By BEN O’CONNOR
Friday, November 3 was the long-awaited presidential inauguration of Eric Boynton, previous Provost and Dean of Beloit College. With such a momentous and rare occasion happening on campus, the party celebrating Boynton’s official inauguration earlier that day pulled out all of the stops. The celebration was held in the Beloit College Powerhouse third floor, where the entire space was taken advantage of, being filled with festivities, food, and friends alike.
For those that attended, the event was nothing short of engaging. There were a multitude of activities to engage in. Party-goers could choose to have a spinning 360 video taken of them and their friends, receive a sparkly face-paint tattoo of their choosing, or decorate white T-shirts with various markers. This reporter used the latter of the activities to allow President Boynton himself to autograph their shirt, attaining a relic that surely will only appreciate in value.
For the entirety of the event, attendees could enjoy the musical merit of Beloit College’s own Mister Pink, who played the venue. The band performed a variety of songs, which were all received enthusiastically by the Beloit College community. The dance floor was consistently full of people having a grand time dancing and grooving with the music. It was a sight to behold, and the support for the band was astounding.
Speaking of the people, the turnout for this awe-inspiring event was incredibly impressive. The inauguration celebration saw the connection among many different groups of people, including students, current and past faculty, alumni, and even the man himself, Eric Boynton. There was a large amount of socializing, partly in thanks to the free drinks provided with ID. The food was also nothing to scoff at, as there were many delicious finger foods available, including pretzels with cheese, various cookies, meatballs, bagel bites, popcorn, and alternative non-alcoholic beverages. This reporter deeply appreciated the food, as these were the perfect party appetizers.
One student, Gabriella Willis ‘27, shared that she was “having a good time, there’s a lot to see, a lot to do” and “everyone really showed up with their outfits…it’s a good night!” The night was optional but encouraged formal outfits, which a lot of the crowd did not sleep on. Among students (who tend to have very elaborate outfits anyway) and other guests were a multitude of outfits ranging from fancy to flashy to straight-up fun. Many merrymakers represented their support for Eric Boynton by attending the event in their custom-made Eric Boynton t-shirts, which were given out for free for a limited time in the days leading up to the inauguration.
All in all, it was a truly hopeful and lovely experience seeing so many people from varying communities come together to celebrate a new chapter in Beloit College’s history. The engagement shown by Boynton and his family at the event was nothing short of friendly and inviting, and sets a warm and agreeable tone for the future of the college under Boynton’s leadership.
Featured Image Credit: Beloit Daily News
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