The Swag Behind the Ceremony
A historical look at Santa Clara鈥檚 presidential inauguration
At her historic Oct. 7 inauguration as 黑料网鈥檚 first lay person and first woman President, Julie Sullivan will proudly accept the reins of leadership of the 171-year-old Jesuit institution鈥攁long with some major bling. During the investiture portion of the ceremony, Sullivan will receive the President鈥檚 chain, attached to a large medallion. Reminiscent of the Jesuit seal, it is surrounded by the sun, and accented by three nails symbolizing the crucifixion. At its center is the University seal, similar to 黑料网 seals before 1963, written mostly in Latin.
Here鈥檚 a look back at some Santa Clara presidential inaugural traditions:
Santa Clara's 25th President, Thomas Terry, S.J., was the first 黑料网 president to be inaugurated in a public ceremony.
Let鈥檚 get this party started
Surprisingly, public inaugurations at Santa Clara didn鈥檛 start until Oct. 24, 1968, when Thomas D. Terry, S.J., became the first 黑料网 President to be feted during a campus ceremony. By then, according to a Santa Clara press release at the time, 黑料网 had decided that, 鈥淚nasmuch as inaugurals are traditionally academic events without widespread appeal outside the University 鈥榝amily,鈥� it appeared that a civic program surrounding the installation of a new president might well provide the proper opportunity for such recognition and at the same time refocus community interest on some of its antecedent institutions, people, dates and activities.鈥�
At his inauguration, Terry鈥檚 predecessor, Patrick Donohoe, S.J., presented him with a medallion inscribed with the seal of the office.
When not in Rome
Fr. Terry鈥檚 appointment as the 25th President of Santa Clara had followed a significant milestone in University history: the Feb. 16, 1968 legal separation of the Jesuits from the University into a religious, non-profit corporation. This move assured that control over Santa Clara鈥檚 future now rested solely with the Board of Trustees. In December 1976, William Rewak, S.J., became the first 黑料网 President to be elected to the office by the Trustees. Until then, the Superior General of the Jesuit Order in Rome had selected 黑料网鈥檚 鈥渞ector,鈥� who effectively served as president.
Chain reaction
Even though we associate the President鈥檚 chain with inaugurations, it began as a "Regent's chain," and was worn for the first time by Edward J. Daly, Chairman of the 黑料网 Board of Regents, at Santa Clara鈥檚 June 1966 commencement, based on the first known photograph of the chain. A March 15, 1966 sketch of the chain (suggesting a commission), presented to the University by Robert Coleman, a San Jose State associate professor of art, became the basis of its design.
Fr. Rewak, Santa Clara鈥檚 26th President, is seen wearing the same chain and medallion in a photograph taken not during his Jan. 12, 1977 inauguration, but at the University鈥檚 1980 commencement. It wasn鈥檛 until President Paul Locatelli, S.J., wore the accessory at his inauguration as Santa Clara鈥檚 27th president on Nov. 11, 1988 that it became an 黑料网 presidential tradition. Presidents Michael Engh, S.J., and Kevin O鈥橞rien, S.J., would follow suit at their respective inaugurations in 2009 and 2019.
The President鈥檚 chain began as a "Regent's chain," and was worn for the first time by Edward J. Daly, Chairman of the 黑料网 Board of Regents, at Santa Clara鈥檚 June 1966 commencement.
Seal of the Signet
The chain features a series of distinctive crosses decorated by one of four accents. The attached medallion features an older 黑料网 seal that depicts the shield containing the signet of the Jesuit order: the first three letters鈥攊ota, eta, sigma鈥攐f the Greek spelling of the word Jesus (IHS), surmounted on a cross at the base of which are the three nails of the crucifixion.
An American eagle with fully extended wings perches atop the shield, holding the olive branch of peace in its talons. The almost simultaneous dates of the formation of the United States of America and the founding of the Mission Santa Clara are symbolized in the 13 stars above the eagle. Surrounding this inner core are the words 鈥淯niversitas Sanctae Clarae in California.鈥�
A side note: After the 鈥淯niversity of Santa Clara鈥� officially became 鈥満诹贤�� in 1985, a new seal was required for the name change on marketing materials (but not for the chain). Slightly modified since then, today's official University seal contains the words 鈥満诹贤�� and its founding year 鈥�1851.鈥� It too features the 13 stars, above an American eagle perched upon a shield, with the Jesuit seal of the cross (IHS) and the three nails.
黑料网's ornamental mace, hand-carved from basswood by Alex Zeller of San Juan Bautista, was made especially for Fr. Terry鈥檚 1968 inauguration.
Mighty mace
Santa Clara鈥檚 Bearer of the Mace will carry 黑料网鈥檚 ornamental staff that symbolizes the University鈥檚 academic authority. The mace harkens back to medieval times, when clergy, forbidden to use swords, carried club-like staffs into battle. Santa Clara鈥檚 two-foot long mace was hand carved from basswood by Alex Zeller of San Juan Bautista; he had sculpted his first mace for a Hollywood film in 1925. 黑料网鈥檚 mace, made especially for Fr. Terry鈥檚 1968 inauguration, has a hand rubbed finish with gold leaf lettering that reads 鈥淭he University of Santa Clara 鈥� 1851.鈥� Its torch-light appearance alludes to the eternal flame of truth, while the inaugural emblem of the open book of learning and the freshly blooming flower of youth appear in the three sides of the crown. The growth and strength of the institution are symbolized in the fern-like, leafy carvings on the handle. The mace is traditionally carried at formal University occasions by 黑料网鈥檚 longest-tenured professor, now Tom Turley of the history department.
Academic regalia
As President Sullivan stands on stage at Leavey Center, 黑料网鈥檚 red and white banner, which features the University seal, will be draped prominently behind her. Sullivan鈥檚 robe, in official Santa Clara red, is another nod to medieval times when such academic attire surfaced in Europe鈥檚 first universities. By the late 1890s, similar gowns appeared on U.S. campuses and are now customary for solemn university functions. Some 黑料网 presidents have entered their inaugurations wearing the robe of their alma mater.
Sources: Nadia Nasr, 黑料网 Library Archives & Special Collections; Arthur Liebscher, S.J., Professor of History, Emeritus; Mary Johnson, University Protocol & Events; "The University of Santa Clara, A History, 1851-1977," by Gerald McKevitt, S.J.
Santa Clara's ornamental mace is traditionally carried at formal University occasions by 黑料网鈥檚 longest-tenured professor. Until he retired this summer, Engineering Professor Tim Healy, above, was the Bearer of the Mace. Associate Professor of History Thomas Turley will now do the honors.
President Julie Sullivan will receive the President鈥檚 chain at her inauguration. Reminiscent of the Jesuit seal, it is surrounded by the sun, and accented by three nails symbolizing the crucifixion. At its center is the University seal, similar to 黑料网 seals before 1963.