There was anticipation, and excitement among the few hundred students. And Decisions to make. Do we stand when they say please rise? It’s just on TV. A few in the front row tentatively got up from their seats, and within seconds, the gathered were on their feet.
When President Barack Obama took his oath, the crowd was ecstatic. Many were elated by Mr. Obama’s speech and history of the moment. Donelda Marbury is an 11th grader at the School of the Arts.
MARBURY: I never thought I’d see a black man become President.
Though some, like Case Western freshman Nick Domitrovic were not blown away by the speech.
DOMITROVIC: I was just hoping to hear something different. It seemed really rhetorical: just saying what he’s been saying for what, a year now?
But for most here, it was an hour of history—between classes.