Inauguration festivities for incoming University President Morton O. Schapiro have been set for Oct. 7-10, according to the inauguration planning committee led by Sarah Pearson, vice president for alumni relations and development.
The ceremony itself is tentatively scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Oct. 9.
Planned festivities include a speech by Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman during the ceremony and a symposium earlier that day addressing “Big Ideas and Challenges.”
The weekend will conclude with a pre-game tailgate prior to the Saturday, Oct. 10 home football game against Miami University (Ohio).
Organizers said they plan to include Northwestern’s three campuses – Evanston, Chicago and Doha, Qatar – in the event.
Pearson said she was asked to chair the inauguration committee early in the winter by Vice President for Finance Gene Sunshine and Provost Daniel Linzer after Schapiro was announced as NU’s 16th president.
The committee, composed of students, graduate students, faculty, alumni and representatives from administrative offices, has been working its way through the “full and complicated” planning process since the winter, Pearson said.
“It’s a very large and robust committee that will help us – government relations, community relations and (Vice President for University Relations) Al Cubbage’s people,” she said.
Pearson said incoming President Schapiro extended an invitation to Friedman to speak at the event.
“That was one of the first ideas that Schapiro had,” she said. “He expressed an interest in asking Mr. Friedman (to speak) at the inauguration and it was very quickly accepted by Mr. Friedman.”
From the outset of the planning process, Pearson said, the inauguration was meant to be an opportunity to “engage more students in the inaugural process,” an idea that Schapiro and his wife supported.
“They were clear in their minds that they were hoping there would be a really great concert for the students at some point during the weekend,” Pearson said.
Claire Lew, who sits on the committee as the chairwoman of oNe Northwestern, has been involved in the planning stages of the inauguration. Lew is also the Associated Student Government’s public relations director.
“I’m incredibly excited for Morton Schapiro’s inauguration, especially because he really has been emphasizing a focus on undergraduates,” the SESP sophomore said. “It’s a really cool opportunity for students to welcome him, to show him what NU is about and for him to get a taste of everything we have to offer.”
Lew said the committee hopes to celebrate the student body.
“We have so many talented people, we have so many things to offer, there are so many amazing people who go to this school,” she said. “We want to celebrate the fact that they’re all here and that we have new leadership coming in.”
Although the plans are not yet finalized, the inauguration committee is working to hold a Friday evening concert following the Oct. 9 ceremony, Pearson said.
Pearson said the committee will be working with ASG and A&O to choose a performer for the concert.
“A&O has had very preliminary discussions with administrators about a proposed fall event,” A&O Chairman Adam Pumm, a Weinberg junior, wrote in an e-mail. “We look forward to being a part of the planning process.”
The “capstone” event will likely encourage students to attend the festivities, Pearson added.
“Having the capstone of that evening be a concert for students was symbolic and positive and upbeat,” she said. “I think it sends a great signal that this is very much about celebrating Northwestern and its students and making this a great experience for students.”
