President Dallin H. Oaks of Brigham Young University apparently set the tone for the years immediately ahead in the closing paragraph of his inaugural address.
“We have passed through a period of extraordinary growth at BYU,” he told the capacity audience at the inauguration Friday. “We are now entering a period of maturing, deepening, and refining – upgrading the quality of all of our efforts. We are also concerned to make fuller use of our marvelous resources of plant and personnel.”
Whatever trend of growth or refining the ”Oaks years” will bring, you get the impression that BYU is going to be in good hands and that the new president is deeply dedicated to carrying out the longtime goals and commitment of the university.
Another evident impression is that the 39-year-old president is well on the way to establishing a favorable rapport with students, faculty, and townspeople.
His inauguration blended the pomp and ceremony of such occasions with humility and sincerity on his part and by those who gave him his charge as the new president. The presence of representatives of some 230 colleges and universities of the nation and many distinguished organizations and societies gave an extra dimension of breadth of significance attached to the event.
As the eighth president of BYU, Dr. Oaks follows these men at the school’s helm: Warren N. Dusenberry, first principal of B.Y. Academy, 1875-76; Karl G. Maeser, 1876-1892; Benjamin Cluff Jr.,1892-1903; George H. Brimhall, 1904-1921; Franklin S. Harris, 1921-1945; Howard S. McDonald, 1945-1949; and Ernest L. Wilkinson, 1951-1971. A number of men also have headed the university for short periods as acting presidents.
The first formal inauguration of a BYU president (and of any university president in Utah according to the old ‘Y’ News), was in 1921 when President Harris was installed. Events included a banquet, ball, and a procession by students, faculty and board of trustees from the campus to the Provo Tabernacle where the inaugural ceremony took place under the direction of the T. N. Taylor, vice president of the board of trustees, Hollis Scott, a BYU researcher, notes that red, white and blue colors were used in decorating the tabernacle – the colors of BYU and Cornell University, President Harris’ alma mater.
At that time BYU had 65 full-time faculty members and 666 full-time college students. Today, at the crest of a great era of growth, there are 25,000 students and a faculty of about 1400.
Dr. Oaks, the new president, follows illustrious men and has some great goals, accomplishments, and traditions to uphold.
He heads a university that is dear to the hearts of a lot of people, not only in Provo and Central Utah but across the state and nation.
The Herald congratulates him on his inauguration and extends best wishes to him and the university for successful, harmonious, and satisfying years ahead.