UA students witness history at inauguration
Alex Lanis
Issue date: 1/23/09 Section: News
"Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end," President Barack Obama said as his inauguration speech was coming to a close.
More than a million and a half people filled the National Mall on Wednesday, according to calculations done by the information systems company IHS Jane's. Thousands more lined the streets around the mall, not because of security, but because there was just no room.
People were still trying to get out of the metro stations when Obama stumbled through his oath of office, becoming the 44th president of the United States.
Within the mass, a number of UA students attended inaugural events.
Along with the 45 students who were selected for the trip organized by the Center for Leadership and Community Engagement, several others also made the 1,200-mile trip to Washington.
"I wanted to go to D.C. not just because of our new president," said junior political science major Andrew Miles, "but it is a point in the future I can look back upon and tell my future generations that I was there; it's something I took part in."
Students who traveled to D.C. had to endure a 20-hour drive and weather conditions ranging from snow storms to just plain cold.
"I saw a guy headed in the other direction run off the road," said Santiago Mendoza, a senior biology major.
He and his friends took a northern route through Ohio, hitting heavy snow in Pennsylvania.
To add to the snow, windshield cleaner freezing was a problem. "As long as I saw the line, it was OK," Miles added.
Students who went to D.C. said the historical enormity of the inauguration was a main reason in deciding to go.
"I was hoping to witness history. I wanted the chance to actually be a part of something and say 'I was there' rather than watching it on TV." said Amber Bell, a grad student in sociology and one of the students chosen to travel with the CLCE.
"It was a once in a lifetime event. I thought I had to be there," Mendoza said.
More than a million and a half people filled the National Mall on Wednesday, according to calculations done by the information systems company IHS Jane's. Thousands more lined the streets around the mall, not because of security, but because there was just no room.
People were still trying to get out of the metro stations when Obama stumbled through his oath of office, becoming the 44th president of the United States.
Within the mass, a number of UA students attended inaugural events.
Along with the 45 students who were selected for the trip organized by the Center for Leadership and Community Engagement, several others also made the 1,200-mile trip to Washington.
"I wanted to go to D.C. not just because of our new president," said junior political science major Andrew Miles, "but it is a point in the future I can look back upon and tell my future generations that I was there; it's something I took part in."
Students who traveled to D.C. had to endure a 20-hour drive and weather conditions ranging from snow storms to just plain cold.
"I saw a guy headed in the other direction run off the road," said Santiago Mendoza, a senior biology major.
He and his friends took a northern route through Ohio, hitting heavy snow in Pennsylvania.
To add to the snow, windshield cleaner freezing was a problem. "As long as I saw the line, it was OK," Miles added.
Students who went to D.C. said the historical enormity of the inauguration was a main reason in deciding to go.
"I was hoping to witness history. I wanted the chance to actually be a part of something and say 'I was there' rather than watching it on TV." said Amber Bell, a grad student in sociology and one of the students chosen to travel with the CLCE.
"It was a once in a lifetime event. I thought I had to be there," Mendoza said.
Be the first to comment on this story