Eisgruber's installation ceremony set for Sept. 22

Installation preview index

Christopher L. Eisgruber, who became Princeton's 20th president July 1, will give his inaugural address Sunday, Sept. 22, during an installation ceremony in front of Nassau Hall.

Photo by Denise Applewhite, Office of Communications

Students, faculty, staff, alumni, University trustees and officers, and representatives from the broader higher education community will gather on the front lawn of Nassau Hall at 1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 22, to celebrate the installation of Christopher L. Eisgruber as Princeton's 20th president.

The event, which is open to the public, will begin with a procession by trustees, members of the faculty and University officers, representatives of the town of Princeton, leaders of local institutions of advanced learning, and about 20 Princeton alumni and former faculty and staff who are presidents of colleges and universities.

The installation, which is organized by the Office of the Vice President and Secretary Robert Durkee, is a public occasion to offer greetings to the new president, re-enact the taking of the oath, and provide an opportunity for the president to make an inaugural address. Eisgruber took the oath at the June meeting of the Board of Trustees before he officially became president on July 1.

The ceremony will include greetings from representatives of the students, faculty, staff, alumni and the higher education community. It will culminate in the formal installation and Eisgruber's address.

The installation ceremony is open to the public, as is a reception that follows on the lawn behind Alexander Hall. Festivities conclude with an afternoon concert featuring Grace Potter & The Nocturnals that is open only to students, faculty, staff and alumni.

There is no standard format for the ceremony, which was first held for the inauguration of Aaron Burr Sr. at Princeton's first Commencement exercises on Nov. 9, 1748. Previous installations have been held in Richardson Auditorium, the University Chapel and the Faculty Room in Nassau Hall. The installation of previous President Shirley M. Tilghman was held on the front lawn of Nassau Hall on Sept. 28, 2001.

Eisgruber will be robed in a black gown, trimmed with gold, and faced with the orange of Princeton and the House of Nassau. The bands of gold lacing on the sleeves represent the presidents who have guided Princeton since its founding; Eisgruber's gown has 20 bands. The current style of gown was first worn by Princeton's 15th president, Harold W. Dodds, at Commencement in 1954.

The installation will be broadcast live on the University's WebMedia site,TigerNet Channel 7, 93.1 HD channel on campus, and on Channel 27 on Princeton cable television.