Goshen College community gathers to watch, study and reflect upon President Obama's inauguration

GOSHEN, Ind. — Goshen College students, faculty, staff and community members cheered, prayed, studied and reflected Tuesday as Barack Obama was sworn in as the nation's first African-American president.

The activity took place during a two-hour inauguration watch event that was attended by a capacity crowd of more than 400 people at the campus Umble Center. The educational gathering featured the viewing of events from Washington, D.C., on a movie theater-style screen as well as comments by students and faculty members.

President James E. Brenneman, who watched the inauguration in person with his son, Quinn, set the tone for the campus gathering with a written message in which he discussed the significance of the inauguration.

"One of the most amazing, even miraculous, signs of American democracy at its best is the peaceful transition of power we are about to witness. No matter who you voted for, that act of relinquishment by one president to another, especially by a political adversary, is truly awe inspiring," Brenneman wrote.

"I wanted so much for Quinn to experience this historic moment with me here in Washington, D.C. When I was his age, I experienced life as a child living in the deeply segregated south, where our theaters, restaurants, drinking fountains and beaches were blatantly divided between 'whites' and 'coloreds.' So, to be standing here today in a sea of people from every race, culture, age, and creed, together bearing witness to the inauguration of President Obama sends shivers up my spine — and not just from the cold out here."

Brenneman offered hope that the United States truly will be "One nation under God, indivisible," and called on the college community to pray for President Obama, for his family and for the country.

Afterward, Raymond Mwangi Waweru, a first-year student from Nairobi, Kenya, talked about the pride he and his country feel because of the election of the son of a Kenyan. Waweru said his mother called him earlier Tuesday from Kenya and told him that Obama's inauguration was proving to be a profound source of unity and hope.

Luke Nofsinger, a senior communication major from Marcellus, Mich., echoed Waweru's sentiments. "There is no way you can't find joy in this day," Nofsinger said. "It's the culmination of a lot of struggles for many people."

Before the ceremony, two Goshen College professors previewed Obama's inaugural address by providing scholarly context.

Professor of History Steve Nolt, commented on the significance of the first African-American president by talking about David Walker, an African-American clothier who published a book in 1829, which attacked slavery and called for all U.S. citizens to be fully accepted. Nolt stated that Obama's inauguration was a vivid symbol of the progress the United States has made toward achieving racial equality.

Professor of Communication Duane Stoltzfus charted Obama's meteoric rise and his soaring rhetoric, which he compared to President Abraham Lincoln. "In his address today, Obama, another wordsmith of the highest order, should help us to understand where we as a people have been, where we find ourselves now, and where we should go from here," Stoltzfus said.

After Obama's address, Malinda Berry, a visiting scholar in Bible, religion and philosophy and women's studies, noted the fact that expressions of public prayer and civil ceremony often draw unexpected responses.

Joseph Liechty, associate professor of peace, justice and conflict studies, praised the graciousness of U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, for accepting his defeat by Obama in the presidential election.

"We tend to take it for granted and we shouldn't. The alternative is constant uncertainty and elections in which you never know whether the defeated party will accept defeat without violence," he said. "Be sure that in those circumstances, justice and peace are rendered far more difficult and, as always, it will be the poor who suffer most."

Liechty said he believes Obama has a good chance of delivering on his intentions of "nurturing the cohesion of the social and political center" and building relationships with political adversaries. He said he also hopes Obama pursues his pledge to establish better relationships with leaders from other countries, even current enemies.

"Our security rests fundamentally on the quality of our relationships with the rest of the world. I see substantial evidence that President Obama will incline toward leading us to be a republic in the world and not an empire in the world," Liechty said.

The Goshen College inauguration watch event was hosted by the Black Student Union, the Communication Department; the Bible, Religion & Philosophy Department, the History Department, the Peace, Justice & Conflict Studies Department, the Multicultural Affairs Office and the Public Relations Office.

—Written by Richard R. Aguirre

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.