Students, faculty and staff packed McKinnon Hall on Tuesday to watch the Inauguration of President Barack Obama in a program sponsored by the Multicultural Center, the Council on Civic Engagement, the Office of Civic Engagement and Elon members of Phi Beta Kappa.
“He seems like a president I can finally relate to,” Luke Sanderford, a music theatre major from Gibsonville, N.C., said minutes before the formal ceremony. “He’s so laid back and such a good speaker.”
Students and faculty shared their enthusiasm for being a witness to American history as the first African American president was sworn in. “You can feel the spirit of the moment with history in the making,” said Lucas Lovett, a freshman from Alexandria, Va.
“Things are going to change,” said Brenna Lakeson, a freshman from Charlotte, N.C. “Hopefully we’re have a better global image and get back what we used to stand for.”
For organizers of the program, having students watch the Inauguration as a community carried added importance.
“Being part of a historical moment like this is something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives,” said Deborah Long, a professor of education and head of the Office of Civic Engagement. “It’s something they will carry with them and will probably have an impact on what they do and how they live their lives.”