December 2008

CAMPUS NEWS

Students Abuzz with Plans for Inauguration

There are a few great things in American life that only come once a year.  The Superbowl, the World Series, the NCAA tournament, and the Fourth of July—all great American traditions that often give us that butterflies-in-our-stomach sort of feeling that we all know.  But once every four years, we’re privileged to enjoy something truly special: the election of our next President.

With the fervor that was sweeping the nation in the days after the 2008 Presidential election dying down, many people, especially AU students, are turning their eyes to January 20, 2009.  The election of Barack Obama comes at a historic time; as the first black U.S. President, the inauguration is sure to draw unprecedented crowds.  Inauguration day also coincides well with two other events: the Jan. 19 celebration of Martin Luther King, Junior's birthday, and the celebration of Lincoln’s Bicentennial.

I spoke to several AU students gearing up for inauguration.  Democrats and Republicans alike on campus are looking to Inauguration Day with excitement and anxiety.  Scrambling to get tickets to the inauguration, some students are afraid they might be stuck far from the action.

School of International Service sophomore Nick Dreher isn’t concerned about being close.  “I don't have any clue yet if I am going to have a ticket, but I am going to be there, without a doubt.  If I have to stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, I will be there. This is the reason I came to school in Washington, DC. Events like this are what make this city great.”

Nor will getting a ticket be a problem for Johnny Concepcion, an SPA sophomore and Air Force ROTC member.  “I don't need a ticket because I am in the military; I can go without one.”

Bruce Johnson, Kogod sophomore and District resident, has yet to attend a Presidential inauguration.  “I am a little excited, but then again, Obama is only a man. I will be more excited to see all the people there to who are concerned with their country.”

Personally, I’m not going after tickets for the inauguration, but I do plan to go and line the streets with everyone else.  A good friend from the University of Pittsburgh is coming across the state to stay with me, and a friend from back home may come as well, putting a strain on the floor space of my Centennial Hall room.  Likewise, other students across campus will surely have guests and family from out of town visiting for the occasion. 

Many guests will be staying in the dorms, and Housing and Dining is preparing for the expected influx of temporary residents.  “There are conversations happening about inauguration weekend plans for the AU campus,” says Chris Moody, director of Housing and Dining.  “We will be releasing a campus wide e-mail in early January with more information.”

Of course, it won’t just be the AU campus that sees scads of visitors: The whole city is expected to be bustling.  Metrorail and bus services are going to be packed.  Metrorail will operate rush-hour service from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will stay open until 2 a.m.  Planning for unexpected delays and long lines is going to be a must for anyone in Washington.  The Swearing-In Ceremony will be held at the U.S. Capitol Building.  The Inauguration Parade begins at the U. S. Capitol and follows Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

Kathryn Bohri, CAS sophomore, sees the upcoming inauguration as a must-see event: “The first black president, the first president with a post-cold war mentality, the first post-baby boomer generation president: It would be a crying shame not to go.”

- Ken O’Regan ’11

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