President Lariviere's Investiture

Korrin B.

May 23, 2010 - 11:55 PM

One of the reasons I wanted to get my thesis prospectus done early was so that I could make it to a very special event happening on campus this last Friday. At 2:00pm on the Memorial Quad, north of the Knight Library, I joined several other students, community members, and UO faculty and staff for President Richard Lariviere's Investiture. I was unsure what to expect when I first heard of it, but was very glad afterward to have been part of such a wonderful ceremony.

The ceremony acted as the official welcoming of President Lariviere as the sixteenth president of the University of Oregon. I overheard from many UO faculty members that this was the first time that many of them could remember having such a formal event for this. I think that it was very nice to reestablish this type of tradition.

The event began under tents as Eugene's May rain steadily fell. James Bean, Senior Vice President and Provost, gave the opening remarks. Next, there was a processional where several UO faculty members marched in and sat down, all wearing their graduation attire from receiving their doctorates. An honor song was then performed by a Klamath Tribe and then the President was presented with the President's Centennial Medallion and the University Mace. Next, ASUO President, Emma Kallaway, introduced the President. She talked a lot about how many students have interacted with our new President and have found him to be very open and interested in what is going on throughout campus. I had to agree with many of her statements, as all of my interactions with the President have been very positive this year and I believe that he has some great visions for the shaping of this incredible University.

After being introduced, President Lariviere stood to give his remarks to the audience. After listening to him speak, I found myself with a great sense of University pride and a belief that our school is heading toward great things. I was very struck by President Lariviere's personable and humble nature. He spoke about his strong belief in public education and about how it had been a public education that had gotten him, a first generation college graduate, to where he was today. His immense gratitude for his dissertation advisors, both of whom were present, was admirable. President Lariviere thanked everyone who helps makes this campus what it is, from students and professors, to safety and maintenance staff. I felt as though he truly saw the whole picture.

This past year, my faith in the system of higher education has wavered. I have questioned where our school's priorities stand. Can academics compete with our athletic program? I have had moments where I have felt like no one really hears these concerns and if they do, they just turn their heads in an attempt to avoid the confrontation. Listening to President Lariviere on Thursday, I finally felt like someone was hearing my voice and my concern and actually had a plan to address it. I listened to the President's words and I thought about all of the support I have received this term surrounding my internship with The Carter Center. President Lariviere is an individual who I believe is going to stick up for the quality of higher education for all students in a way that this University truly needs. I think we will see great improvements come within the next few years and I am very excited about this.

As the professors walked out in all of their regalia, the University of Oregon Brass Quintet played the Oregon fight song and without even thinking, the crowd began the historic clap along with it. I was tempted to sing along and yell, "Go Ducks, Go! Fight Ducks, Fight! Win Ducks, Win!" at the appropriate part, but chose to just stick with the clapping since this wasn't exactly Autzen Stadium. Hearing the song, thinking about the words the President had said, and being in this strong community of Ducks filled me with pride. I could not have picked a better school to do my undergraduate career at.

The ceremony was followed by a reception in the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, which the President attended as well. He stopped by to chat some with my internship advisor and myself, which was very nice. He even mentioned that he's read my blog before and has linked it to his own!

Overall, I am very glad that I could make it to the President's Investiture. I believe this will certainly be a very important moment for the history and the future of the University of Oregon.