Campus Celebrates Obama, Honors King

Commentary Editor

   Students, faculty and staff celebrated the presidential inauguration and Martin Luther King Jr. Day in various ways Nov. 20.

Courtesy of Eric Bell

Watch Party - (From left to right) UAM staff members Tammy Vaughn, Roberta Thomas and Renetta Charles watch the Inauguration of the 44th President, Barack H. Obama, in the U.C. Green Room Tuesday, Jan. 20. Student Government Association and Student Activities Board hosted the event to celebrate Obama and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

   The Student Government Association and the Student Activities Board held an Inauguration Watch Party for students, faculty and staff to watch the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

   Spectators sat silent while President Obama gave the oath of office five minutes after 12 p.m. and applauded the president after he finished his first speech as president.

   “I think he will accomplish exactly what he says he will do,” junior Glendon Glapsie said.

   Spectators watched CNN’s coverage of this historic inauguration of the United States first Black president. The footage covered different events including the swearing in of Vice President Joe Biden, Aretha Franklin singing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” the playing of “Simple Gifts” arranged by John Williams for the inauguration and Elizabeth Alexander reciting a poem. Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriela Montero and Anthony McGill performed “Simple Gifts.”

   Sophomore Ramone Lee said generations will remember the overall ceremony for generations to come.

  “I believe this is one to the biggest moments in African-American history other than the abolishment of slavery, “ Lee said. “The overall ceremony showed a lot of unity of all race, creed and color.

   The SGA and the SAB paid tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the day by giving anyone the chance to write down their thoughts and visions for the future on their “I have a Dream” board.  Participants pinned about 25 wishes and dreams to the board including:

• “To live in a nation free of poverty and hunger and that all will know Jesus as Lord.”
• “To see the new president succeed in bringing about a peaceful end to the conflicts in Iraq.”
• “My Dream is that America grows into what we once were a hardworking, loving country.”

  
   The SGA and SAB included Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday with the Inauguration Watch Party because of classes being canceled Jan. 19. Director of Student Programs and Activities Mindy Holcomb, Graduate Assistant for Student Programs ans Activities Marshelvia Thompson Collins,  SGA executives  and students workers worked to organize the inauguration party and the “I have a Dream” board.

   Gary Meggs, director of bands, and senior Music major Brandon Simmons performed in the Arkansas Democratic Party Inauguration Celebration parade in Little Rock Jan. 20. Gary Meggs received the invitation from Gov. Mike Beebe from Play It Again Arkansas Jan. 19. Meggs invited Simmons to perform with him in the parade.

   “I was excited that out of all the percussionists, (Meggs) called me to be able to do this,” Simmons said.

   Meggs and Simmons performed “When the Saints Go Marching in,” “Bill Bailey,” ”Bravura,” and another song in the parade. The parade started on Cantrell Road and ended at a mansion where the Arkansas Democratic Party held the main celebration.

   “They could have called any university in the state, but they called the University of Arkansas at Monticello,” Meggs said. “We find it very pleasing that they think of us when they think of music entertainment.”

   The quartet consisted of Meggs playing the clarinet, Simmons playing the snare, John Caldwell playing the trumpet and Mike Bryant playing the trombone.

   Meggs described the atmosphere of the parade.

   “Festive and ice cold,” Meggs said. “By the time we finished that thing my fingers were numb.”

   During the parade several actors represented President Obama and the first lady, former president Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. John and Cindy McCain. A black Cadillac with the presidential seal represented the president’s limousine and Secret Service men surrounded the car.

   “We don’t know the Secret Service people were real,” Meggs said. “They had ear pieces and everything.”

   Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, several state representatives, leaders of the state Democratic Party and others attended the ceremony. 

   The Arkansas Democratic Convention and members of the community hosted the event.

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