Inauguration and Homecoming festivities, and where's the Goat?

newspeak staff photo / Ed cameron

When the dust settled on the athletic field Saturday, these two guys were the "Goat Keepers".

A beautiful late-summer morning greeted the WPI community Friday morning as students, faculty, and dignitaries assembled on the Quad and in Harrington Auditorium, ready for the day's activities. The Inauguration began with a procession of various student organizations entering the auditorium. After they were seated, the procession of dignitaries started. Members of the academic decked in regalia and honored guests community paraded through the auditorium. The Most Reverend Daniel P. Reilly, Bishop of Worcester, read the invocation, followed by a spectacular rendition of the National Anthem by three WPI graduates, Maria R. Bergin '93, Wendy A. Manas '95, and Sara J. Pollard '94. After this, greetings were given on behalf of the undergraduate student, graduate students, administration and staff, alumni, faculty, and community of Worcester.

Guest speaker Dr. Claire L. Gaudiani, President of Connecticut College, gave some thought-provoking remarks about where technology has the power to take us, and how we must reshape some of what we know to reap its full benefits. Teachers must be fellow learners, explorers in discovering science, instead of lecturers, she said. Humanity has come a long way: "We not only map geography, we map the human genome." In the face of all of the marvels of technology, she sees Johann Gutenberg's printing press as "just an upgrade," a necessary step along the way to the technological world we know today and will explore even further tomorrow. She also remarked that any enemy which we may have is no longer an evil empire, but conflicts that can tear people apart. In this new, technically-enhanced world, we need each other more than ever; we need the ability to work in teams, to get along, to share the benefits of each others' learning and knowledge. The worst enemy to humanity will be the powers that pull us apart.

After Dr. Gaudiani's remarks, the President was officially installed. James Hanlon, a Humanities professor and Secretary of the Faculty, put the presidential medallion around President Parrish's neck, and Chrysanthe Terwilliger '88, Norton Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, gave him the charter of WPI. Dr. Parrish then gave his Inaugural Address, "Making a Difference."

The Alma Mater was sung by the Glee Club and Alden Voices, backed up by the Concert Band.

That afternoon, the Inaugural Symposium took place. The topic for discussion was "The New Liberal Education for the Age of Technology." Eight esteemed guests, including President Parrish, participated in a panel which resulted in a worthwhile and interesting dialogue.

The next day: Homecoming. Again, the weather couldn't have been nicer. The day started smoothly, almost slowly, as alumni and guests began to filter in. The miniature golf holes, sponsored by the Student Alumni Society, were laid out on the Quad. There were various other activities on the Quad for children as well: a face painter, a magician, and a pupper show entertained kids of all ages. Participants in the 19th Annual Frank Sannella Road Race had a good time as always, as did the alumni participating in the Annual Alumni Soccer Game.

As the day progressed, more and more people began filling the Quad and the surrounding area. At 1:30, the Homecoming football game started. This year, WPI played against Union College. The Goat made a showing right at the beginning of half-time, leading to a brawl on the far side of the field that lasted for quite a while before anyone ran away with the goat.

After the game, everyone headed down to Institute Park for the Traditional Rope Pull. This contest was over quickly as the freshmen managed to pull the rope out away from the sophomore's grasp. To everyone's surprise, the victorious freshmen took the rope and ran away with it! It was later found wrapped around the floors of Morgan Hall, where it was retrieved.

As the day came to a close, alumni and friends departed, and the Quad emptied. As everyone else was winding down, the freshmen were rallying themselves, determined to get the Goat from whoever had it. It was another successful Homecoming, to everyone's delight.

newspeak staff photo / jim strickland

Tailgaters from the Class of '58 gather on the Quad to enjoy the Homecoming festivities. The Quad was full of alumni from many classes, enjoying the warm weather and seeing old friends.

Newspeak staff photo / jim strickland

A caricaturist at the Homecoming Quad Festival draws a profile of a young girl.

newspeak staff photo / jim strickland

Simple Harmomic Motion, along with some SHM alums, treats the Homecoming crowd to some a capella singing.