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Historic Rendering of C.W. Post Campus Mace to be Donated to Long Island University Brookville, N.Y. – On May 11, 2008, the original artist’s rendering of the C.W. Post Campus mace will be donated to Long Island University by alumni Arthur Beltrone at the Campus’ 50th Commencement exercises. Commissioned by the Class of 1963, and created by renowned French artist Pierre Van Parys Bourdelle, the beautifully crafted walnut, brass and nickel mace has been carried at every C.W. Post Commencement by the platform marshal for 35 years. Beltrone of Keswick, VA, president of the Class of 1963, has preserved the original artist’s rendering of the mace and will present it to C.W. Post’s Provost, Dr. Joseph Shenker, at a special ceremony on graduation day. The idea for creating a mace was suggested in 1963 by then dean of students Fred DeMarr and quickly embraced by the class officers as a chance to establish a tradition for the young C.W. Post College. “We entered C.W. Post in the fall of 1959, just after the very first graduating class had departed,” said Beltrone. “The college was still in its infancy, and students actively worked to create programs that would become legacies for future students. After all, we were all ‘Pioneers.' The creation of the mace became another important part of the growing traditions.”
Historically, the use of a mace dates to the middle ages and was carried before or placed near a magistrate or other dignitary as a sign of authority. Once a fierce battle weapon, the mace began losing its warlike image centuries ago when it started to become a symbol of peaceful leadership. The C.W. Post mace will be carried at C.W. Post's Commencement by the new platform marshal Roger Goldstein, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Political Science/International Studies. Dr. Goldstein will be at the front of the platform party, leading Long Island University President David Steinberg, members of the University Board of Trustees, C.W. Post administrators, honorary degree recipients and other distinguished persons into the commencement tent. About Art Beltrone Art Beltrone was the president of the Class of 1963. After graduating from C.W. Post he went to work as a reporter for Newsday and served in the Marine Corps Reserve in Garden City. He later joined the public relations department of the former Republic Aviation Division of Fairchild-Hiller in Farmingdale. In 1977, Mr. Beltrone and his wife, Lee, moved to Virginia, where they ran an historical military artifact company that worked with museums in the United States and abroad. Mr. Beltrone has served as a military film consultant, and with his wife has written two military history books, "A Wartime Log," published in 1995, and "Vietnam Graffiti: Messages from a Forgotten Troopship," published in 2004. The couple founded the Vietnam Graffiti Project in 1997 and are the curators of the nationally traveling exhibit--"Marking Time: Voyage to Vietnam."Posted: April 9, 2008 |
The son of French sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, Pierre Bourdelle had studied under master sculptor Auguste Rodin. He was serving as C.W. Post's artist-in-residence when Beltrone approached him to create the campus' first official mace. Using silver, gold and green oil paint, Bourdelle created a 7-inch by 21-inch rendering on a maroon background and signed his name in the bottom right corner. Once the rendering was approved by the class officers and Dean DeMarr, Bourdelle went to work sculpting the mace. The wood staff features a brass plate that bears the inscription: “Presented to C.W. Post College by the Class of 1963 with best wishes to those who will follow in the future, the tradition of the Pioneer.” | Long Island University | C.W. Post Campus |