While many have yet to realize the scale and importance of the inauguration of President Rebecca Bergman, students, staff, and other visitors will soon become aware of the historic event. A steering committee has worked to create a ceremony to officially recognize the addition of Bergman to our community, and in doing so they have created a celebration that spans several days.

“To celebrate a community is to celebrate all that constitutes a community- students, faculty, administrators, staff, alumni, and countless others. We have an inauguration that, I hope, brings out the best of us all for the sake of us all. A goal of those planning the inauguration is to celebrate who we are, confirm what we are about, and of course, welcome President Bergman to this community,” Co-chair of the Steering Committee and Chaplain Brian Konkol said.

The Inaugural activities kick off at 7 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 1 with a Symposium for the Gustavus Community in Alumni Hall, titled “The Future of the Liberal Arts.” The symposium focused on the current state of the College and the direction President Bergman’s leadership will go.

“The symposium cast scheduled to speak about the liberal arts is a really exciting and eclectic mix that I believe will be really fascinating,” Konkol said.

He was also excited about the mix of students and alumni presenting, which allowed a perspective of the past, the present, and where it is all going.

“We have an inauguration that, I hope, brings out the best of us all for the sake of us all. A goal of those planning the inauguration is to celebrate who we are, confirm what we are about, and of course, welcome President Bergman to this community.”—Chaplain Brian Konkol

On Thursday, the festivities continued with the Inaugural Concert at 8 p.m. in Björling Recital Hall.

“Mostly faculty are performing, and I’m very excited for that,” said Trustee and Co-chair of the steering committee Jan Michaletz.

The concert featured a variety of faculty, student, and alumni performers, presenting some music written specifically for this event.

Inauguration Day, today, Friday Oct. 3 kicks off with a Chapel Service at 10 a.m. The homily will be led by President Bergman’s Father, Reverend Harold S. Weiss.

Following the Chapel Service, there is an Inaugural Tree Dedication in the Arboretum at 10:45 a.m. In the past, a tree has been planted in honor of the incoming president and the first lady has received a lilac bush. This year, however, a tree will be dedicated to a woman for the first time in Gustavus history.

“It’s empowering,” First-Year Lindsey Kline said about having a female president. “I feel as if we’re moving in the right direction.”

Jan Michaletz, a member of the Gustavus Board of Trustees and past President of the Gustavus Alumni Association, reflected on the significance of Bergman’s inauguration.

“It’s hard to say it’s great because she’s a woman—it’s great because she’s this particular woman, and that we have this caliber of a president,” Michaletz said.

The inauguration itself will take place at 2:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel. Those who worked to create this event have emphasized that this is a celebration not only of President Bergman, but of the entire Gustavus community.

“The students, especially, are being lifted up in the inauguration. For example, there will be over 250 students involved in the investiture service itself. There will be student representatives carrying academic banners, international students will be walking in with their respective flags as well. This all is meant to show that academics are at the heart of who we are, and that we are truly a global community,” Konkol said.

Students are encouraged to attend this historic event, and to be a part of welcoming Rebecca Bergman to the community.

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton will be speaking at the Inauguration, and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod ELCA Jon Anderson will also be in attendance.

“I think it really speaks to their respect for our institution and also for President Bergman. There’s a new administration, and this is a visual signal that we’re acknowledging that. She’s been there for three months, but, especially for the alumni, the parents, and the board, this is the official beginning,” Michaletz said.

“It’s hard to say it’s great because she’s a woman—it’s great because she’s this particular woman, and that we have this caliber of a president.”—Jan Michaletz

While the committee members have worked to keep the focus on community, it is difficult not to celebrate President Bergman as an individual.

“She starts with such an advantage from having been on the board for several years. She’s also a good listener. She listens to students and the faculty and the board and the staff before making decisions, and I think that’s so important at Gustavus,” Michaletz said.

President Bergman has already been working at Gustavus for a few months, and this gives everyone a chance to give her an overdue welcome and celebrate the work she has done thus far.

“She is deeply focused on identity and values for the sake of mission. Quite frankly, not only do I respect her a great deal, but I truly enjoy being with her, as she is a genuinely good person and from day one, she has been thoughtful, caring, and has set the bar high for us all,” Konkol noted. President Bergman shared her focus and vision as a leader of the college.

“One of my goals is to really help maintain not just relevance for this college in education but leadership and how we prepare students for career, for life and for all the change that will happen during our students careers. We aren’t just preparing students for their first job but for their fifth job down the road or their fifth promotion. When you come back as Vice President of somewhere and give a lecture here at Gustavus on what you’ve learned as a leader. That’s what I want to prepare students for,” Bergman said.

Addressing what she hopes students gain from their time at Gustavus, Bergman also reflected on the future of her term.

“[Education is] about the whole person, not just about what your major is, so that’s why all the experiences in college add up to be important. And what I want to do is offer every student the whole spectrum of what four years in a residential college can bring. That’s a big goal and it’s not static. It has to change as the times change. And we have to have the capacity to see ahead and bring that back to what should we be doing now. So this is a task that never ends,” Bergman said.

Students are also celebrating the progress Bergman has made and is working toward. Lindsey Kline spoke toward the prospects of Bergman’s influence.

“She’s setting our class up to make some history. We’re off to a good start,” Kline said.

For more information about President Bergman, check out her profile as “Gustie of the Week” on page 5.

“She is deeply focused on identity and values for the sake of mission. Quite frankly, not only do I respect her a great deal, but I truly enjoy being with her, as she is a genuinely good person and from day one, she has been thoughtful, caring, and has set the bar high for us all.”—Chaplain Brian Konkol

-Kaity Young