Inauguration Activities Canceled

Utah State University has announced the cancellation of all inauguration activities planned for President Stan L. Albrecht.

 

Events are canceled in reaction to the deaths of eight students and one instructor involved in a 15-passenger van accident Monday, Sept. 26. Inauguration week was set for Oct. 10-14, with the formal inauguration ceremony planned for Friday, Oct. 14. The inauguration will not be rescheduled.

 

"This is a great tragedy for the university and for the families involved," said Utah State University President Stan L. Albrecht. "The inauguration was to be a time of celebration for the university, and in light of the circumstances, we feel that a celebration of this magnitude would be inappropriate. Our focus over the next few weeks will be on the families and friends of our students who have been devastated by this tragedy. We send them our love and support. The university will do everything it can to be helpful and supportive during this tremendous time of need."

 

Activities canceled include: Tuesday, Oct. 11 — the Caine School of the Arts Inaugural Celebration; Thursday, Oct. 13 — the Merrill-Cazier Library Ribbon Cutting, Inaugural Presidential Lecture by C. Peter Magrath, president of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Universities, and the Inaugural reception and dinner; Friday, Oct. 14 — the academic procession and inauguration ceremony.