This spring’s Commencement ceremonies will offer even more pomp and circumstance thanks to Metropolitan State University of Denver’s newly designed ceremonial mace carried by Liz Goodnick, Ph.D., Faculty Senate president, in the Spring 2024 Commencement ceremonies.
The project of establishing MSU Denver’s mace began while Graham Ignizio, Ph.D., professor of Spanish and Hispanic Studies, served as faculty fellow. Ignizio said that the mace serves a variety of purposes including symbolizing tradition and academic excellence.
“By adopting this tradition, MSU Denver reaffirms its commitment to scholarly pursuits, excellence in teaching, and the importance of higher education in Colorado,” Ignizio said. “The mace not only connects us to our academic heritage but also enhances the ceremonial experience for our students, faculty, staff, administrators and guests.”
Historical significance
The mace, a ceremonial staff, has been used to represent power and authority at the beginning of ceremonies throughout history. The symbolism of the University mace is closely related to the parliamentary mace. The staff is brought into the ceremony when the “power” of the University enters (in this case, the Board of Trustees), and it leaves the ceremony when the “power” of the University exits.
“The mace serves as a symbol of unity and shared purpose within the MSU Denver community,” Ignizio said. “It fosters a sense of pride and belonging among and represents the collective efforts of all stakeholders, strengthening our institutional identity of administrators, faculty members, staff members, students and alumni in advancing the mission of the university and contributing to the success of our graduates.”
Understanding the mace design
The MSU Denver mace is uniquely designed to represent different qualities of the University. It was designed by David Klein and John Wanberg, professors in the Department of Industrial Design, with the help of students. It is also being manufactured on campus by the Advanced Manufacturing Sciences Institute.
The handle mimics an axe, representing MSU Denver’s commitment to preparing students for workforce readiness. Most important, the mace reinforces MSU Denver’s mission and CADRE values of Community, Access, Diversity, Respect and Excellence.
Community – Each part of the mace is crafted separately, and then the parts are unified to contribute to a greater whole.
Access – The handle of the mace was designed to be easily held, creating accessibility for any person.
Diversity – The mace is made up of diverse materials, representing MSU Denver’s commitment to diversity. Aluminum, wood and 3D-printed materials were used in the mace’s creation.
Respect – Each design element is appropriately and respectfully placed apart so that no one design overshadows another.
Excellence – Lastly, the mace was created with a strong commitment to attention to detail, craftmanship and finish, creating a final product of excellence.