Communication group makes journey to inauguration

Thirteen adventurers from SUNY Fredonia piled into two vans on the morning of Mon., Jan. 19, and journeyed through the winding Appalachian Mountains in a quest to witness the inauguration of President Barack Obama as our nation's 44th President.

"It was a wonderful experience for all of us. I saw an America I didn't think existed anymore," Dr. Linda Brigance said. "It was such a love fest."

The idea came about at the end of last semester, when some students in Brigance's Political Communication class suggested they get a group together to go. Since they had virtually no budget to work with due to the spur-of-the-moment decision, the group stayed at a hostel about seven blocks from the National Mall.

Journalism Professor Elmer Ploetz drove one of the vans, taking some family members.

“As a former reporter, it was a new experience immersing myself in the excitement and leaving my professional skepticism behind for awhile," he said.

He and his family were interviewed by foreign press three times. "It turns out the line we were waiting in was next to the National Press Club building," he said. TV reporters from Japan and Sweden, and a radio reporter from Australia made the Ploetzes witnesses for history's first draft.

"It was interesting being on the other side of the microphone," Ploetz said. He published his own comments and a video on his blog, "Jour de Fred."

"It was such an amazing experience to not only witness history, but to encounter such camaraderie between millions of people was incredible," said senior Public Relations major and Allegany, N.Y. native Molly Kubic. "Everyone was so friendly, even when they were standing for hours in the cold. Their spirits never faltered and this number of positive forces was an experience I've never encountered nor will I ever forget. I feel so lucky."

Despite the crowds, lack of sleep and confusion everywhere, no one seemed to be fazed, she said, as the historical significance of standing witness to the nation's first African American President easily trumped whatever discomforts were caused by the crowds or cold.

"Everyone was just happy to be there, and strangers treated each other like long-lost friends," Dr. Brigance continued. "Something new and real was definitely in the air. A complete stranger and I cried and hugged, just talking about being there."

She also marveled at how those feelings seemed to have been transmitted all across the country. On her first day back in Fredonia following her Washington, D.C. adventure, she was surprised to encounter the same reactions locally.

"I told my dentist about going, and she was just gushing about the new feeling in the air," she marveled. "Later, I bought one of President Obama's books, and the sales clerk almost cried as she talked about him while checking me out."