Update 1/20/09:Members of Mary Baldwin University and the community gathered in Francis Auditoriun and the Spencer Center to witness the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama Tuesday. Cheers erupted from the crowd at several times during the ceremony and Obama’s speech, and a short panel discussion following the event shed light on Obama’s rhetoric and viewer’s personal connections to the national celebration.
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Update 1/19/09:Student Kimberley Parker ’11 was given exclusive access to inauguration activities as an alumna of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. On Sunday, she attended a speech by former Secretary of State Gen.Colin Powell; went to a discussion called Caught in the Crossfire between Democratic strategist Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson, senior political correspondent from MSNBC; and the opening celebration concert at the Lincoln Memorial.
Parker provided these glimpses from the day leading up to the inauguration: “The opening concert was the most touching and heartfelt event … It began with the National Anthem and ended with the president-elect’s passionate words. Today was just great and I cannot wait for tomorrow’s adventures.”
“There was a powerful moment when Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said that president elect Barack Obama has the type of transformational leadership style that will shape the way the country acts and feels about politics.”
Original article 1/14/09
Most of us think of the presidential inauguration as a few hours of televised ceremony and speeches, but a few members of the Mary Baldwin University community will have much more exposure during this month’s historic inauguration — which includes 10 days of events and activities. Several students, faculty, and staff told us that they are planning to make the pilgrimage to Washington DC sans tickets — just to be part of the massive crowd expected to converge to watch the swearing in of the nation’s first African-American president. But at least one Mary Baldwin alumna and two students will work and revel behind the scenes and in the spotlight of the 56th Presidential Inauguration