SIU Presidential Inauguration is Thursday

The inauguration of Glenn W. Poshard as the seventh president of Southern Illinois University is set for 2 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 28, at the SIU Arena.

President Glenn W. Poshard

The public is invited to attend the Inauguration and the reception that follows in the Arena's upper concourse. Invitations are not required. Business or casual attire may be worn to the ceremony.

The ceremony is expected to last approximately 90 minutes. There is reserved seating for members of the processional, Poshard family members, delegates, and for people with disabilities or special needs. All other seats are on a first-come, first-served basis.

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.

President Poshard's inauguration speech will present his vision for the University.

The ceremony will include 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.

The Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra and the SIUC Concert Choir are scheduled to perform.

The inauguration is part of a two-week celebration of SIU 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.

More information is available at the inauguration Web site.

In addition, WSIU Radio and WSIU-TV will record and broadcast the inauguration event. WSIU Radio will air the inauguration at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 28. WSIU-TV will broadcast the event on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 1 p.m.