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Journal Archive >
2002 > May Inaugural vision Lawrence S. Bacow takes office as Tufts' 12th president Some years ago, in an elementary school classroom in Pontiac, Mich., a fourth-grade boy learned an important lesson. The lesson: it's important to listen, because other people have really interesting things to say. Lawrence S. Bacow took that lesson to heart and on April 19, shared that wisdom along with his vision for the future of Tufts University as he was inaugurated as the university's 12th president.
Bacow, who began his tenure as president on September 1, 2001, received the official symbols of the office from Nathan Gantcher, chairman of the Tufts Board of Trustees, at a two-hour ceremony that drew close to 2,000 guests under a tent in the Ellis Oval on the Medford/Somerville campus. Two days later, on Tuftonia's Day, the university marked the 150th anniversary of its founding. Together, the two events launched Tufts into its next era, that of "educating the first generation of leaders for a truly global world," in Bacow's words. "How do we educate leaders for a truly global world?" the new president asked. "By teaching collaboration as a way of lifeÑand a source of answers. By bringing together research and education in ways that could not be accomplished anywhere else," he said. "By helping our students become active, engaged, effective citizensÑin the best tradition of Tufts, and in the great tradition of a liberal education." Bacow began his inaugural address by thanking his family, teachers and mentors. Then, he surprisedÑand delightedÑthe Tufts community by introducing one of his "most important teachers," Shirley Chandler Bitterman, the former fourth-grade teacher who passed on the valuable lesson about the importance of listening to others back in that Michigan classroom. "For a university president, there is no more important lesson," Bacow said. Four critical issues
"I'm convinced there is no better way to enhance our rare position as the home of an elite liberal arts college in the heart of a great university," said Bacow.
Featured speakers Bacow's colleague, Charles Vest, president of MIT, and Dartmouth University President emeritus James O. Freedman also spoke at the inauguration. Describing Bacow as a man of "outstanding diplomatic and organizational skills," Vest said Tufts' new leader is "masterful" at encouraging people to work toward a common vision. "He has a fine sense of time and place, and this will serve him well, and it will serve you well," he told the audience. Vest mentioned two prominent Tufts alumni who enjoyed distinguished careers at MIT, Vannevar Bush, E13, G13, a pioneer in the development of computer technology, and Norbert Weiner, A09, H46, the founder of the science of cybernetics and a brilliant mathematician. "Your inauguration [of Bacow] gives us the opportunity to return those favors," Vest said. Bacow's inauguration is "an act for which American higher education can be thankful," Freedman said. Bacow will bring "bright wit and intellectual vivacityÉto the university and the entire academic enterprise," he said. Traditions of Tuftonia In addition to deans, senior administrators and faculty from Tufts, the procession also included 150 delegates from other universities and colleges, led by Eberhard Schaich, rector of Eberhard-Karls UniversitŠt in TŸbingen, Germany, established in 1477. Bacow was welcomed by representatives from the many communities of the university: undergraduates, graduate and professional students, administrators, faculty, staff and alumni. The undergraduate representative, Eric Greenberg, A02, was unable to appear because of illness; his remarks were read by Peter L.D. Reid, professor of classics. Other greeters included Colleen O'Connor, M02; Barbara Grossman, chair of the department of drama and dance; Dr. Lonnie H. Norris, dean of the School of Dental Medicine, and William O'Reilly, A77, president of the Tufts University Alumni Association. Grossman took an unconventional approach and greeted the new president with an original poem, "Ode to a Visionary Leader." "I come today to sing the praises/of someone who might give us raises," she recited, as a ripple of gentle laughter spread across the audience. "A man of vision, passion, skill/who's pure of heart and strong of will/forceful and bold, yet humane and just/a leader we can surely trust/a brilliant scholar, whose inquiring mind/has won him plaudits of ev'ry kind." "President Bacow, our aspirations for you are great," said O'Reilly. "We know that you will be a worthy steward of the history and the traditions which we celebrate. "But we also look to your vision and to your leadership to inspire the entire university community, including its alumni, to achieve in the future even greater levels of excellence than we have already realized."
"President Bacow, to us you embody what Tufts can become," said O'Connor, who represented the diverse group of students enrolled in the graduate, medical, dental, nutrition, veterinary, biomedical science and Fletcher schools. "Through your vision, Tufts will stretch itself across traditional boundaries, establishing Tufts even more so as an innovative cultivator of future leaders in health care, biomedical research, public policy and global relations. "But perhaps even more importantly, we look to you for your energy, your freshness of spirit, your gifts as a teacher and mentor and your ability to bring us together in community," she said. Symbols of office Gantcher also presented the keys to Ballou Hall, the oldest building on campus, named for Tufts' first president, Hosea Ballou 2nd, and the location of the current president's office. And, he presented a medallion inscribed with the names of each of the past presidents on the links of the chain. "We, the Tufts trustees, are convinced you will lead this institution to greater and greater heights," Gantcher said. Before and after Highlights of the three-day celebration of Bacow's inauguration, including video clips and other photographs, are featured on the web site http://www.tufts.edu/president/inauguration/ |
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