Council President Will Speak

On Friday, under the white canopy in Tercentenary Theatre, Undergraduate Council President Paul A. Gusmorino ’02 will become the first student in recent University history to address aHarvard presidential installation.

No student spoke at the five installations that occured in the 20th century , according to University Marshal Richard M. Hunt, who says he is not sure whether students spoke at earlier inaugurations.

This year, Hunt says incoming University President Lawrence H. Summers told installation planners he was interested in having a student deliver one of the official “greetings” at the ceremony. Yale University President Richard C. Levin will deliver a traditional greeting from the academic delegates. In addition to Gusmorino, the president of the Harvard Alumni Association will also deliver a welcoming message.

Gusmorino, who was notified about the opportunity in September, has already written seven drafts and continues to make minor revisions to the text. He is keeping the contents under wraps, but Gusmorino does say he will focus on “big ideas” in the short two minutes alloted for his welcoming address.

“This isn’t a time to outline a lot of specific proposals,” he says. “A speech like this is a time for us to look at the big picture and what are the main opportunities before President Summers from the perspective of students going into his administration.”

Planners of Summers’ installation settled on the council president because he represents students at the College, Hunt says. The choice also allowed officials to avoid a time-consuming audition process, such as the one used to pick student speakers at Commencement, he says.

“I am really pleased that the president wanted such a representative to speak,” wrote Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis ’68 in an e-mail. “[Gusmorino] was the obvious person, as he is the student body’s own duly elected leader. He is also a terrific person and I am sure he will represent all Harvard students well in this important role.”

To prepare, Gusmorino has been following the same program as student Commencement speakers.Yesterday afternoon, he read his latest draft to Hunt. He has also been working on his delivery with Plummer Professor of Christian Morals Peter J. Gomes, who advised him on intonation and gave other “nitty-gritty” oratorical suggestions, as well as with a voice coach at the American Repertory Theater.

“I don’t know if I would say I’m nervous,” he says. “I might become so when Tercentenary starts filling up with people.”

—Staff writer Andrew S. Holbrook can be reached at holbr@fas.harvard.edu.