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Elation and Hope

President Barack Obama's Inauguration, says ILR student Alyssa O'Connor '12, "was like nothing I had ever seen before -- the enthusiasm of the people all around you, it was so amazing to see thousands of people cheering and screaming and hugging each other."

O'Connor has been in Washington, D.C., this week with hundreds of other university students participating in a five-day program sponsored by the University Presidential Inaugural Conference.

She recounted her Inauguration Week experiences in interviews.

What was the highlight of the week?

"It's the cumulative experience, especially hearing the president's speech and the reactions of the crowd. The most memorable part was the president's speech. He definitely delivered. It was very inspirational.

Did anything about the events surprise you?

"I was a little surprised by how brutal the crowd was at some moments. When they were introducing some of the past presidents at the Inauguration, both the Bushes got pretty loud boos. I thought that was a little discouraging. It was pretty loud. I thought it was out of place."

Just how crowded was the National Mall?

"There has to be at least three million people at the national mall.  We were sardines, stuck in the National Mall, person to person, we could not move."

What was security like?

"It was kind of like going through airport security. The Secret Service checked one person at a time and there were thousands of people at each entrance to the National Mall. We went there at midnight and we ended up going onto the mall around 8 a.m. It was something out of an action movie – police on bicycles, motorcycles, absolutely everywhere, and helicopters circling overhead."

The weather?

"It was bitter cold, but coming from Ithaca, I knew what to expect. It was 20 degrees at 4 a.m. Homeland Security provided 'warming buses' outside the mall. They were inconspicuous, parked buses, with the heat on. You could sit there as long as you wanted to."

Can you describe the mood of the crowd?

"Energetic and full of excitement. I attended the concert at the Lincoln Memorial.  Musical artists Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, Usher, Stevie Wonder, Shakira and Garth Brooks performed. Though there were 800,000 other people standing in the cold, cramped together with me, everyone was elated and gracious. People were singing, dancing and celebrating."

What are you hearing from others in the crowd and what do their remarks reflect?

"Real hope for the future. Everyone I have talked to or heard, Republican, Democrat, conservative or liberal, truly believes that our country can fix the problems it faces by working together. Our keynote speakers at the conference, General Colin Powell and former Vice-President Al Gore, echoed these statements."

The other students in your group -- what are they saying about the new administration?

"Many are excited for the Obama administration, but recognize the enormous issues President Obama will have to deal with.  There has to be a point where the rhetoric ends and the action begins."

Can you give some examples of the congestion in Washington? 

"At the Lincoln Memorial concert, people were in every possible place – it was packed with people from shoulder to shoulder, from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument. The Metro hasn't been too bad at far-off stops in the mornings, but around the time of the concert, the lines at the Smithsonian stop to buy Metro passes had 20 to 30 people waiting in each and subway cars were totally full -- little room to even stand."

What was the most exciting sight you saw on Monday?

"I was able to attend, by chance, the bipartisan dinner held by Barack Obama for Senator McCain. I took pictures of Senator McCain and Senator Lieberman. I arrived after Obama spoke, but I heard McCain, who profoundly told the crowd that 'we are not enemies, but compatriots.' I also saw Patti LaBelle sing."

What other national figures have you seen?

"Our group heard Colin Powell and former Vice-President Al Gore speak. General Powell discussed leadership, using military metaphors to teach us that there are no excuses, that we should focus on the future while still learning lessons from the past and that true leadership is helping followers, not helping one's self. Al Gore discussed the three major problems the United States faces: the economy, the two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the climate crisis. The common thread between the three problems is dependence on carbon-based fuels, and we need to invest in alternative energy to combat this. He was a very dynamic speaker and really enthralled the crowd."

What are the most popular souvenirs?

"On the streets, people are selling everything from Obama air fresheners to calendars. The most popular articles seem to be shirts or pins."

Did you buy any?

"So far, I bought an Obama pin that says 'Yes We Did' and a T-Shirt that has Shepard Fairey's iconic Obama portrait on it."

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