Inside

Section A
It's only the beginning; and loving the president.

First black president

What Obama's win means to black America; and a UT student's art exhibit.

UT falls at Akron
Rockets lose 47-30 against the Zips; and Savage Arena nears completion.

Todays weather

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Thursday, November 6, 2008

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Election reflection: from Chicago to UT

We have a lot of faith in our fellow students to get out and vote, and they did that all across the state and all across the country.
Jon Sustar Vice President, College Democrats

Issue 20

Citizens voice their hopes in Chicago, others warn change won't happen overnight
By Joe Griffith and Melissa Chi News Editors

Being a McCain supporter, I'm disappointed but not surprised. Its shocking that Obama took the entire Northeast.
Zach Graham Junior, Accounting

We did everything we could, and it didnt go our way, but Im really not that discouraged by it.
Matt Rubin Chairman, College Republicans

It feels great to know that we can actually do good in this world now. It's amazing that we have a shot at this a new economy, a new world.
Jamie Shute Freshman, Ohio University

HICAGO Born and bred in Chicago, a woman said she hugged her first white person at the base of a shady tree on the north side of Grant Park; a night neither she nor history will likely forget. I hugged a white person for the first time today in my life, and a white person hugged me back, and I dont think they [were] afraid to hug me, said Linda Stevens, 39. They didnt think I was going to go in their pocket or snatch their purse or nothing like that. It feels good. The rally for Barack Obama in Chicagos Grant Park was attended by about 240,000 people. By 7:30 p.m., the line for ticket holders had merged with non-ticket holders, engulfing the sidewalk of South Michigan Avenue and stretching three

blocks away from the entrance to Grant Park. I heard there will be one million people here today, said Isaac Qurashi, a student from the University of Illinois, Chicago. Ive never seen what a million people would look like. This is awesome, too, because its setting a pioneer way for history, because its the first person of ethnicity to be in for president, said Molly Feldman, a junior majoring in retail and marketing at Michigan State University While some came for the historical experience, others came expecting victory. Im here with the assumption that Obama will win, and I want to be a part of it and be here in person, said Hilary Dobel, graduate student in humanities at the University of Chicago.
Chicago, Page A3

Families share historic night, look to Obama to ease education costs

By Joe Griffith News Editor

Courtesy of MCT Campus

CHICAGO While tens of thousands of Obama supporters waited hours to enter Chicagos Grant Park on election night, one father puffed a cigar in the company of his son on a park bench overlooking the masses of people who lined South Michigan Avenue. I think that I know I will look back at this, and Im hoping he will look back at this being a tremendously historic event, said Tom Stevens, 53. Hes going to be able to say he was here to see it and he was here with us to see it. Stevens and his wife drove five hours from Michigan on Tuesday to spend election night with their 20-year-old son Chad Stevens, a junior at Columbia University majoring in film. We drove five hours to be here, to do this with our son and to see this event, Tom Stevens said.

Although three-hour lines and a busy class schedule prevented Chad Stevens from voting in the election, he and his family were determined to revel in the historic environment. Its the first time a black man would ever become president, Chad Stevens said. Its something that people talked about would never happen now everything changed. The whole worlds flipped around. Although the Stevens have always been a liberal family, the countrys current economic crisis has caused the parents to question how theyll support their sons higher education, and theyre looking to Obama for answers. We thought wed be able to get [loans] through Columbia, but with what has happened, even in the last six months, weve had to look at loans to get him through school, and that was not something we had
Families, Page A3

UT students react to election U

By Joe Griffith News Editor

T students shared mixed emotions and predictions for the future of the country and Presidentelect Barack Obama as his victory solidified Tuesday night. As the votes were being counted, around 200 students made their way to and from the Campus Activities and Programming-sponsored election coverage in Rockys Attic in the Student Union Building. I was anticipating the outcome, said Krystal Weaver, CEO of CAP, regarding the election. I wasnt surprised. Although many students said they werent stunned by the elections outcome, some were more amazed by what states each candidate won.

Being a McCain supporter, I'm disappointed but not surprised, said Zach Graham, a junior majoring in accounting. Its shocking that Obama took the entire Northeast. Throughout the election, UT students and college students across the country volunteered their time to both candidates campaigns. The fact that we also won Ohio makes me really excited just because we invested so much time into this campaign, said Jon Sustar, vice president for UTs College Democrats. We have a lot of faith in our fellow students to get out and vote, and they did that all across the state and all across the country. Although the work of UT Republican students did not end in a McCain victory, College Republicans Chairman Matt Rubin said the results still served an important pur-

pose. We did everything we could, and it didnt go our way, but Im really not that discouraged by it, he said. If anything, were getting stronger because of the election. Throughout the campaign process, politicians predicted the color of Obamas skin would ultimately stop Americans from voting for him. Its good to see that America could overcome the racial issue, said Seth Shaffer, who graduated UT two years ago and majored in film production and theater performance. I did not want Palin to be president because I dont think McCain would have lived out this term. Palin was ditsy and fake. Other students said they believe uneducated voters focused solely on Obamas skin color. I think it had a lot to do

with race, said Brittany Macre, a freshman majoring in pharmacy. Instead of the issues, I don't think a lot of people even know his views. [Voters] just voted for him because of his race. Obama supporters said they anticipated he will follow through with his promises, but some think it will take time before these changes become apparent. I dont think it will be a very quick change, said Matthew Kroll, a junior majoring in accounting. If it happens, it will be a gradual process, and maybe well see results later in his term.
Students react, Page A3

Online and Active

Have thoughts about the historic election of Barack Obama? Leave them on our board.

Joseph Herr / IC

Josh Neuroth, a sophomore majoring in business, tallies results from a poll of students in Rockys Attic on what their predictions were for the election.

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Thursday, November 6, 2008

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Families From Page A1

planned on, Tom Stevens said. My business is hurting, all the businesses are hurting and so yeah, it trickles down to [Chad] and what we can do for him. The Stevens werent the only family casting their vote and faith in Obama in the hopes of easing the economic struggles of sending a child to college. Chicago librarian Lani Rainge and her son Jamie Shute, a freshman at Ohio University majoring in sports management, packed into Grant Park with a handheld television to monitor the election results. As the clock struck 10:06 p.m., Rainges face grew bright from the televisions glow as she cheered the 297 to 145 electoral votes to the surrounding crowd. As the realization of Obamas victory set in, Rainge celebrated alongside her son. Its fabulous, she said. Its something that was a long time coming, but its so very sweet. You cant top this. There are no words I can describe this. While Rainge volunteered for the Obama campaign in Indiana, Shute campaigned for him at OU. I let him come home just for this, so I felt that he deserved it since he worked at school, Rainge said. He worked for [Obama] really hard. For Shute and his mother, Obama represents a possibility for a brighter economic future. It feels great to know that we can actually do good in this world now, he said. Its amazing that we have a shot at this a new economy, a new world. As Rainge and Shute cele-

brated a new world for their family, another mother and father cheered for the bright future they hope Obama will bring to their daughter. Gail Eddy and her husband were at the rally to support Obama and the hope they think he symbolizes for America. [Obama] represents everything Ive ever hoped for in our country, Eddy said. Eddy and her husband grew up in the 60s. They can remember traveling through the southern United States while their black friends hid under blankets to avoid violent racial confrontations, she said. My husband and I both lived during the 60s and all the horrible parts of that era, and weve never felt like there was anybody that could ever pick up the torch that was dropped off way back then and run with it, she said. Obama wont be producing miracles or changing the economic status of America overnight, she said, but she is optimistic about Obamas plans for higher education. Our daughter is a participant in a place core program; she got her master's program by serving inner-city students in California, Eddy said. What [Obamas] idea is for a lot of kids [is] to be able to get money to go to college to get whatever profession you want to be. In return for the financial assistance for a higher education, college students would repay their community or their government through military or community service, Eddy said. Obamas educational plan for college students will benefit Americas youth, she said, and thats why Eddy voted Obama for her own daughter and the countrys youth. watched election coverage with others at a friends house, and her friends cheered as Obamas win was announced. There was a lot of yelling and happiness, she said. I was pretty excited; everyone I was with was going crazy for Obama. Some said time shouldnt be spent celebrating the election results; instead, they think Obama should use the momentum to produce real change. People have to get over the novelty of his victory, because there are very serious issues that need to be addressed like the econ-

Chicago From Page A1

As the night went on, the ocean of Obama supporters flooded over the parks entrance bridges and into the northern half of Grant Park, even filling the corner of surrounding streets South Columbus Drive and East Jackson Drive. The masses huddled tightly together to move as close as possible to several large projection screens for a glimpse of Obama. Other spectators climbed trees and street lights to snap photos of the crowd. I dont think Ive ever seen a response like this to a presidential election this seems bigger and larger than anything thats ever happened before, said Caitlin Wojtkowski, a graduate student at MSU in student affairs and administration. Diamond Booker, a junior majoring in English at the University of Memphis drove eight hours from Tennessee. I cried [when they announced the results], she said. I mean, our president is Obama [There is going to be] a better economy, a better place for people to stay, people like us, middle class people who cant afford much; I just want to see a better America. Along with the emotional optimism and cheer from many supporters at the rally, some used what they characterized as the failures of the Bush administration to question Obamas ability to enact change. Im hoping that hes able to get things accomplished, which George Bush wasnt able to do, said Ben Spath from the University of Northern Iowa. Nick Firchau, 29, said its going to take time before the country sees Obamas change in effect. Its going to be a while just because things are so infirmly entrenched right now, he said. Regardless of the entrenched condition of American politics, the House and Senate, now both controlled by Democrats, will have an effect on the implementation of Obamas policies, 29-yearold Jeremy Schnitker said. omy and the two wars were in, said Steve Pierson, a senior majoring in construction engineering technology. Despite voter optimism for change, some students remain skeptical. Its impossible to change the condition of Amer-

Emil Whitis / IC

People gather Tuesday near Grant Park in Chicago, the site of Barack Obama's victory celebration, to watch the election results and hear Obama speak. While some celebrated Obamas victory by dancing to the tune of Stevie Wonders, Signed, Sealed, Delivered, Im Yours, other supporters remained poised on political ideologies. We dont need bailouts, we need people to work and be great people again and hopefully bring out the best, and there will be more jobs for people, said Troy York, a recent graduate from the University of Northern Iowa. Among the constructive debates and political conversations of skeptical Obama supporters, at least one McCain advocate decided to attend the rally. I dont think [Obama] has realistic ideas on how to fix those issues or how to respond to those problems, said Patrick Callahan, a first year law student at DePaul University College of Law, Chicago. According to Callahan, McCain has a better understanding of the countrys policies, the adequate knowledge to respond to terrorism threats and more realistic expectations on how to provide healthcare. ica, said Bridget Tarjent, a junior majoring in biology. Its hard to say, Schaffer said. Im afraid hell spend so much time cleaning up Bushs mess that we wont be able to see any change he wants to implement. Even if I disagree with [Obama], its a pretty historic event, he said. I think a lot of people are falling for his charisma, Schnitker said. A lot of people are tired, certainly of the Bush administration, but Republicans in general. Caitlan McMahon, 24, from Chicago said she thinks Republicans may have been swayed in the other direction. I think a lot of people from a Republican standpoint can honestly say that they feel that they may share some likeness and ideas with him its not about division anymore, she said. After Obama secured the presidential election, a third political group emerged on the streets of Chicago in an attempt to organize a revolutionary movement. Grant Newburger, 51, a member of the Revolutionary Communist Party, passed out pamphlets urging Obama supporters to resist government and realize the possibility for a revolution in America. [Obama is] just behind the steering wheel of the same capitalist imperialist system, he said. Im asking that peoBoth the optimistic and pessimistic students agreed this election was historic. It was cool to be part of history in the making, said Nicole Twaddle, a second year graduate student in pharmacology. This is something well ple really examine the system and what this country does around the world. Newburger, who was born in Iowa, said he gave up being an American in the interest of humanity, and he now refers to himself as proletariat internationalist and member of the human race. I ask my fellow Americans that they continue to resist, continue to resist the wars, continue to resist the oppression of black people resist and dont let this country continue committing the crimes it [has] committed, he said. Although some Americans shared their hopes for an overnight change, Stevens warned true change cannot begin solely within the government. Instead, he said change lies in the hands of the people. I hope that people do not become complacent and think that the world is just going to change because Obama is president, she said. This is a movement toward our people, of all ethnic groups, religious groups, different cultural backgrounds becoming united and working together as one people. be teaching our kids in the future. Kevin Kutscher, Melissa Chi, Matt Ackerman and Tim Kershner contributed to this report.

Students react From Page A1

Becky Rogers, a freshman majoring in early childhood education, is looking forward to Obamas plans for change, she said. I expect big changes, especially in the economy, and I hope he sticks to his environmental reforms, Rogers said. The anticipation that has built up throughout the race caused some students at UT to let loose when they heard the news. Melissa Kelley, a senior majoring in communication,

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