Delegates from as far away as Latvia and Singapore will join over 1,000 people who will pack the Center for the Arts today for the official investiture of John B. Simpson as the 14th president of the University at Buffalo.
According to James Willis, Simpson's chief of staff, 1,500 people are scheduled to attend the 3 p.m. event, which will spare no expense when it comes to pomp and circumstance.
"The ceremony is really trying to instill a sense of permanence," Willis said. "Here we are, an institution that's over a hundred years old. It's had 14 presidents and it's going to have 14 more."
Willis called the ceremony a "recognition" of UB's deep academic history, which started in 1846 with future U.S. President Millard Fillmore at the helm.
"This is an academic event," he said. "It is not a press opportunity."
By academic standards, the investiture promises to be star-studded with presidents, deans, professors, provosts, and administrators coming from over 100 universities worldwide. New York Governor George Pataki, and Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton were all unable to attend.
Willis said the Presidential Inaugural Committee tried to find a medium between a ceremony that was too big or too small. At Cornell's recent investiture, the entire school was shut down for the event, which every student and faculty member attended. At Ohio State University, only 200-300 people attended their small investiture function.
"I think we found a good, respective balance," Willis said.
Willis said 300 tickets to the investiture have been reserved for students. The administration would love to see more than 300 attend, "but I don't know how actively those (tickets) have been pursued," Willis said.
Many students said they had no idea the investiture was taking place.
James Brody, a senior history major, summed up the reason with three words.
"Classic student apathy," he said.
Dana Ventrone, a sophomore, said even if she had known about the event, she wouldn't have attended.
"I don't know anything about it," said Ventrone, a undecided major.
Willis said even if students aren't particularly interested in the investiture itself, they are still part of the event's theme of the role and place of public higher education.
He added that he would still encourage students to attend, since there are still a limited number of available tickets. For those not attending, the entire ceremony will be broadcast on the Internet via the buffalo.edu Web site. "It's that sense of being part of a greater whole," Willis said.
According to Willis, much of the audience will consist of community members, local business leaders, donors, and alumni. The ceremony will open with a long procession to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, followed by greetings from both federal and state representatives.
Along with several speakers from the UB faculty, there will also be four speakers who have known President Simpson over his career. The first three will be Susan Jeffords from the University of Washington, Joyce Justus from UC-San Diego, and Claude Steele from Stanford.
The fourth personal speaker will be President Simpson's father, who will introduce his son.
UB Council student representative David Brooks will also speak briefly. All the student government presidents, including Anthony Burgio, will be part of the investiture platform.
Before Simpson himself speaks, he will be invested by Robert King, the SUNY chancellor. After the whole ceremony, a reception will follow in the CFA atrium.
Willis said one of the best parts about the weeks leading up to the investiture has been the way the community has embraced it.
"It's the enthusiasm and excitement that appears to be in the university community, especially the faculty," he said. "I wouldn't say it's a surprise, but it is definitely gratifying."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
