Welcoming Obama with unheard of interest and plenty of questions — the Hillsdale way

By RJ WALTERS and THOMAS MARCETTI / Daily News Staff Writers

[caption id="attachment_34" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Over a hundred Hillsdale College students huddled near several big-screen TVs to take in Obama's inauguration ceremonies Tuesday."][/caption]

On television sets across the nation people of all ages, races and backgrounds tuned in Tuesday to hear President Barack Obama’s inauguration speech, which focused on change and unity.

In Hillsdale County, change came in the form of people actually gathering together to watch the inauguration, some for the first time. But unity is a relative term, at least with some of the college and high school students in the area, because while some were very excited about the future of this country, many were already excited that Obama is only guaranteed four years in the Oval Office.

More than 100 students gathered in front of a pair of big-screen TVs at the Grewcock Student Union at Hillsdale College at just past noon and the overwhelming feeling at the liberal arts institution was that Tuesday was a momentous day, but maybe not one they would remember so fondly.

“I’m a bit of a conservative,” said Alex Jackson, a junior English major who is an independent and voted for McCain. “I like many of our older traditions as a country and I think he’s bringing over a lot of ideas from Europe, which might not be the best thing for our country, but that’s just from what I know.”

Nathan Lichtman, a sophomore political economy major, who is a Republican and voted for McCain said he was not exactly pleased to watch Obama be sworn-in, but thinks this election has really caught the attention of citizens who would otherwise ignore much of the political arena.

“It’s a re-building moment for our country and really it’s a moment to mellow out and realize this is what we are in store for the next four years,” he said. “I don’t think his presidency will bring much to the table, but it would behoove us to really look at who we elect in the Senate election in two years to help steer where the policy in this country goes.”

Up the road in Jonesville, some high school students tuned into the inauguration for the first time. A majority of the classrooms had monitors with the ceremonies being broadcast and more than a few students were excited about what Obama’s presidency meant.

Lauren Stephens said she was amazed by how many people went to Washington D.C. to see the ceremony, but that is not what surprised her the most. The 17-year-old said she usually does not care about politics or politicians, but Obama has changed that.

“He kept my attention,” she said.

Jonesville student Ciara Brown, 16, said Obama had a certain draw to her and many of her peers.

“He kept referring to everyone as a whole,” she said. “You could just listen to him and feel connected. You didn’t have to stop and wonder ‘what does that mean?’”

Jonesville student Aaron Thorpe said massive turnout for the ceremony was just part of a larger movement toward increased citizen involvement and several McCain supporters at the college agreed.

“It’s really an interesting time for our country. I think it’s great people are excited about our future and it’s good to at least see an interest in our government,” Jackson said. “That’s not the worst thing for our country.”

Someone with a little more political experience, Christina Miller, the university chair for College Republicans at Hillsdale College, thought the idea of everyone being so united was little more than a well-constructed mirage created in part by the media.

“5.2 out of every 10 people voted for Obama? Well, 4.7 out of every 10 voted for Bush in 2004 and look what the public perception of that was,” she said. “The media has made it sound like we are all so united at this very moment, but I don’t think that’s really the truth.”

Miller said it was hard for her to believe so many people thought it was in the best interest of our country to elect Obama, but added that he is likable and knows how to give a good speech.

“He’s a very good orator, especially when he’s reading from a script,” she said. “I felt like his (inauguration) speech was good, but kind of like recycled material he used from the campaign trail. Hope, change and moving forward — the same things we’ve heard before.”

She also said the legacy of this day will be determined by the next four years, not one speech and admitted the Republican Party should take a close look at what campaign strategies and fundraising ideas the Democrats used in this election.

An attempt to contact Carmen Wyatt-Hayes, the advisor for College Democrats at Hillsdale College was unsuccessful.