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‘This is a moment our generation is going to remember for a lifetime’

As President Barack Obama was sworn into office in Washington, D.C., Boston University students skipped classes and rearranged schedules to watch the historic occasion on campus. In Metcalf Hall, 1,300 students gathered in the morning to watch Obama take oath and listen to BU professors speak of the occasion.

‘Even though I had class at noon, I felt the vibe on campus and wanted to come down,’ College of Engineering sophomore Abena Kwakyi said. ‘It was a historic day.” ‘ ‘

The Rev. Dale Andrews, who is the BU Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, addressed the excitement on campus, asking students to ‘check their pulse,’ because they were experiencing ‘the pulse of life and time.’

Andrews spoke of the significance of Obama’s inauguration as the first black president of the United States. He spoke of abolitionist and freed slave Frederick Douglass, and how he questioned the nature of the Fourth of July and how the Declaration of Independence asserted that ‘all men are created equal,’ yet slavery was legal.

Andrews said the country did not truly shake the shackles of slavery and racism until centuries after July 4, 1776.

‘It was not the Fourth of July, but rather the 4th of November,’ Andrews said. ‘On the 4th of November 2008, democracy was born.’

Assistant political science professor Doug Kriner told the Daily Free Press that he sees a connection between Obama’s historic transition day and the inauguration Kriner experienced when he was 13 years old, when President Bill Clinton took office.

‘This is much like Clinton’s inauguration after the election in 1992,’ he said. ‘He was entering office with a bad economy and the country at war.’

Kriner said he also sees similarities between Obama’s visions of change and former President Franklin Roosevelt’s visions in terms of the economic climate. He said he thinks Americans will embrace Obama’s agenda as they did Roosevelt’s post-depression New Deal plan to spark economic growth.

‘Americans are being reasonable with the time they are willing to give the new administration to accomplish change,’ he said.

While watching Obama’s inauguration, some attendees began to cry. When Obama finished reciting his oath, the crowd responded with cheers and a standing ovation.

The crowd filled Metcalf Hall to capacity, but other students watched from screens set up throughout the George Sherman Union. College of Arts and Sciences senior Chantal Hernandez was one of these students. She said she thinks this day will be important in the future of politics, ‘especially for minorities.’

‘This day is special because it is the first time a non-Caucasian person has been president,’ she said. ‘As a Hispanic, that is nice to see. Hopefully it will continue, maybe [with] a Latino or Asian president.’

Assistant to the Dean of Students Katherine Hasenauer said the Office of the Dean of Students organized the screening for students who were unable to make it back to their dormitories, and for employees who were unable to view the inauguration in their offices.

CAS professors were encouraged to bring their classes to the ballroom as well.

‘BU students are very politically aware,’ she said. ‘This can be seen in the large number of students who got involved in the campaigns and during Coffee and Conversation with Dean Elmore.’

Andrews encouraged students to celebrate the occasion, but also to remember to remain grounded.

‘Today’s the day we’re stepping into a vision,’ Andrews said. ‘We will dance in the streets tonight and rise up tomorrow.’

Students carried their excitement into the night, as 150 students gathered in the Howard Thurman Center for an Inaugural Evening Soiree.

Although the celebration honored Obama’s achievement, student ambassadors said the gathering also commemorated the youth vote participation.

‘This is a historic election not just for Barack Obama but also for the youth vote,’ Thurman Center student ambassador Jonathan Priester said.

During the actual inauguration, the Thurman Center hosted about 100 people to view the proceedings, Priester, a College of Communication junior, said.

CAS freshman Karen Zepeda, who watched the inauguration from her dormitory with her floormates, said she enjoyed listening to Obama’s speech.

‘He always talks about change, and that’s what we wanted,’ she said.

CAS sophomore Josiah Fowler said he is optimistic for the future and the change Obama promised during the election.

‘I feel like change is going to come,’ he said. ‘[The inauguration] definitely gave people a sign of hope.’

Thurman Center student ambassador Alexandria Lafci said although the inauguration was a historical moment, Obama needs to get down to business.

‘This is a moment our generation is going to remember for a lifetime,’ Lafci, a CAS sophomore. ‘He was speaking of the times we are in [because] we all know tomorrow, he has so much to deal with.’

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