President Steven Tepper was inaugurated as Hamilton College’s 21st President on Saturday, Sept. 28. After the inauguration, a variety of food trucks graced the area between Commons and the Christian Johnson Building. Despite how it’s officially fall, the sun and the outdoor activities made the day feel like a late summer goodbye. Vendors with crepes, kettle corn and ice cream served hungry attendees. In the tent in front of Dunham, the cafeteria staff provided lunch and temporarily closed Commons.

Starting at 1 P.M., student performances showcased their talent to celebrate the college’s latest president. The Hamiltones sang previous selections from concerts past and incorporated new choices like “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” At some point during their act, most members jumped off the stage to clap with the audience. One member even dedicated “Gold Old-Fashioned Lover Boy” to President Tepper. Duelly Noted followed with songs like “ Eleanor Rigby” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” Tumbling After, Special K and Lunch Meat St. also performed just as meticulously as the other two acts.

HEAT performed around 3 P.M. for about 5 minutes. This limited performance most likely happened because the stage crew later set up for Yonic Youth. HEAT started with “Not Like Us” to truly encapsulate what made 2024 that year, as well as how Kendrick Lamar won his feud with Drake. The next songs went back to the 2000s as they danced to “Ride Wit Me” and “Boom Boom Pow” as they spun and synchronized to animate those slower songs. The crowd enthusiastically cheered for all the dancers, but they burst more decibels when President Tepper dashed onto stage. He came on during HEAT’s performance of “Gasolina.” He stood center stage as dancers made way for him to shine. They clapped along as Tepper performed a variety of dance moves. He moved side to side as he mimicked an ocean wave then transitioned to The Robot. Advertisements for the HEAT concert hinted of a special guest and speculation pointed to President Tepper. He even hinted about his dance moves last week when he delivered during his college update at the Chapel during Parents Weekend. He recalled his championship for an 11th grade Chuck E. Cheese dance. Tepper and the rest of HEAT collaborated as they moved their arms back and forth simultaneously and struck the final cross-arms pose. “HEAT was the best performance,” exclaimed an anonymous student. “Especially from President Tepper’s surprise appearance.” Another student agreed that President Tepper’s appearance contributed to the enjoyment of HEAT’s performance.

President Tepper embraced his fun side when he danced with HEAT. Even though that Saturday honored him as Hamilton’s latest president, he reflected his commitment to interacting with students and reminding them about the community Hamilton provides. These campus groups will return for future concerts and HEAT will definitely open on Class and Charter Day Concert next May. All of Saturday’s performances are equally talented, it’s just HEAT’s special guest highlighted the importance of whose day it was to celebrate. President Steven Tepper was inaugurated as Hamilton College’s 21st President on Saturday, Sept. 28. After the inauguration, a variety of food trucks graced the area between Commons and the Christian Johnson Building. Despite how it’s officially fall, the sun and the outdoor activities made the day feel like a late summer goodbye. Vendors with crepes, kettle corn and ice cream served hungry attendees. In the tent in front of Dunham, the cafeteria staff provided lunch and temporarily closed Commons.