Inaugural Committee Announces First Plans

February 27, 1991

The events being planned for the inauguration of Dr. Charles M. Vest as MIT's 15th president on May 10 reflect his desire that the focus be on MIT--its community, continuity, and future role--rather than on an individual. The theme of the Inaugural is "MIT--Shaping the Future."

At the February 20 faculty meeting, President Vest said, "The philosophy I have asked the [Inaugural Planning] committee to structure the events upon is one that indicates that this should be very much a community event and not an event that in the narrowest sense of the term is focused on a particular individual, but rather on the symbolism of the continuity of the Institute as it moves from its very distinguished past into a rather uncertain future and thinks collectively about how it would like to respond to a changing world and how it would like to define itself throughout the coming decade."

President Vest said he has asked the committee to plan events that will allow "broad involvement and participation across all elements of our community. . . and also to have in so far as possible a set of themes and events that will help us be a bit introspective about our own nature and also extrospective regarding the role that we may play in shaping the future."

Professor Claude R. Canizares, who chairs the Inaugural Planning Committee, said the committee is planning a year-long series of events in two main components. The first component includes events "to mark and to celebrate this important event in the history of MIT." The other component, he said, focuses on the future and "embodies the desire of the community to shape its own future and reminds us of the role that MIT can play in shaping the future of the outside world."

Professor Canizares gave this schedule for activities this spring:

Saturday, May 4

The second Johnson Games and an Inaugural Picnic, both at Steinbrenner Stadium. The games, which will draw participants from throughout the MIT community, begin at 10:30am. Professor E. Jane Betts, associate director of athletics, is heading the planning for this activity. Deadline for registering for the Johnson Games is April 5. For information on these two events call x3-1707.

Thursday, May 9

The Inaugural Concert at 8pm in Kresge Auditorium. Performing will be the MIT Symphony Orchestra, the MIT Chamber Chorus and the MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble. Professor Ellen T. Harris, associate provost for the arts, who is in charge of planning all musical activities for the inauguration, said the program will include a composition for voice and piano by an MIT freshman, Yumi Oshima. The piece will be performed by Karol Bennett and John McDonald, this year's artists in residence in music. Information on how to obtain tickets, which will be required, will be published at a later date.

Friday, May 10

At 9:30am, the Inaugural Ceremony begins with a Procession from 77 Massachusetts Ave. to Memorial Drive and into Killian Court, followed by a community reception at 11am on the Kresge Oval and a 1pm luncheon for invited guests in Rockwell Cage. Music at the inaugural will include four newly composed fanfares/processionals by John Harbison, Peter Child, Edward Cohen and Evan Ziporyn, all of the MIT music faculty. The composers are donating their work, Professor Harris said.

Other Events

Professor Canizares said three primary events to focus the inaugural theme are being planned for the spring and fall. These events, he said, "concentrate on MIT's role as the quintessential research university. . ." The events are:

A symposium, still in the planning stage, which is being organized by professor Harvey M. Sapolsky of political science in conjunction with the centennial observance of the birth of Vannevar Bush, the MIT professor, vice president and dean of engineering who led the nation's science and technology effort during World War II. Dr. Bush died in 1974 at the age of 84. The symposium will look at the past and future relationships of research universities and the federal government and industry, as well as engineering education.

An MIT Colloquium, to be held sometime in the fall, with student and faculty involvement, to consider the question of the partnership between education and research. Professor Travis R. Merritt, associate dean of students, and Professor Lyna L. Wiggins of urban studies and planning are organizing this event.

A symposium in the fall will consider more global questions of MIT's role in an international context.

"We are in the early stages of planning these events and welcome input and suggestions," Professor Canizares said.

The committee also wants to include other activities relevant to the theme as "Events of the Inaugural Year." A good example, Professor Canizares said, is the Hollomon Memorial Symposium of the Technology and Culture Seminar Series to be held on April 9 from 3-5pm on "The Technology Race--Can the US Win?"

"We hope that our inaugural theme will encourage others to come forward with similar activities," Professor Canizares said. "We also plan to use the written word, to provoke wider discussion and to leave a lasting record." Included might be pieces in the Faculty Newsletter and MIT Tech Talk, and Professor Kenneth Manning of the Writing Program is beginning plans for a book of collected writings to be published in the fall, Professor Canizares said.

The community celebration aspect of the inauguration will continue early in the fall semester with a Presidential Ball to be held either September 21 or October 5 in the Johnson Athletics Center.

Professor Canizares said there are nearly 20 people on the planning committee, supported by as many as two dozen others.

"One of the hardest parts of my job is trying to keep up with fast moving people like Mary Morrissey (director of the Information Center and of special events) and Kathryn Lombardi (executive assistant to the president and director of Public Relations Services) who are actually doing most of the work."

A version of this article appeared in the February 27, 1991 issue of MIT Tech Talk (Volume 35, Number 23).

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