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Show AggieUfe Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 Page 7 Unforgettable experience at the Presidential inauguration USUhas mixed feelings towards new president W hen I found out I was going to be able to go to the Presidential inauguration, I knew it was going to be an amazing experience. It just so happened that my fiancee's father found a way for us to fly to Washington, D.C. Laughlin said Obama received more than ByLANDONBUIE for free. He spent a lot of time working on 30 percent of the votes in Cache County, staff writer a way for a group of people to get to D.C. which is a significant increase from the last from Utah because they invited to have a presidential election. She said she wants part in the inauguration parade. In return for Obama to concentrate on environmental As Barack Obama officially starts his his hard work we got to fly out with these stewardship and reverse some of the bills new term as the first black president of the people on their chartered airplane. United States, it is interesting to know what that Bush has passed affecting the environOnce we arrived we mapped out our ment. USU students and faculty members think route and planned every detail - we even about Obama's future presidency. Kyle Griffin, Republican and student bought our Metro tickets in advance to save majoring in international business, said he Felix Tweraser, German professor and time. So there it was, Tuesday morning 3:30 thinks Obama is in a tough position. scholar of European studies, said he voted a.m., and we were on our way to the Metro for Obama and is excited for Obama's inau"I think he has a hard time ahead of stop. We thought we were in great shape, guration. Tweraser said he hopes Obama him. I don't envy his position. He seemed leaving in the middle of the night and all. will repair the U.S's reputation around the hopeful during the election with his slogan Little did we know people had been lining world. up at the Metro station since the previous "I've observed with dismay the fall in the night when it had closed. Our first omen. U.S.'s standing around the world during the After a long watt in near-zero temperaBush administration," he said. "We all have tures, we finally boarded the Metro and were on our way to see Barack Obama. work to do to repair this damage, and I "I think he connects with Even though the train was full to maxithink Obama is an excellent person to lead the things I personally mum capacity and I was starting to get a this healing process." little claustrophobic, at every stop when cherish about the American Tweraser said he likes Obama because the doors opened people would charge in they share similar views. experience - strength in like they were trying to find the quarterback "I think he connects with the things diversity, tolerance, respect on the other side of an offensive line. At I personally cherish about the American one stop as the football players made their for others, openness to new experience - strength in diversity, tolercharge, a lady started to freak out and a fight ance, respect for others, openness to new ideas and innovation." between the pushing people and the lady's ideas and innovation," Tweraser said. husband about broke out. However, Chris Falslev, a Republican and It was then that we had to exit the train Felix Tweraser, German professor senior majoring in exercise science, is less and wait for another train to come pick us thrilled for Obama's presidency. During the and scholar of European studies up because the football players had broken election, Falslev said he didn't like Obama. the doors. Our second omen. He felt Obama gave his speeches only to A new train eventually came and we were please citizens and earn their votes. on our way again. I should have recognized Falslev, who is studying to become a doc- 'Yes We Can,'" he said. the omens by now; I should have known this tor, said he disagrees with Obama's healthGriffin said he thought it was a wise day was not going to turn out the way we care plan. slogan to use in this economic turmoil. had planned. "I work in the medical field and his plan However, Griffin disagrees with some of really scares me," Falslev said. "It's very Obama's international and national busisocialistic. As the government pays for ness policies. Griffin said one policy he healthcare, there is less competition, and dislikes is the president s plan to raise you don't get as good as quality. All we can tariffs in order to protect American-made do is the best we can and be optimistic." products, steel and especially farmers. Caitlin Laughlin, sophomore and also Griffin said he believes raising tariffs could president of the College Democrats Club, have been one of the reasons that lead to said she loves Obama as a person and as a the Great Depression in the 1930s. Griffin president. said when a country raises their tariffs the "I think he's going to be really good for others follow suit, the tariff rates all around this country," she said. the world increase. Laughlin said she too likes Obama' "Obama was just trying to raise votes, because they share similar views on issues. but it's a really bad idea," he said. "It's a checklist. He hits everything that's However, even though Griffin is a really important to me," she said. Republican, he says he supports Obama. Laughlin said her main concern for "Most of my friends are Republicans, Obafria is fnatthe media and people are "* Ind rthinklheyVe realizes trfat being a ' * putting too much pressure on him to fix all good American is more important than of America's current problems. being a good Republican," he said. "It "People have inflated views of what a doesn't matter who I voted for. He's the president can do," she said. president, so he has my support." Talking about Obama's impact here in -james, buie@aggiemail.usu.edu Logan, Laughlin said said there was a political shift in Cache County in this election. Speak U p After many more door problems we finally arrived at Metro Central. We were welcomed to D.C. by even colder arctic air and hundreds of thousands of people. We spotted the security checkpoint we thought would lead us to the National Mall where we could watch the inauguration. The line moved about a foot every 10 minutes, and the longer we stood there the colder it seemed to get. After what seemed like about four hours, we arrived at the front of the line where we were told the rules we had to abide by while watching the inaugural parade. Inaugural parade? What? "We are supposed to be in line to get into the mall - see my little map I printed off the Internet? It says this is a checkpoint for the mall," I replied to the officer. It was then that I realized I was not going to see Obama's inauguration. All my plans had failed. It was then that I also realized why we go to live events where millions of people will be. I didn't go to see Obama. Seeing him from over a mile away is not really seeing him anyway. I didn't go to hear him, either; I could do that from the comfort of a couch in a nice, warm living room. We go to events like that to feel the energy of a united group of people all in one place for the same reason. We go just so we can say we were there, we were one of the dots on the screen that millions and millions of people around the world are watching. Would I do it again? Of course I would. In a heartbeat. Paul Keiley is the assistant sports editor. Questions and comments can be sent to him at p.d.k@aggiemail.usu. edu. • * Star-filled weeks atfilmfestival ACTOR ROBIN WILLIAMS, CENTER, POSES for photos with fans on Main Street during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. AP photo Camera: USU student wins leadership award CI continued from page 5 US: What are your career goals? ple at the 20th Anniversary of ANASAZI. LW: I want to work at a major news network as a producer, director, field reporter or an anchor. I've wanted to do this since I was in high school and over the years I've come to pinpoint specific areas I would like to work at. US: Where did the crews film you? LW: The crews filmed me in Salt Lake City and parts of Logan. They interviewed my mom and I about the trials and challenges I have faced and how I have overcome them since leaving ANASAZI. US: What camera experience do you have? LW: I have worked with cameras before on and off air. Currently, I work with the USU football team, filming their practices and games and breaking down the plays. It s a lot of fun. US: What award did you win from the ANASA2I Foundation? LW: The award I won is called The Young Leader Award. It's given to those of us who have continued to "walk forward " or make good choices since leaving the ANASAZI Program. I was nominated by my parents who have seen that since leaving the program in 2005,1 was walking forward. I was making good choices in friends, wasn't participating in activities that weren't wholesome and I was doing lots of service projects and working. I was getting good grades for once in my life. US: Why did cameras follow you for the award? LW: The ANASAZI foundation sent up a camera crew to follow me around because they wanted to get a feel for who I am. There were two scholarships offered, and although I knew I was going to be getting one, the videos were going to help the judging panel decide who would receive the higher scholarship. US: Where was the video shown? LW: The video was shown to over 500 peo- US: What was surprising to you about having the cameras follow you? LW: How natural it was. It was just easy for me to be who I was and allow my true self to come out. US: What did you like about it? Dislike? LW: I didn't like that they shot on the side my hair wasn't parted so I had to change my part, and that's kind of annoying. But it was so much fun because I know a lot about filming and interviewing. It was kind of like getting treated like a celebrity for a day. US: How did your own behind-the-camera experience help you understand or assist what the crew was doing? LW: They let me be a part of the setting up. I got to choose how things looked and such.io an extent. I was almost like a back seat director sometimes, telling them to get a certain shot this way or that way. I asked them if I was a little too controlling, but they said they liked it because I knew exactly what I wanted/needed. It was just a lot of fun. US: What did you learn from the experience, professionally and personally? LW: I really learned and watched how they were able to turn every room I was in into something that looked different and amazing. They were able to turn an ordinary apartment into something that looked like it was professional. I saw how simply changing a chair direction, a light and something else can completely change the way the camera sees things. US: What did you like about the way the project turned out? LW: I loved the way they were able to capture some of the most important parts of my story. There was a part that I talked about my dad, and they put it in there. My dad and I aren't super close, but we do have a good relationship, and I was able to share a part of our relationship and how he's really important in my life. They were able to capture what I do on a daily basis, studying, doing work at a radio station and other things. I feel like they were able to capture the real me, and they captured it in the way I would have done it. US: How did your family respond to the experience? LW: My family was so proud of it. During the showing, at the dinner, my mom and I started crying because it was just so beautifully done. It was also a bonding experience for everyone who was apart of my journey. US: With your new perspective, how would you like to be the subject of a reality show? LW: Knowing that everything that day was caught on film, it kind of makes me scared if a camera crew were to follow me around all day and every day. But I would do it. I think it would be fun in a sense - a weird sense. But at the end of the day, I am who I am. And people can see it, even if a camera isn't following me around. -apriUarsen@aggiemail. usu. edu Perfect Partner. Your Best Choice for Wedding Invitations |