Academic Pomp & Plumage for Cal Chancellor Inaugural

It's not every day that the distinguished faculty at UC Berkeley put on colorful costumes and stage a short parade. But such a spectacle is scheduled for Friday when the new campus chancellor, Nicholas Dirks, undergoes his inauguration ceremony at Zellerbach Hall. 

It's been eight years since Berkeley professors and dignitaries dressed up like they were still in the Middle Ages and donned their medieval gowns and hoods for the academic procession into Zellerbach to welcome a new chancellor. The last time was in 2005 when former Chancellor Robert Birgeneau received the official emblem of office – the UC Chancellor's Medal.

Unlike the President of the United States or the Pope, the UC Berkeley Chancellor often begins the term of office long before the official inauguration. Dirks officially began as Berkeley's 10th chancellor on June 1. He moved from Columbia University, where he was executive vice president, dean of arts and sciences and a professor of anthropology. 

For Friday's pageant, Dirks will wear his is maroon hood from the University of Chicago, where he received his history Ph.D.

On hand to present him with the Chancellor's Medal at the 3 p.m. inaugural ceremony will be the new UC President, Janet Napolitano, who until recently was the U.S. Secretary for Homeland Security.

Dirks will deliver an inaugural address about "his vision for UC Berkeley's future as a great public research university in the 21st century, building on three themes that will underscore his first year as chancellor: undergraduate education, the global university and innovation in basic and applied research across all disciplines," according to a campus news release.

There are several related inaugural events, including an inaugural rally at Sproul Steps at 12:15 p.m. Friday and an "Inaugural Tailgate" at Hearst Field North beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday before the noon football game between Cal and USC.

Seating at the inaugural ceremony is still available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Cal Performances box office, open noon to 5:30 p.m. If tickets are still available Friday, they'll be available at the will-call table on Spieker Plaza.

For more information, visit the campus Inauguration website.

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