A Jolly Atmosphere for the new NU President. From left to right, Fifth Ward Alderman Delores Holmes, Secong Ward Alderman Lionel Jean-Baptiste, Eighth Ward Alderman Ann Rainey, former Mayor Lorraine Morton, Third Ward Alderman Melissa Wynne, Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl, Ninth Ward Alderman Coleen Burrus, Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Tendam and Seventh Ward Alderman Jane Grover welcome new Northwestern University president Morton Schapiro and his family to Evanston at a reception last week at Boocoo.

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The atmosphere was light and excited on Oct. 6 as community and business leaders, School Board members, elected officials and City and Northwestern employees gathered at Boocoo Cultural Center on Oct. 6 to welcome Morton and Mimi Schapiro and their family to Evanston.

Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl introduced Mr. Schapiro, who on Oct. 9 was inaugurated as the 16th president of Northwestern University. “I love the Midwest,” he said, adding that living in Evanston is “fantastic.” He invited Evanston community members to avail themselves of Northwestern’s cultural and educational opportunities.

He said he thought that City-University relations, although strained at times over the past decades, have improved.

Mr. Schapiro continued, “My prediction is that [town/gown] relations are going to be a lot better in the next couple of years. … One of the secrets to a great university is to be located in a great town. … It’s important for us to support the town and important for the town to support us.”