Students plan trips to inauguration

Many people at Penn worked hard to get Barack Obama elected in November - and now they're preparing to see him sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.

Students are getting ready for next Tuesday's inauguration by traveling to Washington D.C. or taking time off from classes to watch the ceremony on campus.

This political event is the "most historic of our generation," said newly-elected Penn Democrats President and College sophomore Jordan Levine, a former Daily Pennsylvanian advertising representative .

He said it was comparable only to the rallies of history's "most exceptional leaders."

Students feel a "special connection" to the President because they "played a part in getting him elected," he added. They have "micro-ownership, in a way."

The Penn Dems organized two buses to take students to Washington, one which will depart Monday morning and one very early on Tuesday morning. Both buses will return late Tuesday night and have parking spots reserved in D.C.

All of the 80 tickets have been sold for $50 each, Levine said. Priority for these tickets went to students who volunteered for the group during the campaign.

Levine said Penn Dems is also holding events on campus to celebrate the inauguration.

The Office of the Vice Provost for University Life also awarded 23 undergraduates and 23 graduate students free seats on a bus to Washington in a lottery. The bus will leave late Monday night and come back on Tuesday.

The Undergraduate Assembly and Graduate and Professional Student Assembly assisted VPUL in organizing the trip, which has been very popular.

GAPSA Chair and School of Medicine doctorate student Andrew Rennekamp said the coordinators "wished we could send more" students and "frankly, it's going to be crazy."

GAPSA will be televising the day's events in the Graduate Student Center.

Other inauguration-day celebrations will be held around campus on Tuesday, including an event in Houston Hall that is open to all students.

Both GAPSA and UA members have expressed concerns that students will miss classes to attend inauguration events.

Tong said the UA will address the issue at its first meeting on Sunday. For now, he said, "professors individually decide" the repercussions of missing class.

He said that after the meeting, "there will be some conclusion" on the issue.

Rennekamp said GAPSA believes there is general recognition that the inauguration is a "once in a lifetime event and educational." He added that students are old enough to decide for themselves whether to miss class for the occasion.

Even students outside of the Democratic political persuasion will be celebrating the beginning of a new presidency.

Penn College Republicans Communications director, former Spin blogger and College junior Michael Tate said that while many Penn Republicans campaigned and voted for Arizona Sen. John McCain, they now support Obama.

"We plan on joining all Americans in supporting the inauguration of President Barack Obama," he said.

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