Spring Break
UConn Preps For Inaugural Weekend
Fireworks, Music To Mark Occasion
Aly Shea
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: News
The swearing-in of President Michael Hogan as UConn's 14th president this weekend will be a mix of old and new traditions as the university seeks a more upbeat, student-involved inauguration.
"We tried to incorporate all the music performances and such," said Cara Workman, the director of university events. "The main thing the president wanted was a lot of student involvement."
With performances from several university music groups including the Pep Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Voices of Freedom Gospel Choir and Jazz Ensemble and a new student procession in the ceremony, students will be a major part of the inauguration ritual.
Hogan will be formally sworn in at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., according to the event Web site. The ceremony will open in the traditional fashion, with separate processions of faculty, visiting delegates and the platform party, but this time a procession of students will also march into the theater with Hogan. The student procession will lead the way, behind the university banner.
"It's not standard to have a student procession, so we're doing something special," Workman said.
Delegates and faculty will be dressed in full ceremonial regalia, and the students will be dressed in something representing their respective student organizations. Only one student representative from each campus organization is allowed to march in the procession.
"There are over 500 organizations on the Storrs campus, plus we invited organizations from each of the other campuses as well, so that would be a big number," Workman said.
In the ceremony, Gov. M. Jodi Rell will give a speech, as will representatives of the faculty and staff, alumni and students.
Ryan McHardy, an 8th-semester political science major and current USG president, will speak on behalf of the students. The chairman of the Board of Trustees, John Rowe, will also speak. He will do Hogan's official swearing-in. Hogan will also give an inaugural address.
"We tried to incorporate all the music performances and such," said Cara Workman, the director of university events. "The main thing the president wanted was a lot of student involvement."
With performances from several university music groups including the Pep Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Voices of Freedom Gospel Choir and Jazz Ensemble and a new student procession in the ceremony, students will be a major part of the inauguration ritual.
Hogan will be formally sworn in at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., according to the event Web site. The ceremony will open in the traditional fashion, with separate processions of faculty, visiting delegates and the platform party, but this time a procession of students will also march into the theater with Hogan. The student procession will lead the way, behind the university banner.
"It's not standard to have a student procession, so we're doing something special," Workman said.
Delegates and faculty will be dressed in full ceremonial regalia, and the students will be dressed in something representing their respective student organizations. Only one student representative from each campus organization is allowed to march in the procession.
"There are over 500 organizations on the Storrs campus, plus we invited organizations from each of the other campuses as well, so that would be a big number," Workman said.
In the ceremony, Gov. M. Jodi Rell will give a speech, as will representatives of the faculty and staff, alumni and students.
Ryan McHardy, an 8th-semester political science major and current USG president, will speak on behalf of the students. The chairman of the Board of Trustees, John Rowe, will also speak. He will do Hogan's official swearing-in. Hogan will also give an inaugural address.
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