Freshmen inducted into IU

IU President Michael McRobbie stood before the full-capacity crowd at the IU Auditorium on Wednesday and welcomed the incoming freshman to IU, but the family man could just as easily have been on the other side of the stage.

Like the parents who attended the IU Induction Ceremony for the class of 2012, McRobbie, too, is seeing his child off to college, his son, Lucien, one of more than 7,200 freshmen he called on to find his “place in this world.”

School officials, faculty and student leaders took part in two ceremonies to officially induct the next class of IU graduates.

McRobbie honored the traditions of IU, but also called students to think globally in their years ahead.

“This is a university rich with history, but it is not stuck in the past,” he said.

Karen Hanson, provost and executive vice president of IU Bloomington, who also has a child in the freshman class, called the day a “bittersweet moment” for the parents and celebrated their support for the students.

“This freshman class brings together rays of genius from across the country,” Hanson said.

Freshman Philip Bessette enjoyed the ceremony, especially the organ music played at the beginning and end.

“It was a good balance,” said Len Bessette, Philip’s father. “It didn’t go on and on. They had something to say, and they said it.”

More than one speaker mentioned that this was the biggest class, and the highest-achieving class in IU’s history. McRobbie welcomed everyone, including the youngest freshman, 15, the oldest, 25, as well as more than 200 international students.

Luke Fields, IU Student Association president, challenged the new students to find their own path during the next few years.

“The University will be as great as each of us dares to make it,” he said.