Millions from across the nation descended on the National Mall to watch history unfold Tuesday and with students and faculty flying out to join those already there for the Washington D.C. Internship Program Pepperdine was certainly not without its representation in the crowd of two million.
Pepperdine School of Law’s Douglas Kmiec professor of constitutional law and advisor to Obama’s presidential campaign was especially privileged with proximity to the new president during inauguration festivities. Following a national day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Kmiec and his wife Carol attended a private worship service with Obama on Tuesday morning as well as the Illinois inaugural ball in the evening.
Additionally Kmiec who has also served as legal counsel under Presidents Ronald Reagan and Herbert Walker Bush confirmed that Obama may be considering appointing him to the position of Vatican Emissary.”The President is nowhere close to determining such things because of the order of events … everyone’s first order of business is economic recovery Kmiec said. At the appropriate time when diplomatic relations through the State Department need to be addressed I think my name would be part of the discussion.”
Students who interned on Capitol Hill or participated in Pepperdine’s D.C. program were most likely to make the trip back East for the inauguration ceremonies.
Senior Sara Ward served as an intern for Obama in the Senate last summer. The combination of her internship efforts and her mother’s position as a superdelegate helped grant her access to not only the inauguration but also the celebrations that followed including her choice of the 10 Inaugural balls.Ward acknowledged the historic nature of the event but noticed a greater emotion.
“Everyone seemed … even more enthusiastic about the future possibilities of restoring certain aspects of our great nation Ward wrote from D.C. in an email to the Graphic. The atmosphere was charged with people excited about a new hope for Americans and ready for a change in governance. There was such a positive communal feeling of support and mutual understanding.”
Kristi Bansemer a senior attended the inauguration with Ward. “The National Mall was filled with the most passionate and joyful people … making friends with those around them and staying warm dancing the electric slide Bansemer said. President Obama’s speech was less fiery than I expected but it certainly set a tone of diplomatic effort changes in domestic policy determination and of course a ‘unity of purpose.'”
Junior Katie Hyten’s summer internship with Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo helped her secure tickets to the inauguration.
The amount of consideration the crowd displayed for others impressed Hyten.
“When you were in gridlock people would let kids or people in wheelchairs by them even if it meant they would get somewhere later Hyten said. Even the volunteers were so excited at 6:30 in the morning.”
Kmiec observed the same sentiments.
“[One could see] the good will of smiles and joyful tears in the eyes of strangers who seemed more like distantly located friends renewing a valued friendship Kmiec wrote in a blog for the online Graphic from the inauguration.During Obama’s speech, the crowd of two million fell silent, Hyten said.
That’s how amazing his speech was – you can’t even describe it in words Hyten said. The hope in the air was unlike anything I’d ever expected.”
Meanwhile on the other side of the nation Pepperdine students and faculty filled the Waves Café to watch Obama take the oath of office and then erupted in cheers when he was announced for the first time as the president of the United States.Co-President of the Black Student Association (BSA) Kendria Smith was emotional as she watched Obama take the oath of office.
“It was hard to hold back the tears. I was overwhelmed with joy – this has been a long time coming Smith said. It’s been amazing … [seeing] the atmosphere here at Pepperdine with the administration doing a great job making sure this is known throughout the campus and we recognize … the first African-American President.”
Tuesday afternoon Smith and her BSA co-president Carmelle Nesbit introduced Gary Selby communication professor and David Holmes English and humanities professor as they led a discussion and reflection in the Fireside Room concerning the historical significance of America’s first African-American president.
Holmes said his experience growing up as an African American during the civil rights movement gave Obama’s election particular significance for him as proof to the progress of the nation.
“The closest I came to seeing my father cry occurred when I was six years old … during the funeral of Martin Luther King [Jr.] Holmes said. I believe that he would have cried on Nov. 4 the same restrained yet cathartic celebratory tears that he cried for Dr. King.”
Selby shared his optimism for our nation.
“It is an amazing and remarkable moment we have seen he said. In fifty years we have gone from a nation in which if you were black trying to register to vote could get you killed to a nation that has elected a black man to the highest office in the land – that has to mark a dramatic historical cultural shift.
“We have a way to go on the path toward racial reconciliation and healing Selby concluded. But by the grace of God look how far we’ve come.”