Cornelia Beckett ’14Opinions Editor
President Kathleen McCartney is gearing up for her inauguration as the 11th president of Smith College, which will be held on Oct. 19, 2013 at the Indoor Track and Tennis Facility (ITT) of Smith.
The only uncertain factor that remains is the weather, often unpredictable in fall and especially in late October. Members of the Smith Community may recall the blizzard of Halloween Weekend, 2011, which cut power from the campus and stranded many students and staff in the community. Inauguration has a history of inclement weather, including the 1985 hurricane that threatened Mary Maples Dunn’s outdoors inauguration dinner.
This year, the dinner will be held in Scott Gymnasium. Even if inclement weather does occur, it will not interfere with the schedule of indoor events. Celebrations will include a student party, numerous art exhibitions, a discussion panel and the installation ceremony itself, which will be held at 3 p.m. in the ITT.
There will, however, be a community picnic o n Chapin Lawn replete with paper lanterns and a later bagpipe parade to mark the induction ceremony.
McCartney is expected to address an audience of more than 5,000, including her extended family, and more than 120 delegates from colleges and universities nationwide and worldwide.
