Daniels to begin term today

As of 11 a.m. today, Mitch Daniels officially will be Indiana's new governor. To celebrate, Daniels brought together everyone that helped him claim victory -- from his grassroots supporters to the VIPs.\nHis inauguration ceremony, which ends at 12 p.m. today, concludes after a weekend of events. Daniels extended VIP invitations to the ceremony to people of all classes whom he met along his tours of Indiana, specifying: No tuxedos allowed. The events were styled as "no frills," according to his inauguration committee. Adding to the festivities, Bloomington's own a cappella group Straight No Chaser entertained Sunday evening along with Ball State's University Singers at the Inaugural Dinner in downtown Indianapolis. \n"(A no-frills celebration) was basically one of the two things that the governor-elect told the inaugural committee from day one after election," said Marc Lotter, Daniels' press secretary. "There were to be no tuxes, and this needed to be a weekend full of events to bring in Hoosiers from across the state. The VIPs were all those special folks he met along the campaign trail." \nSunday's events included an afternoon gospel celebration on the Indiana State Fairgroundsin Pepsi Coliseum. Gospel performers Bill and Gloria Gaither and the Gaither Vocal Band, the Anderson University Chorale and Divine Revelation Church Choir from Anderson all performed at the festivities. Lotter, who attended the afternoon celebration, said the hundreds of performers did an excellent job.\n"Two hundred and thirty gospel performers were there," Lotter said. "It went very well. The Gaithers and the Divine Revelation Choir just did a phenomenal job. People were on their feet, it was great." \nLinda Goad, chairwoman of the Inaugural Committee, said inauguration weekend included something for everyone.\n"We are thrilled to be able to offer Hoosiers a sampling of some of the best homegrown talent from across our state," Goad said in a statement. "As Mitch has said from the beginning, there (is) something for everyone during inaugural weekend."\nSunday evening's celebrations included a sold-out $500 dinner and a gala for 1,500 attendees. Radio personality Tom Griswold from "The Bob and Tom Show," a local Indianapolis radio show, emceed the inaugural dinner. Several musical acts provided entertainment, including Straight No Chaser. \nThe inaugural ceremony will showcase musical performances from high school bands from across Indiana. The Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger High School Band and Evansville North High School Band are scheduled to perform. Also, as promised by Gov.-elect Daniels during the campaign, the Jasper-Newton Community Band will play at the ceremony.\nTickets to the 9,000-seat Pepsi Coliseum are sold out for today's inauguration, which is set to start at 9 a.m., with Daniels being sworn in promptly at 11 a.m.\nMembers of IU's College Republicans were in Indianapolis Sunday night to attend the dinner and will be attending the swearing-in today.\nCollege Republican and IU student Tyler Wallace said he is most looking forward to the inauguration itself because it means the start of a new administration.\n"I'm looking forward to the swearing-in because it's the beginning," said Wallace. "I think there's a lot of stuff in store, and the next four years will be good. Tomorrow is the start of that." \n-- Contact Senior Writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.