Students witness historic inauguration at nation's capital

The words, "I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States," marked a historic moment during President Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan. 21, and a group of Buffalo State students were at the nation's capital to witness it.

A group of approximately 50 Buffalo State students and faculty members travelled to Washington D.C. in January to take in the President's second and final inauguration.

"When President Obama started speaking, you could hear a pin drop in the audience around the screen where we were standing. It was absolutely silent," said Allison Hyman, a student on the trip. "Everyone was hooked on his words even if they were Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Liberal, it didn't matter. Everyone was respecting him and listening to what he had to say."

The trip was organized by College Council student representative Muhammed Sumbundu and sponsored by the offices of Campus Life, Student Life, and the vice president for student affairs, Hal D. Payne.

"This experience was a true testament for me that dreams do come true. You can always find possibility in the impossible," Sumbundu said. "When we first came up with the idea to have our students go to the inauguration, it seemed so impossible but by having a wonderful team, this trip became a reality. It reinforces my commitment to want to pursue my goals to become a politician some day."

The experience of Inauguration Day in Washington left a similar impact on Christina Gervis, another student who went on the trip.

"I think that if you put your mind to it, you could get anything," Gervis said. "People didn't even think Barack Obama was going to get a second term and then believe it or not, he got a second term."

Students left for the nation's capital around midnight on Sunday, Jan. 20, and returned late on Jan. 21. Some students expressed their excitement as they were getting ready to leave.

Nancy Opoku was one of the students who was able to vote for the first time last year, and she voted for President Obama.

"It completes the whole thing," she said. "It's not just voting, it's actually seeing him, so I'm pretty excited."

Opoku said her biggest wish was to see the president in person.

"If I could get a chance to shake his hand, it will make my year complete," Opoku said. "If everything else goes bad, at least I'll know I shook the president's hand."

Azda Beda, a communications student who had never been to Washington before, was also excited about the experience.

"I'm looking forward to other people's reactions, talking to people and hearing their stories of how they got there," she said. "I think that's really exciting, and then the moment of truth when the president comes out."

After an eight-hour bus ride, the students and faculty members safely reached the RFK Stadium in Washington. They then walked for about three hours to the non-ticket holder area near the Washington Monument, at times being tightly squeezed in a crowd of thousands of people also eager to witness the last inauguration of President Obama.

"I was dreading the cold, I was dreading the crowd but the experience was worth it," said Suzeanna Stewart, academic advisor for the Educational Opportunity Program at Buffalo State.

"A tear came to my eye when I saw all the flags," Stewart added. "Every time we would throw the flags in the air and throw them side to side, I was proud to say I'm an American. It was so beautiful to see red, white, and blue."

The theme of this year's inauguration was "Faith in Americans' Future," which was reinforced through President Obama's speech.
"America's possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands: youth and drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention. My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it - so long as we seize it together," he said.
 

President Obama's speech was followed by a Kelly Clarkson performance, a poem reading by first Latino Inaugural poet Richard Blanco, an inauguration prayer by Latino Episcopal priest Luis Leon, and the singing of the National Anthem by Beyonce.
 

"I'm truly grateful for the opportunity that they've given us as students," said Melissa Noel, a senior studying criminal justice. "Not a lot of schools and university give this opportunity to their students so I hope that continues for other people in the future."
 

"This was an experience that students will take away and remember for the rest of their life," said student Molly Lundquist.
 

Maria Yankova can be reached by email at yankova.record@live.com.