Word: marshaller
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...1950s, the office of the marshal has three functions: to greet first-time visitors in the name of Harvard's president, to send Harvard delegates to presidential inauguration ceremonies at universities around the world, and to prepare for the historic pomp that surrounds Commencement Day every year...
Anderson wore the first of these hats more than the others--he sometimes greeted up to five foreign visitors a day. Some dignitaries came on their own, most were directed by the State Department, which works with the marshal's office to see that guests visiting Boston get a chance to see Harvard. From the moment of the guest's arrival until his departure, Anderson was responsible for his satisfaction with his Harvard junket. The former marshal established the initial harmonious relationship between Harvard and its guest, and would then arrange for the visitor to see his American counterparts, whether...
Reviewing the highlights of his marshal career, Anderson often smiles with nostalgia, but he seriously emphasizes the fundamental importance of the job: "When one thinks of this program, it is with the hope that when the visitor returns to his own country, it is with a better understanding of ours." He notes that many of the visiting leaders and businessman are politically unpopular, and students sometimes protest their arrival. Anderson strongly advocates the visitor's rights: "The University is a place where freedom of expression should be one of our greatest priorities. We should allow anyone to visit Harvard whenever...
...second job of the University Marshal is to send Harvard delegates to domestic and foreign universities which are installing new presidents. Often President Bok was invited to the inauguration ceremonies, but was unable to attend. Anderson would then secure a Harvard representative to go in place of Bok: often it was a former academic colleague of the new president, or an alumnus from the area. The delegate usually returned, delighted because he led the procession--which, according to Anderson, always goes in the order of the founding year of the institutions represented...
When the University Marshal is not chatting with Harvard's international colleagues, he is organizing and preparing for the academic exercise for Commencement Day--the culmination of the intellectual part of Harvard's year. "I [was] ordered to 'run' the Commencement." Anderson says, explaining the extent of the organizing feat: "There are 19,000 seats in Tercentenary Theatre and 27,000 people who wish to come, so there is a space problem." In addition to taking constant notes for next year's event, the marshal marches in the scholarly procession that morning, dressed in academic gown, and awards the dozen...