Mirror - Vol. 34, No. 15 - January 22, 2009

              WEEK OF JANUARY 22,2009
Vol. 34, Iss. 15- 20 pages
FREE - Take one
INSIDE:
Commentary
"La Salsa closes tempo-rarily,
students mourn"
p. 7
'"Vagina Monologues'
Breaks the silence"
p. 13
Entertainment
"Girl Talk talks, Fairfield
listens"
p. 9
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1 \ r SM
"Stuffed by the Saints:
Siena sweeps season se-ries,
end Stags' three-game
winning streak"
p. 20
lYIXUR WWW.FAIRFIELDMIRROR.COM
The independent student newspaper
of Fairfield University
Historic hope! Barack Obama sworn in as the 44th President
A new era begins: President Barack Obama takes the Oath of Office during Inauguration Day ceremonies on Tuesday.
"Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off,
and begin again the work of remaking America"
Contributed Photo
BY KEITH CONNORS
Just as prejudice did not deter voters, frigid
temperatures did not deter an astounding crowd
from lending its support, and an economic situ-ation
as dire as the Great Depression did not
deter Barack Obama - sworn in by Chief
Justice John Roberts at noon on Tuesday in
the shadow of the Capitol as the 44th Presi-dent
of the United States - from lending
hope to the American people and assuring
that the future will bring better days.
"The challenges we face are real,"
Obama said during his Inaugural Address.
"They are serious and they are many. They
will not be met easily or in a short span of time.
But know this, America, they will be met."
Ceremonies began with the formal oath of
office, which took place on the same bible used
by Abraham Lincoln in Jan. 1861.
In the days preceding the ceremony,
Obama adapted Lincoln's travel schedule
prior to his inauguration. Mr. and Mrs. Obama
traveled by train from Philadelphia to Wash-ington,
harkening back to Lincoln's original
interstate crossing.
From the outset of his inaugural address,
Obamawasted no time addressing the dire economic
downturn and troublesome situation ofthe nation he
now serves as its commander-in-chief.
• INSIDE
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"Every so often the oath is taken amidst
gathering clouds and raging storms," Obama
said. "At these moments, America has carried
on not simply because of the skill or vision of
those in high office, but because 'We the People'
have remained
faithful to the
ideals of our
forbearers,
and true to
our founding
documents."
"So it has
been. So it
must be with
this generation of Americans," Obama added.
At Fairfield, professors were impressed that
Obama chose to address the divisive issue imme-diately.
Similarly, many pundits are taking solace
in the fact that Obama vows to take "bold and
swift" fiscal action, and that his administration is
laden with accomplished advisors.
"Expectations are very high and he's been
trying to bring them back to reality," finance
professor Michael Tucker said. "It's still 'Yes,
We can' but he is reminding everyone it will
take time and plenty of effort. A message his
election delivers is that merit trumps crony-ism
and nepotism. It's a lesson that speaks to
college students."
At one poignantmomentin the address, Obama
also paid homage to the significance ofthe moment
in the annals ofAmerican race relations.
"This is the meaning of our liberty and our
creed - why men and women and children of
every race and every faith can join in celebration
across this magnificent mall, and why a man
whose father less than 60 years ago might not
have been served at a local restaurant can now
stand before you to take a most sacred oath,"
Obama said.
The President also extended a hand to the
allies of the United States, many ofwhom have
been openly critical of the Bush Administra-tion's
foreign policy and claim that America has
alienated itself with the Iraq War.
"To all other peoples and governments who
are watching today, from the grandest capitals
to the small village where my father was bom:
know that America is a friend of each nation and
every man, woman, and child who seeks a future
of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead
once more," Obama said.
Students at Fairfield on hand to watch the
inaugural address at the Barone Campus Center
cheered at times, but overall seemed awestruck
at the epic nature of the occasion.
"I think it is history, and not just be-
SEE "THE" ON P. 5
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Students: Obama's inauguration unifying, historic experience, regardless of party lines
BY JACK MCNAMARA
It was living history at Fairfield Univer-sity
on Tuesday when students across campus
paused to watch the inaugural ceremonies of
President Barack Obama.
Venues to see the swearing-in were set up
in both the lower lobby of the Barone Campus
Center and in the multimedia room of the
DiMenna-Nysellus library. Both sites were
packed to capacity. Soobin Lim '11, among
others, was in awe of the moment.
"This is a total change of history," she
said, "It's great."
While many people noted the feelings
of togetherness among both Republicans and
Democrats during the ceremonies, Andrew
Festin '09 thinks the significance of Obama
assuming the Office of President of the United
States will not be lost on others.
"I'm sure even Republicans and McCain
supporters are watching [Obama] and think-ing,
'this is historic,'" he said.
Those who have no party affiliation, or
even US citizenship, noted how the moment
signals a change in the way the US conducts
its affairs abroad.
"It's a big change," said Ali Abdul Majeed
'12, who is from Iraq. "I'm kind of excited to
get your army out of my country!"
Adding to the diversity of the crowd,
professors and faculty alike served as refer-ences
for the rest of the assemblies. Robbin
Crabtree, dean of the college of arts and sci-
SEE "MIXED" ON P. 2