LORMAN — Despite the challenges confronting Alcorn State, its commitment to Southwest Mississippi will remain unchanged, President George E. Ross told the crowd during his inaugural address Friday afternoon.

Faculty, students, school administrators, alumni and state officials gathered to commemorate the inauguration of the school’s 17th president in its 137-year history.

It was a celebration filled with music, speeches and ceremony as the crowd officially installed Ross as Alcorn’s newest leader.

Alcorn State University innaugurates George Ross as its 17th president. Click here for slideshow

Amid the celebration Ross laid out his vision for the university — a vision based on a commitment of integrity — not just to the university but to the entire region.

“Alcorn State University is the epicenter for economic, social and cultural development in Southwest Mississippi and Northeast Louisiana,” Ross said. “This will continue to be a priority.”

This commitment will not change, Ross said.

“In these tough economic times, in these politically charged and competitive times, difficult choices lie ahead,” Ross told the crowd. “Alcorn will be tested.”

Despite the challenges Ross said that his administration was committed to an Alcorn based on fairness, openness and integrity.

“I believe that it is this culture of integrity that will bind us together, and more importantly deepen our sense of community so that we can all be advocates of this university together,” Ross said.

Ross took the helm of the university in January. Since then faculty and students have witnessed first-hand Ross’s vision.

University Faculty Senate President Dickson Idusuyi told Ross Friday afternoon that his presidency was the start of a new era.

“What we witness today is not just history, but the beginning of a new day, the beginning of a new chapter for Alcorn State University,” he said.

For many years, Idusuyi said that everything happening at the school was about those leading from the top floors of the school’s administration building.

When Ross took office thing changed significantly.

“It is not about the fourth floor. It is not about fifth floor. It is not about the sixth floor,” he said. “It’s about students. It’s about faculty. It’s about alumni; it’s also about community,” Idusuyi said.

“For so long I have always thought it was about the sixth floor,” he said in his address.

That is the type of commitment to fairness and openness that is critical to his administration, Ross said.

“We at Alcorn must remember that it is our responsibility to first and foremost maintain access to our university. The dream of the opportunity to attend our colleges and universities must not be allowed to fade,” Ross said.

“I am confident that Alcorn State University without question will reach its destiny and find its place among the nation’s great universities.”

“Alcorn, these are challenging times, but these are times to seize our opportunities. Alcorn, these are times to reflect on our past, but more importantly times to dream and act on our future. And finally, these are times to make a choice and we at Alcorn will choose greatness.”