ULL celebrates with ‘Savoie fair’

• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Oct 15, 2008 - Page: 1BA - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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LAFAYETTE — The University of Louisiana at Lafayette will celebrate homecoming like never before with the inauguration of its sixth president, alumnus Joseph Savoie, on Oct. 30.

The day’s events include an ecumenical prayer service on the grounds of Martin Hall at 9 a.m. and the presidential investiture at 2 p.m. at the Cajundome.

The all-day affair continues with a “We Are Louisiana” community celebration at 6 p.m. at the Cajundome Convention Center. The event will feature Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Grammy-award winner Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters, Irma Thomas, The Molly Ringwalds and special guest Michael Doucet.

Admission to the event is a donation of any amount to the university’s student scholarship fund.

The investiture ceremony will resemble graduation exercises with academic figures from across the South in attendance.

The ceremony will honor the university’s past, present and future — featuring keynote speaker Thomas Frey, executive director of the DaVinci Institute,  a Colorado-based futurist think tank.

Savoie represents a “new era” for ULL, Mary Galyean, president-elect of the ULL Alumni Association, said in a university news release.

“This is a perfect opportunity for all UL Lafayette alumni to show their support of Dr. Savoie and his new administration,” Galyean stated. “It is a dawning of a new era for UL Lafayette and the entire Acadiana region. And it promises to be a lot of fun, too.”

On the eve of the inauguration, the public is invited to a free concert by the ULL Wind Ensemble that features pieces dedicated to Savoie and Ray Authement, who served as the university’s president for 35 years.

During the performance, Savoie will narrate Aaron Copland’s “A Lincoln Portrait.”

The events and main ceremony are free and open to the public.

While the inauguration is a highlight of the university’s homecoming, the celebration opens Oct. 27 with a party at the Alumni Center.

Events continue throughout the week and culminate Saturday, Nov. 1, when the Ragin’ Cajuns football team host Florida International at 4 p.m. at Cajun Field.