Ithaca College inaugurated Tom Rochon as its eighth president Friday. Under a sunny sky, delegates and faculty of the college led Rochon into the Ben Light Gymnasium, only to find that most of the seats reserved for students were empty.

The inauguration was an important day in the college’s history and went unnoticed by many on campus. Rochon, who began his presidency at the college last July, planned the ceremony to coincide with the James J. Whalen Academic Symposium in order to reflect his commitment to integrative learning. Giving support to the symposium and acknowledging it in reference to the strategic visioning process is smart, but planning the inauguration ceremony at the end of the year was not the best decision. Many did not understand why Rochon was being inaugurated after having already served as president of the college for almost a year.

The inauguration was poorly advertised and not properly presented to the community. The student body cannot be expected to care when it is not aware of the significance of the event.

In a time when the college is creating its new mission, the campus is needed now, more than ever, to be an active participant. The inauguration may have been a purely symbolic gesture but was one that could have unified the college during a time of uncertainty.