'We fight for the future of this classic American research university'

Lombardi invokes call to action in inaugural address

by Sarah R. Buchholz, Chronicle staff

Chancellor John V. Lombardi delivers his inaugural address during ceremonies at the Mullins Center on Feb. 7. (Stan Sherer photo)

oming from as near as Hillside, the Chancellor's residence, and from as far as Venezuela, family, friends, colleagues, and admirers traveled through falling snow Feb. 7 to see John V. Lombardi inaugurated as chancellor of the Amherst campus.

     Lombardi, who has served as chancellor since July 1, was invested by Board of Trustees chair Grace Fey and President William M. Bulger, as other members of the board and alumni, officers of the University and state and federal dignitaries looked on.

     Serenaded by the University Wind Ensemble, directed by Music and Dance lecturer Steven Dennis Bodner, and the University Choirs, directed by Music and Dance professor E. Wayne Abercrombie, approximately 1,000 members of the campus community joined 150 representatives from higher education institutions around the U.S. and more than 250 additional robed faculty from the University in witnessing the event. Walter Chesnut, retired professor of Music and Dance, played the University fanfare.

Chancellor John Lombardi accepts congratulations from Grounds Services head James LaRose at the luncheon reception on the Mullins Center concourse following the inauguration. (Stan Sherer photo)

     The audience was welcomed by Bulger, and Lombardi was officially greeted by seven well-wishers, who spoke of his leadership skills and the hope that he has brought them for the campus.

     "He is the most honest, most unpretentious, most effective academic leader I have known," said John Ryan, former president of Indiana University, where Lombardi taught history and served as dean of international programs and dean of arts and sciences, among other things.

     "You have given the student body at UMass something that is hard to find: hope," said David Carr, president of the Student Government Association. He added that Lombardi is "in the trenches with the students, digging to a better student life."

     Germán Carrera Damas, doctor of history at the Universidad Central de Venezuela and former Venezuelan ambassador to several nations, lauded Lombardi for his "inexhaustible will to work with a dedication immune to any kind of disturbance."

Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost Charlena Seymour emcees the ceremony. (Stan Sherer photo)

     "He maintains a laser-like focus on building and maintaining excellence in teaching and research," Bulger said. "I had the privilege of selecting [him]. It is a choice that will always be a source of pride for me."

     In his inaugural address, Lombardi struck notes now familiar to the campus: teaching and research as the heart and soul of a university (the academic imperative), the high quality of the faculty on campus, and the importance of money, performance and time in the building and maintenance of an outstanding research university.

     He also noted that faculty and staff numbers on campus currently are too low to sustain the level of performance of which they are capable. He was not alone; as guests entered the Mullins Center for the celebration, approximately 120 union members gathered outside wearing red to symbolize their anger over working without funded contracts. In his address, Lombardi stressed that "good salaries and a context that rewards achievement" are necessary to hiring and retaining the best possible employees.

     "This place, so central to our academic lives and so important to all who engage it, must acquire the resources needed to sustain and enhance its performance and national competitiveness," he said. "This place has the people and the talent necessary for its success. The only question is our will to succeed, our commitment to the process, and our determination to remain nationally competitive.

     "...With enthusiasm, commitment and optimism, Cathryn and I choose this campus as our home and its people as our community. ...We will borrow money to rebuild our physical infrastructure. We will work endlessly to mobilize our alumni and friends to invest in us.

     "...We will do this the only way possible, together. ...We will identify as many friends and supporters outside the campus as possible and persuade them that our performance justifies an investment. We do good work here, but no one owes us an investment. It is our good work that earns us the confidence of our fellow citizens, our legislators, our students and parents, our alumni and friends.

     "We will choose the culture of achievement over the culture of complaint."

     As part of the ceremony, Lombardi was presented with a medallion, which consists of a pewter rendition of the campus seal hung on a chain of hand-hammered silver disks, each inscribed with the name of a former chancellor on the back.

     After the ceremony, Auxiliary Services produced a luncheon of Italian food -focaccia-based roasted vegetable sandwiches, pasta salad, and rainbow tortellini with pesto - and various desserts on the concourse of the Mullins Center while well-wishers formed a line to speak with Lombardi.

     Lombardi's inaugural address is excerpted on page 5. The entire text is available at www.umass.edu/inauguration.