SIU Presidential Inauguration is Sept. 28

On behalf of the Inauguration Planning Committee, I want to invite you and your family to the Inauguration of Glenn W. Poshard as the seventh president of Southern Illinois University.

The Inauguration is part of a two-week celebration of Southern Illinois University at the Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses, the School of Medicine in Springfield, the School of Dental Medicine in Alton, and the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus. For more information, you can visit our Web site at: www.siu.edu/pres/inauguration.

Since the first announcement, we have received numerous questions about the Inauguration. I would like to share these questions and answers with you.

When and where is the Ceremony?

The Inauguration Ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28, at the SIU Arena on the Carbondale campus.

What is going to happen at the Ceremony?

The Ceremony is your opportunity to hear President Poshard's vision for the University. In addition to his Inauguration speech, the Ceremony includes remarks and greetings from representatives from each campus. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr., United States Representatives Jerry Costello and John Shimkus, and United States Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama have been invited to speak or send a video greeting. Both the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra and the SIUC Concert Choir are scheduled to perform.

Do I need an invitation to attend the Ceremony?

The public is invited to attend the Inauguration Ceremony and the reception following at the Arena. No invitation is required.

What am I supposed to wear?

In the interests of time, a representative group of faculty, staff, and students from SIUC, SIUE, the School of Medicine in Springfield, and the School of Dental Medicine in Alton have been selected to walk in the processional. If you are not a member of the processional, you can wear business or casual attire.

Where do I park?

Lots 13 (Student Center) and 89 (back of the Arena) will be closed to the public and reserved for members of the processional party and delegates. All other parking areas will be available as they are for other University events.

Where do I sit in the Arena?

There will be reserved seating for members of the processional, Poshard family members, delegates, and for people with disabilities or special needs. All other seats will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

How long is the Ceremony?

The Ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes. It is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and end at approximately 3:30 p.m. Immediately following the Ceremony, there will be a reception located on the Arena's upper concourse. Everyone is invited to this reception.

What do I do about work or class?

As with all University-wide events, students are advised to talk with their instructors about missing class to attend the Inauguration Ceremony, as it is up to each faculty member to decide whether to allow absences or to cancel classes. Although all University offices should remain open for business, supervisors are encouraged to allow participation by as many employees as would like to attend. University employees granted permission to attend will not be required to use personal benefit time.

If you have any other questions about the Inauguration, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Michael Ruiz

Communications Director

Office of the President

mruiz@notes.siu.edu