UIndy witnesses history
By Stephanie Snay | Staff Writer
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president and first African-American president of the United States. Millions of people witnessed this historic event, including some members of the University of Indianapolis community. Junior visual communication design major Kandice Casey attended the inauguration with her father in Washington, D.C., and had tickets to the “Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball,” one of many inaugural balls. “I am very excited to go, because I’ve never experienced anything of this magnitude,” Casey said prior to the event. Sophomore international relations major Sarah Haefner, who currently has an internship in Washington, also attended the inauguration ceremony. “So many people were beaming as they literally witness history in the making and many were even crying,” Haefner said. Freshman Bianca Davila drove nine and a half hours with friends and slept in her car so she could witness the historical moment. “It was probably the most memorable day of my life,” Davila said. The inauguration drew a large crowd, an estimated 1.5 million people, on the National Mall.“They were not prepared to have that many people in D.C.,” Davila said. “People were ripping down gates and throwing them.”
The U.S. senator in charge of the Congressional Inaugural Committee, Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), said during an interview with CNN that there were significant problems handling the masses that kept thousands of people with valid tickets from viewing the inauguration. “I’ve never seen that many people in one location,” Davila said. “It was like ‘March of the Penguins’.” Davila also said many celebrities were among the masses. “We turned around and saw Samuel L. Jackson,” Davila said. Davila and Casey both stressed how cold the weather was during the event, remaining in the upper 20s throughout the day. “We were walking in and out of big throngs of people to stay warm,” Davila said. Casey, Davila and Haefner describe Obama’s inauguration as inspiring, moving and well worth it. “So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled,” Obama said in his inaugural address.
Washington was not the only place where people gathered to celebrate Obama’s inauguration. A viewing party was held in Schwitzer Student Center for UIndy students. The MoveOn political organization also held many inaugural bashes in Indianapolis. Some were held at Lockerbie Pub, O’Reilly’s Irish Pub and Restaurant and on the corner of 14th and Capitol. Jan. 20, 2009 was a history-making date and one that Casey said profoundly affected her.
“Being in D.C. was a great experience because we were surrounded by millions of people coming to witness this day and be a part of history,” Casey said. “There were just so many people, it was pretty crazy but mostly everyone was very nice.“People who didn’t even know each other were coming together and being friendly with one another.” Casey, Davila and Haefner all said they were proud to have attended Obama’s inauguration.
“I got to be a part of history and got to experience so many good things and be around millions of different people coming together to witness Obama’s inauguration, “ Casey said. “I think it was so much more exciting than staying at home and just watching it on TV. Just the atmosphere that was created by all of the people and that day was amazing. Now I can say that I was there when Barack Obama became president.”
