On Saturday Mar. 6, Macalester will inaugurate its 16th president, Brian Rosenberg.

The celebration will begin Friday evening with a dinner for trustees and donors, followed by a party for students, faculty, staff and alumni. The inauguration ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday in the Alexander G. Hill Ballroom in Kagin Commons. Following the ceremony, brunch will be served in the campus center.

The Friday night party will be in the campus center at 8:30 p.m. It will be semi-formal and will feature a jazz band, dancing, dessert and other refreshments. The party is also celebrating the 130th anniversary of Macalester’s charter and the birthday of President Rosenberg’s son Sam.

Dean of Academic Programs Ellen Guyer emphasized that the Inaugural Committee planned the party with students in mind. Students are invited to the inauguration ceremony, but due to the ballroom’s limited capacity only about the first 100 to arrive will be admitted.

“Friday is the night we are really hoping will be the fun event,” Guyer said. “We hope everyone will join us in welcoming Brian and his family to Macalester.”

Kitty McCarthy ’04, one of the students who helped plan the event, said that it was important to the committee to make the inauguration something that would be fun for students.

“I think the party will be one of the best opportunities on campus to attend an event where there will be alumni, faculty and trustees, as well as students,” she said.

The Saturday morning ceremony will include a procession by Macalester faculty members, the Board of Trustees, the Alumni Board and delegates representing other colleges and universities from around the nation. It is a tradition for representatives from other institutions to attend Macalester’s presidential inaugurations.

“It’s like a big, “Welcome to college administration!’” Guyer said.

Throughout the ceremony, Macalester students and alumni will present “Macalester moments”—stories that illustrate what Macalester means to them.

The ceremony will also include a welcome from the faculty delivered by Chemistry Department Chair Tom Varberg, an address by Lawrence University President Richard Warch, a performance by the African Music Ensemble and an inaugural address by President Rosenberg.

“While the event is obviously of deep significance to me and to my family,” Rosenberg wrote via e-mail, “I see it chiefly as an opportunity for the Macalester community to celebrate our history and our collective accomplishments.”

Prior to the ceremony, President Rosenberg will pose for a photograph with the faculty. According to Guyer, this will be the first time Macalester has taken such a picture with the entire faculty.

Planning for the inauguration began late last spring. The Inauguration Committee included faculty, administration, alumni and two students.

Café Mac and the Grille will close early at 7 p.m. on Friday night because of the party. On Saturday morning, Café Mac will extend its brunch hours from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in order to accommodate the additional guests from the ceremony.