On Tuesday, Jan. 20, Swarthmore students watched as Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th President of the United States. The inauguration was shown at the Lang Performing Arts Center, Sharples Dining Hall, McCabe Library and the Beardsley Hall Media Center. Countless other TVs and computers across campus broadcasted the swearing in ceremony to students in dorm lounges, rooms and other public spaces.
“Watching the inauguration in Sharples was fantastic,” said Michelle Walters ’12. “It was completely full and all the students gave it a very exciting atmosphere.” Students packed into the communal areas cheered as President Obama was officially sworn in by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, as the newly elected President delivered his inaugural address, and, less kindly, as former President George W. Bush was seen exiting the ceremony. “Possibly the loudest cheer of the day was for the shot of Bush after Obama had finished his speech” said Walters.
Many students began to leave Sharples and other public locations soon after President Obama’s inaugural address, missing the poem Elizabeth Alexander composed for the event and Dr. Joseph Lowery’s benediction. Many of those who stayed were suprised by Lowery’s benediction, which included the passage: “We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right.”
The inauguration was an important event for the rest of the Swarthmore community as well. Math professor Deb Bergstrand watched the ceremony at home with her family, and said in an email that, “We were moved to tears and are filled with hope and pride once again. We celebrated with cookies decorated to look like American flags.”
Others among the community traveled to Washington, D.C. to see the ceremony in person, including Vice President Maurice Eldridge ‘61.
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