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The Inauguration of Grace Wang: A Guide to the Traditions, Symbols, and Pageantry

amduffy — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On March 22, 2024, WPI will install a new president, something it has done just 16 times before during its 159-year history. A presidential inauguration is an important rite of passage in the life of a university, a time to honor the institution鈥檚 history, traditions, and values, while also setting forth a new vision for its future (something the new president traditionally does through an inaugural address).

At WPI, the tradition of inaugurations began with the installation of its first president, Charles O. Thompson, on Nov. 11, 1868, a day of lengthy oratory and ceremony that also included the dedication of WPI鈥檚 first building, Boynton Hall. Like all of its predecessors, the inauguration of Grace J. Wang, PhD, will feature a host of traditions, pageantry, and ceremonial flourishes, some unique to WPI and some that trace their origins back to the dawn of higher education. Here is a brief guide to what to watch for as WPI鈥檚 17th president formally assumes her role as the university鈥檚 new chief executive.

Regalia

Traditional academic dress originated in the Middle Ages, when universities were monastic foundations and scholars wore simple monk鈥檚 robes with hoods to keep their heads warm. Hoods were later draped down the back and a wide Tudor bonnet (or just its inner lining, or mortarboard) was worn on the head. At the end of the 19th century American universities established a code governing the design and colors of robes and hoods. Today, a graduate degree recipient wears a hood over the robe; the color of the hood鈥檚 lining indicates the degree-granting university, while the color of the border indicates the academic degree or discipline. President Wang鈥檚 presidential hood is lined in dark blue, the color worn by all PhD recipients. The underside is trimmed with WPI鈥檚 colors: crimson and gray. She will wear a specially designed presidential robe of crimson polyester with central panels made of black velvet. Four black velvet chevrons (the symbol of the presidency) decorate the sleeves. The basic design of WPI鈥檚 academic robes dates to 2007, when it was decided that all robes (black for bachelor's and master's degree candidates; crimson and black for PhD candidates, trustees, and the president) would feature two white WPI seals embroidered on the front panels.

The Mace

Derived from war clubs, the mace has been a symbol of authority going back at least to ancient Rome, when a fasces, or axe bound within a bundle of rods, was carried in processions before civil authorities. In medieval Europe, bodyguards of civil officials carried maces, and later the mace was carried as a symbol of royal authority. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives is called to order by the Sargent at Arms carrying an elaborate mace that resembles both a club and the Roman fasces. In academia, the mace appears at formal gatherings and ceremonies to symbolize the president鈥檚 authority.

WPI鈥檚 mace, fashioned in 2007, is a 42-inch staff made from fluted cherrywood topped with a circular silver pedestal on which sits, on edge, a large silver medal with the WPI seal on each side. It will be carried at the head of the inaugural procession by acting provost Arthur Heinricher, serving as honorary marshal, while the president will march at the procession鈥檚 end. For the recessional, that order will be reversed, with the president marching first and Heinricher with the mace bringing up the rear, in a symbolic gesture showing that the authority over the university has been transferred to the new president. Before WPI had a ceremonial mace, the honorary marshal at inaugurations carried the walking stick of WPI founder John Boynton, a simple wooden staff, painted black, with an ornamental bronze cap.

Delegates

Traditionally, presidents or other representatives from other colleges and universities鈥攄omestic and international鈥攁re invited to participate in a presidential inauguration to help welcome the new president. Representatives from learned and professional societies and associations and honor societies are also invited to process. During the procession, the delegates will be arranged in the order of the founding dates of their institutions, with those from the oldest institutions marching first. Colleges, universities, societies, and associations that are unable to send delegates traditionally send written greetings to the new president, sometimes in the form of beautifully calligraphed certificates.

The Procession

A dignified procession of university community members, delegates, dignitaries, and other special guests, all attired in colorful regalia, is one of the highlights of the inauguration ceremony. For President Wang鈥檚 inauguration, the procession will wind from Harrington Auditorium to the Sports and Recreation Center, where the ceremony will take place. It will be led by Acting Provost Heinricher, with the mace, followed by the ROTC color guard, delegates, WPI faculty members (arranged by rank), WPI administrators and deans, emeriti trustees, current trustees, the stage party, and, finally, the president.

Greetings

It is traditional for the new president to receive greetings during the inaugural ceremony from groups that will be important partners in running the university and carrying out the president鈥檚 vision. At President Wang鈥檚 ceremony, she will hear messages from WPI鈥檚 undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, staff, and faculty; from the City of Worcester (delivered by Mayor Joseph Petty); and from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (via video, from U.S. Senator Edward Markey). Notable greetings in the past came from longtime Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who delivered the keynote speech at the inauguration of Dennis Berkey, WPI鈥檚 15th president, and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, who appeared by video downlink from the International Space Station during the inauguration of WPI鈥檚 16th President, Laurie Leshin.

The Installation

The heart of the inauguration is the installation ceremony, where the president accepts the symbols of her authority and receives a charge from the WPI Board of Trustees. Essentially, this is the moment when she formally accepts the responsibilities of the office and is welcomed into her new role by the greater WPI and academic communities. Two symbols will be presented to President Wang by board chair William Fitzgerald 鈥?3 and two members of the faculty. The first is the Institute鈥檚 original charter. Drafted by Emory Washburn, a prominent lawyer who served in the Massachusetts state legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate, it was signed by the Massachusetts secretary of state on May 10, 1865. The other is WPI鈥檚 seal. Designed by physics department head Alonzo Kimball in 1885, it features graphical elements that symbolize WPI鈥檚 history and mission, including a heart to represent the city of Worcester; WPI鈥檚 German motto, Lehr und Kunst (learning and skilled arts); and a pair of open books and the arm-and-hammer weathervane from the Washburn Shops, which represent WPI鈥檚 tradition of balancing theory with practice. The seal, in the form of a silver medallion, hangs on a silver chain that includes among its links small silver plates engraved with the names and years of service of all past WPI presidents. Up through the inauguration of Admiral Wat Tyler Cluverius as WPI鈥檚 seventh president in 1939, new presidents also received the keys to the Institute.

The Charge

At the end of the installation ceremony, the chair of the Board of Trustees reads the charge, which serves as a formal declaration of the Board鈥檚 expectations for the new president. The language of the charge has remained relatively constant over the years. During President Wang鈥檚 ceremony, Board Chair Fitzgerald will say, 鈥淥n behalf of the Board of Trustees, and by the power vested in me by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I charge you to perform faithfully the trust we are placing in your hands. You have the full assurance of our help and our prayers for your success. What our university has achieved is only a bright promise of that which we have yet to accomplish.鈥?lt;/p>

Other Inaugural Events

All of WPI鈥檚 presidents have placed their own stamps upon the festivities surrounding their inaugurations, which have included speeches, musical and theatre performances, and dances. Most new presidents have held events for guests. For example, Edward Parrish, WPI鈥檚 14th president, held a luncheon for the campus community under a huge, peaked tent that covered much of the Quadrangle. Presidents Edmund Cranch (No. 12) and Parrish held their inaugurations in the fall to coincide with Homecoming. President Jon Strauss (No. 13) held his on May 10, 1985, the 120th anniversary of the signing of WPI鈥檚 charter. Presidents Strauss, Parrish, and Leshin held symposia focused on current themes in higher education. Grace Wang鈥檚 inauguration day will include a reception, a community event with dancing, robotics and lab tours, and a showcase for student projects and faculty research.

Exhibit showcases video game history and IMGD success

jcain — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

It鈥檚 not often you hear the fun and bouncy sound of Super Mario Bros. theme music in a library. But on the last Friday in October, the recognizable soundtrack to the retro video game and the exclamations from excited game enthusiasts permeated the ground floor of the George C. Gordon Library.

Attendees play on Nintendo Entertainment System at kickoff event for library exhibit.

On this evening, the entrance to WPI鈥檚 Archives and Special Collections was filled with dozens of students, faculty, and staff. They huddled in groups around four televisions to play classic video games like Pac-Man, Mario Kart, and Zelda and watch others test their skills on game consoles dating back four decades, all items preserved in WPI鈥檚 collection. For some, it was a surprising scene. 鈥淚 was utterly astounded,鈥?said Benjamin Levy, a sophomore computer science and interactive media and game development (IMGD) major. 鈥淚 was amazed they managed to collect so many different consoles and iconic games. I can see so many different people having fun here and it warms my heart.鈥?lt;/span>

The buzzy scene was the kickoff event for the newest exhibit of Archives and Special Collections, 鈥淰ideo Game Console Wars 1976-2001 featuring WPI鈥檚 Interactive Media Archive & Interactive Media & Game Development Department.鈥?The exhibit, located in the library鈥檚 Gladwin Gallery, features a display of consoles including a 1970s Atari 2600, the Mattel Electronics Intellivision, a Nintendo Entertainment System from 1985, and a 1995 Sony PlayStation. The exhibit also includes vintage system controllers and games such as Frogger and Metroid.

Arthur Carlson

The collection on display was built through collaborations between Archives and Special Collections and IMGD program faculty and staff. One of the program鈥檚 founding professors, the late Dean O鈥橠onnell, was a driving force in gathering and preserving the historical items. Arthur Carlson, University Archivist and Assistant Director for the library, says the exhibit reflects a core mission of Archives and Special Collections, 鈥渢o support WPI's unique educational model. One of the ways we do that is by documenting both the history and development of academic courses and providing access to unique resources.鈥?lt;/span>

Carlson says the archive of video games and interactive media is rare among colleges and universities. The collection places WPI with the likes of The Strong National Museum of Play and the Smithsonian, which developed a video game archive in 2016.

"We cannot celebrate progress unless we understand how far a journey we've made."

Arthur Carlson

University Archivist, Assistant Director, George C. Gordon Library

Casey Costa

The exhibit and the event are inspiring students to reflect on the past and their own future at WPI and beyond. 鈥淎ll the consoles and games are from my parents' generation. I feel bad for professors who are standing right over there who are like, 鈥楧on't say it's old鈥?鈥?said Casey Costa, a sophomore IMGD and computer science major. He said he especially appreciates the exhibit posters that describe the evolution of the video game industry and the portion of the exhibit dedicated to the history of the IMGD program and its recent student and faculty projects. 鈥淚 was reading every single sign. I feel like I need to know exactly how this [IMGD] happened. It's so cool. I am excited to work on projects, work on games, and get my ideas out there and explore what I can really do here.鈥?lt;/span>

Recalling FDR鈥檚 Commencement Speech at WPI

Anonymous — Wed, 08 May 2019 12:00:00 +0000

One hundred years ago this summer, a rising young political star named Franklin Delano Roosevelt strode across the stage at WPI鈥檚 then Alumni Gymnasium and delivered the Commencement speech to 44 fresh-faced undergraduates sitting before him.

At the time, the 37-year-old Roosevelt was the assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy, and his speech鈥攖itled 鈥淭he National Emergency of Peace Times鈥濃€攚as made just seven months after the end of World War I.

With the United States still reeling from the devastating effects of the Great War, Roosevelt addressed draft-age men on Wednesday, June 25, 1919, in WPI鈥檚 then Memorial Gymnasium with messages about 鈥渘ational service鈥?and commitment to their country, calling the draft law 鈥溾€?the most truly American piece of legislation ever enacted.鈥?lt;/p>

鈥淚f I were a graduate in 1919, I suspect that FDR鈥檚 reference to national service and national preparedness would make me a bit unsettled,鈥?says James Hanlan, a history professor at WPI for 44 years who has read Roosevelt鈥檚 speech. 鈥淎mericans were beginning to feel that they had been led into the first world war with somewhat less than fully candid publicity by the [Woodrow] Wilson administration.鈥欌€?lt;/p>

Archival Documents on Display during Commencement

As WPI readies for Commencement exercises this week, the trove of documents in WPI鈥檚 Archives between Roosevelt and then WPI President Ira Hollis offer a glimpse into the rapport between the two leaders, the political and social dynamic of that era, and how Roosevelt came to select WPI for his speech.

The archival display鈥攃omplete with a series of original letters between the two leaders鈥攚ill be on display this week in the Rubin Campus Center lobby.

鈥淲e think these documents, and particularly Roosevelt鈥檚 speech, will give the WPI community and other visitors an insiders鈥?look into his thinking,鈥?says Arthur Carlson, WPI archivist. 鈥淲e鈥檙e fortunate to have these materials in our possession.鈥?lt;/p>

Hanlan and Carlson note that the two men traveled in similar circles. Before becoming WPI president, Hollis spent 15 years on active Navy duty, and both had spent time at Harvard University鈥撯€揜oosevelt as a student from 1900 to 1903 and Hollis as the onetime head of its Engineering Department.

In a letter to Roosevelt dated May 20, 1919, one month before the Commencement address, Hollis noted that the WPI graduating class was significantly reduced due to the war. 鈥淢any were drawn off by the war and have not been able to get back to their former status so that they cannot graduate this year,鈥?he wrote.

He added that Roosevelt was free to address any topic, saying ,鈥淚 will leave that entirely to you knowing well that your good sense will not let you go astray.鈥?lt;/p>

In a letter to Hollis two days later, Roosevelt confirmed that he would serve as Commencement speaker, saying he was 鈥溾€ooking forward with the greatest of pleasure to being with you all at that time.鈥?lt;/p>

The ensuing letters between the two leaders provide nuggets of mundane logistics about train arrival times and breakfast plans, as well as more strategic discussions about Roosevelt's delivering a speech after Commencement to the combined members of the Rotary Club and the Worcester Chamber of Commerce.

A Rising Political Figure

Hanlan, who has just finished teaching a course at WPI called 鈥淭he Shaping of Post-1920 America,鈥?sees the political animal in Roosevelt emerging at that time.

鈥淗e was an ambitious and rising young politician,鈥?says Hanlan. 鈥淗e was looking for opportunities, and I think his friend Hollis recognized that and thought, 鈥業n addition to the Commencement speech at WPI, why don鈥檛 you address both the Rotary and the Chamber at the same time?鈥?After all, here was a chance for him to make even more contacts and impress more people.鈥?lt;/p>

In his WPI address, Roosevelt prompted the graduates with practical questions. 鈥淲hat then is the lesson of these two years?鈥?he asked. 鈥淐learly that national service is a success. Is there a continuing emergency? Yes, many of them, ever present, always of import to our success and our security.鈥?lt;/p>

Roosevelt went on to say that he expected men and women alike to continue serving the country in some capacity. 鈥淭he answer is clear and definite: We do: from all those millions of citizens who have done their bit in this war, from the millions of young men and women who are taking their places in the world year by year, from them the country expects a continuation of service to the day of their death,鈥?Roosevelt told the graduates.

Hanlan also thinks Roosevelt was very strategic in selecting Worcester to make his comments as the industrial city flew under the radar of big national media outlets. He was, in effect, testing his political ideas, namely this idea of national service.

鈥淗e was not trying out this controversial idea at Harvard or at Yale or at Princeton because if he was, he鈥檇 be in the national newspapers,鈥?says Hanlan. 鈥淎nd if he ends up lighting a keg of dynamite, it would blow up in his face. Roosevelt was a very shrewd politician and Worcester was a little bit out of the way. It鈥檚 a smaller city, and he鈥檚 gauging how the local business elite respond to his ideas of national service.鈥?lt;/p>

Roosevelt would not become president of the United States until 1933, but Hanlan believes that his Worcester visit helped set the stage for his future political platform. Ultimately, Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, the first peacetime draft in U.S. history.

鈥淭his speech would be a way for him to test those waters early in his national career,鈥?says Hanlan. 鈥淗e did act, as historian James MacGregor Burns said, like a lion and a fox. Here he was being the fox.鈥?lt;/p>

-By Andy Baron

Students Take a Closer Look at the Charles Dickens Classic A Christmas Carol

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 12:00:00 +0000

For many readers, Charles Dickens鈥檚 classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol, is their introduction to the literary great鈥檚 litany of stories.

It was for Daniel Ryan, who discovered the book as a high school student. Since that first encounter, he became an avid collector of Dickens鈥檚 published works and related materials. Now, more than 60 years after he began his collection, he and his wife, Alice, are donating it to WPI in hopes that it might inspire in others a love of all things Dickens.

Joel Brattin, WPI鈥檚 expert on Dickens, understands the transformative effect A Christmas Carol had on Dan Ryan, and on his own students. Each B-Term, as autumn gives way to the Christmas season, he teaches an Inquiry Seminar that focuses on A Christmas Carol.

During the seminar, Brattin, professor of English, and the small class (no more than 12 students) step into Victorian England and into the pages of the blockbuster first published on December 19, 1843.

Professor Joel Brattin works with students from his Inquiry Seminar on A Christmas Carol.

Here, students examine a facsimile of Dickens鈥檚 original hand-written manuscript, examine a rare first edition of the book with its four hand-colored illustrations, and get a taste of how the book was written, published, performed by Dickens in a remarkable one-man show (which he brought to Worcester鈥檚 Mechanics Hall in 1868), and loved for more than 175 years.

Brattin says the author plays an important role in educating WPI鈥檚 students, who each fulfill a two-unit Humanities and Arts requirement culminating in an Inquiry Seminar. 鈥?lt;em>A Christmas Carol affords an excellent opportunity for individual research, group work, and collaborative learning through oral and written expression,鈥?says Brattin.

Jake Scarponi 鈥?0 says talking about Dickens鈥檚 work is one of the best parts of the Inquiry Seminar.

鈥淢y favorite part about this course is the different topics Professor Brattin has us discuss,鈥?says Scarponi, an aerospace engineering major. 鈥淲e鈥檝e shared our theses on the book, but we鈥檝e also studied a lot of discrepancies between Dickens鈥檚 manuscript and the recent text we, ourselves, read, as well as the context under which A Christmas Carol was written and published.鈥?lt;/p>

Other students, like Samantha Smith 鈥?9, feel that Dickens鈥檚 famous tale remains well known because the lessons it teaches readers are applicable today.

鈥淲hen the Ghost of Christmas Present visits Scrooge and says that ignorance is the downfall of humanity, that was an important lesson, both back then and now,鈥?says Smith, a chemical engineering major. 鈥淚t shows that when people educate themselves, they鈥檙e able to elevate society and prevent hatred from spreading.鈥?lt;/p>

- By Jessica Messier