Faculty, students to offer reflections on inauguration

Students and faculty may watch the inauguration on Tuesday in Brendle Recital Hall in the Scales Fine Arts Center or in Pugh Auditorium in the Benson University Center, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Later that day, the Z. Smith Reynolds Library is sponsoring a program, “The Dream Realized? What Barack Obama’s Election Means to America,” featuring remarks from professors, students and staff members. The program will be held in the library atrium beginning at 4 p.m.

The speakers will include senior Fred Parent, who will read the essay “What to the African-American is the Fourth of November?” written by his father, Professor of History Anthony Parent. Student Government leaders Jermyn Davis, SG president, and Matt Triplett, speaker of the house, will also offer their personal thoughts on the inauguration.

Other speakers will include Assistant Professor of Religion Rhon Manigault; James Bryant, visiting assistant professor of American ethnic studies; and Wanda Brown, associate director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Library. Lynn Sutton, director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Library, will give opening remarks. Associate Professor of Music Richard Heard will sing to close out the program.

The day before the inauguration, seniors Marie-Odile Hobeika and Rohit Nath will be among the students from six universities participating in a Smithsonian Institution event, the Inaugural Debate Series. They will debate energy and climate change with students from Michigan State University.

The debates, presented by the National Museum of African American History and Culture, will take place at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. Students from other schools will debate health care, the economy and foreign policy.