University inaugurates Drew Faust

It’s happened only 28 times in 371 years, so when a new Harvard president is inaugurated, the occasion is bound to be a memorable one. And the installation of Drew Faust, scheduled for Oct. 12, is shaping up to be one of the most memorable ever.

Thursday (Oct. 11) festivities include a reading by Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison and “A Musical Prelude,” featuring performances by a host of brilliant musical alumni and students. On Friday (Oct. 12), a service of thanksgiving in the Memorial Church takes place, with prayers, readings, and music. Some readers are members of Faust’s family, including her uncle, the Right Rev. G.P. Mellick Belshaw, the retired Episcopal bishop of New Jersey.

An academic procession led by the skirling of bagpipes will include representatives from hundreds of academic institutions as well as nine of Faust’s former teachers from elementary school through college.

At Tercentenary Theatre, three former Harvard presidents will be on hand, as will members of the Corporation and Board of Overseers. There will be greetings by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann, and distinguished scholar John Hope Franklin. — Ken Gewertz

– Ken Gewertz