IN THE SPOTLIGHT: INAUGURATION ACTIVITIES WILL SHOWCASE SEMO

The inauguration of Dr. Dale Nitzschke as Southeast Missouri State University's 16th president has little to do with him and a lot to do with showcasing the school.

"I am nothing more than a tool for them to do that," said the 59-year-old Nitzschke. He has served as the school's president since last July.

Southeast is showcasing the university with a week of activities that include four big-name speakers and one of the world's most famous comedians, Bill Cosby. The theme for the inauguration is "Creating Tomorrow."

The week kicked off Friday night with a speech by former U.S. senator Paul Simon of Illinois.

Nitzschke said he never expected such a large-scale celebration.

It was the Board of Regents that pushed the idea, he said.

Don Dickerson, president of the Board of Regents, said the celebration provides a chance to publicize the university.

"We are proud of the university," he said.

Jim Biundo, who heads up university relations at Southeast, helped put together the inaugural activities.

"This inauguration is for the institution, not for an individual person," he said.

Nitzschke said the university will spend an estimated $55,000 for major speakers over the course of inauguration week. Most, if not all of that cost, will be paid with donations from the private sector.

Nearly half of that cost, or $25,000, will be paid to poet and playwright Maya Angelou. She will speak at the inauguration ceremony, scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Show Me Center.

The $55,000 doesn't include the cost of Cosby, who will perform Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Show Me Center. There is an admission charge for that event.

The inauguration itself and most of the other events are open to the public free of charge.

Nitzschke said such large-scale inaugurations are uncommon at America's universities, but worth the cost.

He and other school officials said the inauguration will bring regional and national attention to the school.

The university has an inauguration web site on the Internet.

News media from St. Louis and the region will be covering inauguration-day activities.

Former Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern and conservative columnist and commentator William F. Buckley will debate at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Academic Hall Auditorium.

C-SPAN will tape the debate for broadcast at a later date on its "American Perspectives" show.

The New York correspondent for Europa Press, a news service based in Madrid, Spain, called the university in hopes of setting up an interview with Buckley while the famed conservative is on campus.

The king of Spain, who has met Buckley, is visiting New York this month.

Angelou's scheduled appearance has garnered widespread interest.

Elementary and high school classes are planning to attend the inauguration. School groups plan to attend from as far away as Paducah, Ky., said Biundo.

The mayor, fire chief, police chief and office staff from the St. Louis suburb of Berkeley are coming to the inauguration just to listen to Angelou.

If Angelou and the other famous personalities enjoy their visit to the campus, they will speak well of the university when they return home, Nitzschke said.

Former Southeast officials, including Dr. Kala Stroup, Missouri's commissioner of higher education, are scheduled to attend the inauguration.

A number of delegates from other colleges will attend the inauguration ceremony, as will representatives of various educational associations.

Nitzschke said the weeklong celebration will help recruit students.

Southeast mailed out inauguration schedules to 5,000 prospective students as well as to the homes of all current students.

Nitzschke said the events offer students a wealth of learning experiences. Besides the lectures, the week includes everything from a poetry reading to an international festival.

School officials decided to seek private contributions to pay for the inaugural speakers in part to defuse any criticism about how much was being spent.

But Nitzschke said the primary reason was that it allowed the business community and individuals to feel a part of the inauguration.

For busineses, it is also great advertising, Nitzschke said. Contributors will be listed in the inauguration program.

To date, at least 20 individuals have each contributed $1,000 or more to help underwrite the cost. Eight corporate sponsors have each contributed $2,500 or more.