Mace captures spirit of MSU

By Meredith Mescher

MSU will introduce its newly designed mace at the Founders' Day celebration and installation of its 20th president, Lou Anna Kimsey Simon.

Historically, the mace is a symbol of authority dating from medieval times when knights carried large clubs to protect the king during processions. It became a ceremonial symbol of peaceful leadership as maces were embellished with jewels and metals.

Today, a university's mace is carried before the president or chancellor and platform-party dignitaries during commencement, inaugural and other academic ceremonial processions.

MSU's mace was a collaborative effort by the Office of the President, designers from the Division of University Relations (UR) and representatives from Physical Plant.

“We wanted to come up with something that was intentionally simple, but representative of the university as a whole,” said Alex Parsons, a UR designer who helped design the mace.

The MSU mace includes important institutional symbols in its head, collar,and shaft. At its head is the circular university seal.

The mace's collar is trimmed with an acorn pattern carved from walnut, forming a design also found on MSU's campus entrance markers. Beaumont Tower is carved in the collar's center. The cylindrical shaft has alternating wood bands descending to a brass tip. It is 42 inches in overall length.

“The design had to be altered slightly so we could carve out what was on paper,” said Rob Wummel, a carpenter at Physical Plant.

The final design was agreed on by those involved in its conception so it would have a timeless appearance.

“What I like most about the mace is the alternating woods because the materials were actually a part of the campus landscape,” said Cindy Lounsbery, a UR designer who helped design the mace.

The oak is said to be “Beaumont oak,” from one of the original saplings surrounding College Hall, the building which once stood where Beaumont Tower now stands. Its walnut is from a tree removed to clear land for the Wharton Center for Performing Arts, which opened in 1982.

After its unveiling, the mace will become part of the traditional ceremonies at academic events.

“It's nice to have objects that are symbolic, and it was fun to be a part of something that will be part of MSU traditions,” Parsons said.

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