On April 15, President Michael Young was inaugurated as the President of the University of Utah in Kingsbury Hall following a procession of students in gowns at Presidents’ Circle.
The ceremony was just one event in a 10-day schedule celebrating the inauguration. Included in the events was a presentation by former Secretary of State James Baker on April 11. Young had served as one of Baker’s attorneys while in the service of the former President of the United States, George H.W. Bush.
Young was chosen to be the U’s new president, replacing Bernie Machen, who left to take the helm at the University of Florida in late April 2004. Young was chosen by the State Board of Regents from a candidate pool of about 147. He had been serving as dean of the George Washington University law school.
Young began work at the U in August 2004, and with numerous connections in Utah (a descendant of Brigham Young and a graduate of BYU), Young has said that he is interested in staying in Utah for a while.
On Thursday, April 14, an ice cream social was held for anyone who wanted to attend. Students mingled with the president and talked to him about his positions and policies on campus issues.
The actual inauguration ceremony was also open to the public, but seating was limited. The ceremony occurred nine months after Young entered office, but that is not unusual for institutions of higher education.
According to top administrators, the ceremonies are often delayed to allow new presidents the time to get used to the campus and their new position. Because the ceremony is more of a celebration than a legal procedure, the president getting to work is considered more important.
The festivities took three months to plan, which is another reason for the delay.
The entire cost of the 10-day celebration was $95,000.
The inauguration ceremony itself cost $34,000 and promotions cost $21,000.
No university money was spent. The funds came from private donations.
Among the list of donors were the Marriott, Huntsman and Eccles families.
In his inauguration speech, Young encouraged greater emphasis on diversity, international study, interdisciplinary study and connecting the campus to the larger community.
