Participants in today's inaugural ceremonies

Academic procession: More than 1,000 participants are expected to march in the inaugural procession from the Arts Quad to Barton Hall. The procession is led by University Marshal J. Robert Cooke, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, followed by delegates representing other universities and colleges, in order of each institution's founding, and then delegates representing learned societies and scientific and cultural institutions. After them will march leaders of the University Assemblies, representatives of the University Libraries, the colleges of Cornell, college deans, members of the faculty, academic staff representatives, alumni delegates and student and staff representatives. They will be followed by the distinguished inaugural lecture speakers, the university's executive officers, University Provost Biddy Martin, Provost for Medical Affairs Dr. Antonio Gotto, President Emeritus Frank H.T. Rhodes, and members of the Cornell Board of Trustees. Following them will be Ezra Cornell as bearer of the University Charter; Professor Mary Beth Norton, bearer of the Great Seal of the University; inaugural speaker Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Cornell Class of 1954; Peter Meinig, Class of 1961, chairman of the board of trustees; Professor Walter LaFeber, bearer of the Mace; and President-elect Jeffrey Lehman.

Presidents emeriti: Participating in Inauguration Day ceremonies will be Presidents Emeriti Rhodes (1977-95) and Dale R. Corson (1969-77).

Distinguished guests and delegates: Distinguished guests include Thomas Egan, chairman of the State University of New York Board of Trustees; Robert L. King, chancellor of the State University of New York; Joerg Draeger, Cornell Ph.D. 1996, senator for science and research, Germany; Dr. Antje Welscher, Department of Science and Research, Germany; and Dr. Chandra Lal Shrestha, executive director of the Centre for International Relations, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

Sixteen college and university presidents will participate, among them: Don M. Randel, University of Chicago; Charles J. Beirne, Le Moyne College; Erik Bitterbaum, SUNY College at Cortland; Charles M. Edmondson, Alfred University; Carl E. Haynes, Tompkins Cortland Community College; Eduardo Marti, Purdue University; Thomas Meier, Elmira College; Dominic Monti, St. Bonaventure University; Kenneth A. Shaw, Syracuse University; Robert Sproull, president emeritus, University of Rochester; and Peggy Williams, Ithaca College.

Among delegates are representatives of Brown University, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, New York University, the University of Michigan, Vassar College, Stony Brook University, Colgate University, University of Toronto, Brandeis University, Stanford University, University of Kansas, Vanderbilt University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of Southern California and Johns Hopkins University.

Bearer of the University Charter: Ezra Cornell, a direct lineal descendant of university founder Ezra Cornell, will carry the University Charter in the inaugural procession. Cornell, a 1970 graduate, is a life trustee. The original Charter, signed into law on April 27, 1865, by New York State Gov. Reuben E. Fenton, was presented with the Great Seal to the early presidents of Cornell University at the time of their inaugurations, the last being the inauguration of Edmund Ezra Day in 1937.

Bearer of the Great Seal: Mary Beth Norton, the Mary Donlon Alger Professor of American History, will carry the Great Seal in the inaugural procession. Imprinted with the words, "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study," the two-inch-diameter seal is affixed to every diploma awarded by Cornell University.

Campus-elected trustees: Five trustees are elected by campus constituencies. The employee-elected trustee is Michael Esposito. Elected by the faculty are Peter C. Stein and Elizabeth D. Earle. Student-elected trustees are Ifunanya O. Maduka '04 and Jacqueline Koppell '05.