MEDIA ADVISORY: University of Missouri 175th Anniversary Commemorative Week and Installation of R. Bowen Loftin as MU’s 22nd Chief Executive Officer
Story Contact(s):
Jeff Sossamon, sossamonj@missouri.edu, 573-882-3346
WHAT: The University of Missouri was founded Feb. 11, 1839 as the first public land-grant university in the Louisiana Purchase Territory that Thomas Jefferson had been instrumental in acquiring. The university is celebrating its 175th anniversary with a week-long series of events culminating in the inauguration of R. Bowen Loftin as MU’s 22nd chief executive officer.
For a complete schedule of events, please visit: http://chancellor.missouri.edu/inauguration/
Highlighted events include:
Thomas Jefferson Tombstone Media Availability
2 – 3 p.m., Monday, Sept. 15, Missouri Theatre, 9th Street
- The marble slab on which Jefferson’s epitaph was inscribed has returned from the Smithsonian Institute for MU’s 175th anniversary week. Media are invited to photograph this historic slab on which the epitaph, written by Jefferson personally, is inscribed. The epitaph piece will eventually be showcased in Jesse Hall.
An Evening with Jon Meacham
7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 15, Missouri Theatre, 9th Street
- The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power will begin the week by speaking about Jefferson’s influence on higher education. The University of Missouri was modeled after the University of Virginia, which Jefferson founded.
BUCK’S UNLIMITED OAK Tree Planting
9 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 18, McAlester (Peace) Park
- CAFNR professor Mark Coggeshall developed a new tree species that produces acorns after only five years of growth with a superior survivability rate. Three BUCK’S UNLIMITED OAK Trees will be planted in McAlester Park finalizing the planting of 175 trees this year by the Mizzou Botanic Garden in honor of MU’s anniversary.
Symposium: The Future of the Land-Grant Institution and the Innovation Deficit
11 – 11:50 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 18, Stotler Lounge, Memorial Union
- Peter McPherson, president of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), and Kevin Reilly, presidential advisor for leadership with the American Council on Education (ACE), will participate in a panel discussion moderated by Hank Foley, MU senior vice chancellor for research and graduate studies and executive vice president for academic affairs, on what lies ahead for land-grant institutions and how the innovation deficit affects higher education and research at MU and across the nation.
Inauguration Processional
3 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 18, Reynolds Alumni Center, Great Room
- MU faculty and delegates will participate in the processional parade from the Reynolds Alumni Center to the Missouri Theatre. The procession will begin at 3 p.m. from Reynolds Alumni Center and will proceed across Francis Quadrangle to 9th Street ending at the Missouri Theater.
Installation Ceremony
3:30 – 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 18, Missouri Theatre, 9th Street
- The installation of R. Bowen Loftin as the 22nd chief executive officer of the University of Missouri will be held in the theater. Seating is limited.
175th Anniversary Column Lighting Ceremony
9:30 p.m. (time approximate), Friday, Sept. 19, Francis Quadrangle
- Join the Mizzou community for a special ceremony illuminating the Columns commemorating the 175th Anniversary of the University of Missouri.
WHERE: MU campus, see Inauguration website for details: http://chancellor.missouri.edu/inauguration/
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 15 – Friday, Sept. 19
NOTE: For more information on R. Bowen Loftin, please visit:
http://chancellor.missouri.edu/biography/
For more information on MU’s 175th Anniversary and the Chancellor’s inauguration, please visit: http://chancellor.missouri.edu/inauguration/
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University of Missouri 175th Anniversary and Inauguration Week
Schedule of Events:
Monday, Sept. 15, 2014
Original Thomas Jefferson Tombstone on Display
6 p.m., Missouri Theatre, 9th Street
- View Thomas Jefferson’s original tombstone marker, recently restored by the Smithsonian Institution.
An Evening with Jon Meacham
7 p.m., Missouri Theatre, 9th Street
- Author of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power will begin the week by speaking about Jefferson’s influence on the history of higher education. Meacham is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author; his other books include American Lion, Franklin and Winston and American Gospel. Doors open at 6 p.m. and books will be available for purchase. Meacham will be available for book signing immediately following the program.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014
Symposium: “Is the Future of Science Communication Online?”
9 a.m., Monsanto Auditorium, Bond Life Sciences Center
- David Grimm, Joe Hanson and Karyn Traphagen – panelists representing online academic science, popularized science and science journalism – will lead a discussion on science news, how it is reported by journalists online and in print, and future trends on informing the public about science news.
Symposium: “Is ‘Liberal’ Education Out of Style?”
3 p.m., Stotler Lounge, Memorial Union
- MU Chancellor Emeritus Richard Wallace and MU President Emeritus Mel George lay out compelling reasons suggesting that a liberal education is even more important today than in the past and its continued vitality and central role in American higher education must be ensured. A reception of light refreshments will follow.
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014
Symposium: “Actualizing One Health: The Role of the Public-Private-Academic Partnership”
11a.m., Monsanto Auditorium, Bond Life Sciences Center
- Tracey Lynn from the USDA will speak as part of the Niemeyer Lecture Series. The USDA has a long history of partnering with public and private organizations. Lynn will discuss how USDA and the One Health Collaboration Center are building upon that framework to develop innovative partnerships with academia using a One Health approach.
Symposium: “MU Values in a Global Context”
3 p.m., Jesse Wrench Auditorium, Memorial Union
- The Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative and International Center invite the public to a symposium exploring the university’s core values in a globally diverse environment. Panelists from a wide range of disciplines will share their insight and experience in the context of prevailing world conditions and contemporary trends. An extended group dialogue will identify challenges and opportunities that the University of Missouri will face during the next 175 years. A reception will follow.
Symposium: “Completing the Constitution”
3 p.m., 215 Tate Hall
- Michael Zuckert, professor of history at the University of Notre Dame, will give a “Constitution Day” lecture that will explore historical and theoretical issues surrounding the ratification of the 14th Amendment in 1868. Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.
Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014
BUCK’S UNLIMITED OAK Tree Planting
9 a.m., McAlester (Peace) Park
- CAFNR professor Mark Coggeshall developed a new tree species that produces acorns after only five years of growth with a superior survivability rate. Three BUCK’S UNLIMITED OAK Trees will be planted in McAlester Park finalizing the planting of 175 trees this year by the Mizzou Botanic Garden in honor of MU’s anniversary.
Symposium: “Extension: Taking the Long View”
10 – 10:50 a.m., Fred W. Smith Forum, Reynolds Journalism Institute
- MU Extension hosts three former Ratchford Memorial Fellowship recipients – Michael Cook, Ron Turner and Robert Kallenbach – in a panel discussion moderated by Michael Ouart, vice provost and director of cooperative extension, they will explore how extension might evolve over the next 25 years. The participants will examine the value of higher education to the citizens of Missouri, Extension’s land-grant role as a provider of relevant content for citizens and how future content will evolve to meet societies changing needs.
Symposium: “The Future of the Land-Grant Institution and the Innovation Deficit”
11 – 11:50 a.m., Stotler Lounge, Memorial Union
- Peter McPherson, president of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), and Kevin Reilly, presidential advisor for leadership with the American Council on Education (ACE), will participate in a panel discussion moderated by Hank Foley, MU senior vice chancellor for research and graduate studies and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, on what lies ahead for land-grant institutions and how the innovation deficit affects higher education and research.
Inauguration Processional Check-In
1:30 – 2:30 p.m., Reynolds Alumni Center, Great Room
- Individuals who have been invited and plan to participate in the inauguration processional will meet. All MU faculty are encouraged to attend the ceremony and may join the procession in academic regalia. MU faculty must register for the processional online. Delegates will begin lining up with assistance at 2:30 p.m.; the processional will begin at 3 p.m. from the Reynolds Alumni Center to Missouri Theatre. Refreshments will be provided.
Inauguration Ceremony
3:30 – 5 p.m., Missouri Theatre, 9th Street
- The installation of R. Bowen Loftin as the 22nd chief executive officer of the University of Missouri will be held in the theater. Seating is limited.
MU Campus Gallery & Museum Crawl
4 – 8 p.m., MU Campus
- Enjoy an evening of art, music, food and fun as you visit the nine participating galleries and museums and stroll through the Mizzou Botanic Garden serenaded by students from the MU School of Music. View contemporary and historical artworks, artifacts and even insects from around the world. The evening will end with star-gazing at the Laws Observatory. Crawl maps are available at artifact.missouri.edu, or can be picked up at any of the Crawl stations.
More information: http://artifact.missouri.edu/events/gallery-crawl/
Friday, Sept. 19, 2014
Symposium: “Engineers Turned Entrepreneurs”
3 p.m.-5 p.m., Fred W. Smith Forum, Reynolds Journalism Institute
- Panelists: Sheila Grant, Randy Schilling, Matt Klaric, Floyd Simms, Jr., and Nick McLean, all members of the MU College of Engineering faculty and alumni will share their entrepreneurial stories, techniques and advice about their interesting endeavors and the potential economic impact their Missouri companies have on our state. All panelists are from Missouri-based companies, emphasizing how engineering is an economic engine in the state.
Mizzou on the Quad
8 p.m., Francis Quadrangle
- Student Life’s annual Family Weekend event celebrating MU’s 175th anniversary. Students and their families are invited to attend and bring 5 cans of non-perishable food items to enter a raffle for prizes. All proceed benefit MU’s Tiger Pantry.
175th Anniversary Column Lighting Ceremony
9:30 p.m. (time approximate), Francis Quadrangle
- Join the Mizzou community for a special ceremony illuminating the columns commemorating the 175th anniversary of the University of Missouri.