During dead week, students will have a last chance to say goodbye to President Wayne Clough before his departure in June. The Student Government Association has planned an ice cream reception to honor Tech’s outgoing president. President Clough Day will be held Monday, April 21 at the Campanile Plaza.
“When we found out early that Saturday morning that Dr. Clough was leaving, we started thinking of what we could do to honor his time at Georgia Tech… We wanted an event only for students, so we came up with the idea of doing some kind of ice cream social, keeping the atmosphere a bit more casual,” said Anu Parvatiyar, undergraduate student body president.
Aside from ice cream, students may see the Yellow Jacket marching band, Ramblin’ Wreck, cheerleaders and Buzz join them at the reception.
“There will be some remarks made by President Clough and he’ll have some time to mingle with students,” Parvatiyar said.
At 2 p.m., students will gather around President Clough in front of the Campanile for what Parvatiyar hopes will be “the largest student picture ever taken at Georgia Tech.”
“We want as many students out there as possible. We’re looking at blowing this picture up and putting it somewhere on campus. I think it will mean a lot to him,” Parvatiyar said.
“It is an opportunity for students to see him and for him to say goodbye to students,” said Brock Wester, graduate student body president.
Wester said the event will allow students to reflect and honor President Clough’s legacy.
“I’ve been here a long time, since 1999, and I’ve seen his vision of what he wanted for Tech come true. Everything from the creation and the accreditation of the graduate program I’m in, and the incredible number of capital projects that have been started and completed, to the Honors Program and the Georgia Tech Promise Program,” Wester said.
The idea for the event was conceived with the help of Communications and Marketing. Students organizing the event have also planned a surprise for President Clough.
“I’ve heard it so many times but he’s obviously the most beloved president that Georgia Tech has had. We’re very sad to see him go. We know it’s going to be a very difficult task for the next [president] to fill his shoes,” Wester said.
“He’ll always have a place at Georgia Tech,” Parvatiyar said.