February and the September inauguration, he said: `. . . some of you may be thinking, given that I have been in the position for over eight months already, that I am a little like the guest who never seems to leave in my case, the president who never seems to begin. The reason we chose September rather than last April was to maximize both the chances of good weather and the distance from examinations (when everyone gets a little grouchy). Photo by Bob Kalmbach
Some 300 members of the University and greater comunity took the opportunity to feel part of the inauguration festivities in signing pages that will be included in a commemorative book. Most signers also wrote messages of congratulations. Photo by Paul Jaronski, Photo Services
