October 1997
Bulger Installed as 24th UMass President
After eighteen months on the job, William M. Bulger was officially installed as the 24th president of the University of Massachusetts on September 18.
The day-long event began with a formal installation ceremony at Fanueil Hall where university officials, faculty, students, alumni, state and local officials, business leaders and delegates from academic institutions throughout Greater Boston and the country gathered for this auspicious occasion.
Archbishop of Boston Cardinal Bernard Law gave the invocation, followed by remarks from Boston University President Jon Westling, Senate President Thomas Birmingham, Speaker of the House Thomas Finneran, Mayor Thomas Menino, and Board of Trustees Chairman Robert Karam. Governor Paul Cellucci, a former colleague of Bulger in the Senate, swore in the 24th president.
In his address, Bulger expounded upon the need to focus on the humanities. "The humanities are the building blocks upon which we must structure the ideal of knowledge, indeed, knowledge as an end in itself ... The humanities provide the ennobling grace essential to our lives," he stated.
Following the installation ceremony, invited guests joined Bulger and his family for a luncheon at the John F. Kennedy Library. Musical entertainment was provided by the Noel Henry Orchestra.
That evening, in what is thought to be one of the largest fund-raising events in the state's history, according to the President's office, a gala was held at Symphony Hall. The black tie event, which honored UMass alumni John Smith, chairman of General Motors Corporation and Jack Welch, ceo of General Electric, is reported to have raised $2.5 million for scholarships. Welch and Smith were presented with the President's Medal, "recognize the pursuit of excellence and high ideals of the university."
The evening's festivities also included a concert by the University of Massachusetts Wind Ensemble and the University of Massachusetts Chamber Choir. Pulitzer Prize winner, author, and historian David McCullough read an original passage. He commented on how "this day would be remembered as a day filled with music."
The final highlight of the evening was the presentation of the inauguration film, "Pursuing the dream." The fifteen-minute film profiles graduates from all five campuses, who offer their personal testimony of how the University of Massachusetts provided them with an excellent education and opportunity to pursue and achieve their lifelong personal goals and dreams. Clothing designer Joseph Abboud was one of several people featured in the film. Musical composer and UMass Boston alumnus Mark Governor produced the film's musical score.