The Inauguration of Michael T. Benson - September 21, 2007

Inauguration Ceremony Q & A

Q: Who is invited to the inauguration ceremony?
A: SUU faculty, staff, and students would like to extend an invitation to everyone to attend this special event. Admission is free and open to the public.

Q: Where and when will the inauguration be held?
A:The inauguration ceremony will be held in the Centrum Arena at Southern Utah University on Friday, the 21st of September at 1:00 PM.

Q: How do I get in to the ceremony?
A: Seating at President Benson’s inauguration is general admission—tickets are not required. That said, we anticipate the President will have a lot of support, and encourage all those interested in attending the ceremony to arrive early, in order to secure a comfortable seat.

Q: What is the dress code at the ceremony?
A: The Presidential inauguration is a traditional ceremony, full of pomp and circumstance. As such, participants and audience members are encouraged to dress appropriately. Casual business dress or better is preferred, but all are welcome regardless of attire.

Q: How long will the inauguration last?
A: The SUU community is hosting inaugural events all week long, topped off by SUU homecoming activities the Saturday after the inauguration ceremony. The actual ceremony is a one-day event, and should probably last 1 ½ hours, although those in attendance are encouraged to arrive early for premium seating.

Q: What is involved in a presidential inauguration?
A: The presidential inauguration will provide an open forum for President Michael T. Benson to share his vision for SUU’s future. While the inaugural week is filled with fanfare and regalia, the inauguration’s true purpose is to unite President Benson and the academic community in celebrating a new era.

The installation ceremony is the most important of all inaugural events. During the installation, the President receives the legal right to govern Southern Utah University. The ceremony will open with a processional of University students, faculty and staff— representing the campus community, as well as outside institutional or organizational delegates, who all stand together in support of SUU. The macebearer, Dr. Rod Decker, will lead this group, as together, they all marshal in President Benson as the 15th SUU president.

The academic mace that guides the processional symbolizes the lawful authority of the University. Each school has a unique mace with symbols and inscriptions distinct to the University’s mission and community. The mace of Southern Utah University was sculpted by Carol Ann Lind, granddaughter of J. Howard Maughn, president of our University from 1922-29. Its ebony staff is topped with a silver cup decorated with SUU’s coat of arms. Tudor roses and Scottish thistles—symbolic of academia’s British heritage, and honeybees and sego lilies—representing Utah, adorn the space between each of the four inscribed coat of arms. Two inscribed rings circle the inside of the cup. One etching reads “Southern Utah University”; the other is the University’s motto, “Learning lives forever”. The mace is topped with a sterling silver thunderbird. After the inauguration, the mace will accompany President Benson at all formal University ceremonies.

Beyond the president’s official induction, the installation ceremony also provides a forum for others in the academic community to greet President Benson with advice, challenges and well-wishes. Benson’s inauguration ceremony would be incomplete without guest speakers and performances—generally hand-picked by the new president. President Benson has personally selected friends and colleagues he admires to speak and perform.

The final ceremonial event is the investiture, where the University’s charter is turned over to the new president. At that time, the Commissioner of Higher Education Richard E. Kendell will confer the chain of office to President Benson while officially presenting him to the public as the newest SUU leader. Following the investiture, the President will speak to the audience. This is the first official opportunity for the campus community to rally behind President Benson’s vision for the University’s future.

For more information: contact burt@suu.edu or call 435-586-1997 to acquire news releases about Inauguration week.