There was one attempted disruption of today's inauguration-- and you probably won't see it on the official video of the event. When President Cordova was introduced, I thought I heard some shouts amidst the ovation, coming from the balcony. I didn't bother to look up and behind me until a few minutes later when, as the president was giving her address, some officials came down the aisle beside our seats and looked up toward the balcony. Of course I turned around, too, and saw that apparently what I thought as shouts of accolade had been a protest of sorts-- and a banner had been unfurled from the balcony railing urging the president to adopt the Designated Suppliers Program, an anti-sweatshop program. Purdue has concerns about the program, and you can read more about it in a WLFI TV-18 report from late February. As we exited the Hall of Music today, students were passing out fliers about the issue. It's invigorating to be part of an academic environment!
Friday, April 11, 2008
inauguration report
The inauguration was a grand academic ceremony. The Purdue Symphonic Band set a formal, festive mood for the day. And of all the vocal performances, the one by the Black Voices of Inspiration was my favorite-- "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho." They have such clear, strong voices and such a presence on stage! Marvelous! A number of speakers brought greetings and well wishes to President Cordova for a successful tenure, and Presidents Emeritus Hansen, Beering and Jischke ceremonially presented Cordova with the Purdue medallion, mace and charter, respectively. The day was capped by a speech from President Cordova that lays out some of her chief priorities and program thrusts. Fittingly, she used the design of a flight patch to illustrate these. Check it out online; the direct link is http://www.purdue.edu/inauguration/inauguration.php. 
gala week is here!
Alumni are arriving to take part in the 2008 Gala Week activities. Welcome especially to the Class of 1958, this year's reunion class. Welcome, too, to the Purdue Forever alumni-- those who graduated prior to 1958.
This morning Dick Geyer, class of 1958, stopped by for a visit with his wife Pat. Dick made his career with FDA in Washington, and he hadn't been to campus in about 25 years, so he's taking in all the changes. We had a nice visit, and as he left, he inquired about a plaque that once hung in the entry foyer of Pfendler (then Agriculture) Hall. The plaque was hung by Alpha Zeta and recognized the freshman with the highest grade index. Dave Pfendler is the first name on the plaque. Dick was listed for 1954-55. It was fun to "reconnect" Dick with his Purdue Ag roots.
This morning Dick Geyer, class of 1958, stopped by for a visit with his wife Pat. Dick made his career with FDA in Washington, and he hadn't been to campus in about 25 years, so he's taking in all the changes. We had a nice visit, and as he left, he inquired about a plaque that once hung in the entry foyer of Pfendler (then Agriculture) Hall. The plaque was hung by Alpha Zeta and recognized the freshman with the highest grade index. Dave Pfendler is the first name on the plaque. Dick was listed for 1954-55. It was fun to "reconnect" Dick with his Purdue Ag roots.
inauguration day is here!
Today is inauguration day for Purdue's eleventh president, France A. Cordova! The ceremony will be at 2:00 p.m. in the Elliott Hall of Music. Presidents Emeritus Hansen, Beering and Jischke are all scheduled to participate in the ceremony. View the inauguration online at mms://video.dis.purdue.edu/inauguration. Shortly after the ceremony, an archived version will be available online at http://www.purdue.edu/inauguration/.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
more ag professors in tomorrow's inaugural events
Friday morning campus will be abuzz with three concurrent symposia from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, EDT. One of those, “Building a New Planet,” will be held just upstairs from the Ag Alumni office, in the Deans' Auditorium of the David C. Pfendler Hall of Agriculture. Moira Gunn, founder and host of Public Radio's Tech Nation and BioTech Nation, will moderate. Gerald "Jerry" Shively, Purdue Professor of Agricultural Economics, will be one of the seven panelists. Portions of "Building a New Planet" will be replayed on Tech Nation; check your local public radio schedule for times.
Also from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, the symposium "Tiny Technologies for Huge Impacts on Health” will be held in the atrium of the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering. Two of the six panelists are Purdue Agriculture faculty: Joseph Irudayaraj, Associate Professor of Biological Engineering in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Jenna Rickus, Assistant Professor who holds appointments in both the College of Agriculture's Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Rickus is also a Purdue Ag alum twiceover; she graduated from the dual degree program, earning a BS in Biochemistry and a BSAE in Food Process Engineering.
For details on all three of Friday's symposia, visit the inaugural web site.
Also from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, the symposium "Tiny Technologies for Huge Impacts on Health” will be held in the atrium of the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering. Two of the six panelists are Purdue Agriculture faculty: Joseph Irudayaraj, Associate Professor of Biological Engineering in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Jenna Rickus, Assistant Professor who holds appointments in both the College of Agriculture's Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Rickus is also a Purdue Ag alum twiceover; she graduated from the dual degree program, earning a BS in Biochemistry and a BSAE in Food Process Engineering.
For details on all three of Friday's symposia, visit the inaugural web site.
view inauguration online
See the inauguration live online Friday, April 11 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. EDT at mms://video.dis.purdue.edu/inauguration. Shortly after the ceremony, an archived version will be available online at the inaugural web site, http://www.purdue.edu/inauguration/. If you would like to attend in person, the event is free an open to the public. Reserved seat tickets are needed, and can be picked up at the campus box offices in either Elliott Hall of Music or Stewart Center. Out of town guests can reserve their tickets by calling (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-7469.
sign inaugural guest book
Purdue alumni and friends are invited to sign the guestbook for the inauguration of Purdue's eleventh president, Dr. France A. Cordova.
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