Iona College may be changing, but Fall Convocation began with the traditional introduction of pipers and prayer. After that, however, not much stuck to the usual routine.

College President Joseph E. Nyre addressed the audience about the state of the college with a new question and answer format.

Before the Q&A began, Nyre discussed some of the adversities that the college is currently facing, such as the growth of the residential life program. With the growing number of residential students, the importance of accepting change is essential if the 70-year-old college wants to compete with schools that have been established for over 150 years.

“We embrace change and realize excellence is in a constant state of emergence,” said Nyre.

One of the biggest obstacles is Iona’s need for more residential living spaces.

Already 90 students reside in the Marriott Residence Inn and the Avalon East, and the number of students needing housing is expected to increase to 150 students  next year. The college is looking into short-term plans, such as renovating Rice Hall. The long-term plans, however, rely on the community’s cooperation.

Another major issue that Nyre discussed was the audit of the former provost. With the investigation still underway, Nyre did not have any specific information regarding the situation. However, he was confident in his speculation that while the college may face a short-term blow to its reputation, no accreditations will be revoked.

Nyre was also adamant in his belief that it is not the severity of the problem that counts but how one handles it. There are plans to set up an integrity committee to ensure that the situation will be handled appropriately. This will aid in transparency, as the committee will share findings of the investigation with the entire Iona community.

After answering all of the audience’s questions, the president introduced a surprise guest, Westchester County executive Robert P. Astorino.

“Westchester is New York’s intellectual capital,” Astorino said.

Although he is an alumnus of Fordham University, Astorino did not fail to show his praise of Iona College or his pride that it contributes to that intellectual capital.

Astorino’s speech instilled pride in the Iona community and inspired the crowd.

At the same time,  Nyre shared examples of specific faculty and staff members who are dedicated to the mission of Iona. One of the examples that Nyre used was Director of the Honors Program Jeanne Zaino.

Directly after, she was announced as the new interim dean of the School of Arts and Science because of her commitment to serving the needs of the college.  Zaino exemplifies the ideal devotion with which Nyre wanted to inspire everyone.

Since this was his first Convocation, Nyre made a point to answer any questions about the kind of leadership he plans to exude. He did not limit himself to any specific type of leadership. Instead, he said, “[I have]no corner on the market, just a