Jan. 20, 10:38 p.m.
On a day when the world's attention was focused on Washington, D.C., members of the Penn community who were unable to make the 124-mile trip could still catch the inauguration action on Penn's campus.
The University's official Presidential Inauguration Celebration Program began at 10 a.m. in Houston Hall, and eight other venues on campus also streamed live footage of the historic occasion.
Although some of the biggest crowds - and screens - were found in Houston Hall's Hall of Flags, it was more than the promise of large numbers and screens that decided where Penn students took in the festivities.
"I chose Houston Hall because I watched [Obama's] election night acceptance speech here," said College senior Ashley Barriere. "I wanted to come back here to watch things come full circle."
She added that the "electricity and emotion" generated by viewers in Houston Hall made it a day to remember.
A more studious atmosphere prevailed at the Van Pelt Library's Class of '55 Conference Room, where students were able to fit watching the inauguration around their study schedule.
"I watched the swearing-in at Houston Hall where some people were really emotional," said College sophomore Tobi Bosede. "But I needed to study this afternoon so I relocated to [Van Pelt]."
See Wednesday's Daily Pennsylvanian for more coverage of the inauguration.
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