By Susan Redden
sredden@joplinglobe.com
For Annetta St. Clair, a Democrat and long-time political science professor at Missouri Southern State University, the inauguration of Barack Obama was a “two-tissue” event.
St. Clair joined hundreds of students, faculty and others to watch the ceremony in Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall Tuesday on a big-screen television.
The auditorium was all but filled by the time Obama stepped to the podium, and most of the crowd appeared to be students and faculty.
Samantha Rusk, a freshman education major from Carthage, arrived early and said she wanted to be there to watch the nation’s first African-American president take office.
Rusk voted for Obama but her friend Jessica Hursh, a freshman biology major voted for John McCain.
“I liked them both, and I’m happy to see this day,” she said.
Jason Kilptrick, an African-American who teaches Spanish at MSSU, said he never thought he would see a day when an African-American would be elected to the highest office in the country.
“I’m not talking bad about America; I just never thought I’d see it,” said Kilpatrick, age 37.
Galen Rea, a sophomore Spanish major from Webb City, nodded in agreement during several parts of Obama’s speech and said he was glad the new president emphasized that it will take the efforts of all Americans to meet the challenges of the day.
“People put the responsibility on politics, but the true success of the nation depends on the individual discipline of each citizen,” he said. “There has to be individual excellence before we can have excellence on the grand scale.”
Rea said he supported Obama, though a registration mix-up prevented him from voting.
“I also support him as a professed Christian, but I’m bothered by his support for abortion rights,” he said.
Seeing Obama take office “makes me feel like I can hang up my flag again,” said Holly Fogerty, an English professor at the university.
Challenges ahead
Conrad Gubera, a long-time sociology professor at the university, said Barack Obama’s inauguration speech reminded him of one in 1961, delivered by President John F. Kennedy.
Gubera, who worked for the Kennedy campaign, said Obama, as a speaker “is no Kennedy, but everything he said is very timely.
“I hope what he said will motivate us all to take on the challenges ahead. It’s going to require shared sacrifice across generations,” he said.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/new.gif" border=0> 1:41 p.m. Students, faculty gather at MSSU for inauguration
‘I’m happy to see this day.’
- Local News
-
-
Going green isn’t easy for historic buildings
A St. Louis man’s effort to put solar panels on the roof of his bar is meeting with some resistance, highlighting a problem that is occurring around the country.
-
Prosecutor’s office asking state if campaign used county assets
The Jasper County prosecuting attorney’s office is asking the Missouri attorney general’s office to investigate whether Sheriff Archie Dunn has used the assets of his office for his re-election campaign.
-
Service dogs participate in ceremony recognizing them for their work
The Carl Junction post office has a reputation for promoting the release of special postage stamps in unique ways. Wednesday was no different.
-
Volunteers from Tuscaloosa paying it forward in Joplin
As the teens moved farther along the bleachers they were painting, splotches of bright red paint kept appearing where it didn’t exactly belong. On the ground. On their arms and legs. On their clothing.
-
Webb City mural taking shape at corner of Main, Broadway
Last Thursday, the north wall of the Middlewest Building at Main Street and Broadway was white. Eighteen gallons of paint and a whole lot of red Solo cups later, it will be a completed community mural depicting the Webb City Farmers Market.
-
Filing deadline approaching for county offices in Kansas
The candidacy filing deadline for those seeking Kansas county offices that are subject to the Aug. 7 primary election is noon Friday.
-
Economic development strategies emerge from Joplin Regional Prosperity Initiative meeting
More than 30 people shared ideas Wednesday on ways to promote economic development in the seven counties that are participating in the Joplin Regional Prosperity Initiative.
-
Mike Pound: Singing the praises of music teacher
When I was in sixth grade, Sister Susan, the music teacher at St. Xavier’s Catholic School, walked over to me while I and my fellow students were singing at Easter midnight Mass and said a bit loudly: “Mike, don’t sing.”
-
Electric bill to drop $6 a month in Joplin
The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved a request filed by The Empire District Electric Company, based in Joplin, to lower the fuel adjustment charge (FAC) on the bills of its electric customers.
-
Mo. Legislature officially ends its 2012 session
Missouri's annual legislative session has officially come to a close.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Going green isn’t easy for historic buildings
