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Inauguration Is 'A New Beginning'

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT And JOHN CEBALLOS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 28, 2009

BRANDON - Students streamed in and out of the student services building Jan. 20, wearing their message of hope for a brighter future.

Others hovered outside the auditorium at Hillsborough Community College's Brandon campus playing Rock Band and getting their faces painted, nearly oblivious to the inauguration of the country's 44th president.

Overall, though, an expectant air loomed as the historic event was broadcast on an oversized television screen just down the hall.

"This shirt represents how I feel with our new president," said Felicia Ramdour, a freshman from Brandon, sporting a rainbow-colored Barack Obama T-shirt. "It's a new beginning. Right now, people only come together as partial communities. We need to be one community."

Jamal Brown hopes for a better economy and health care, but said he knows remedies won't come quickly.

"They need to try to get the jobs back out there," said the sophomore from Thonotosassa, also sporting a T-shirt with Obama's likeness and that of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"And health care," he added. Brown's grandmother suffers from multiple health issues that leave her with enormous medical bills, he said. "And people are losing their houses left and right. I have a friend who just lost hers, and she's having to skip around from one place to another.

"I'm also hoping this presidency will bring change and a more united country," Brown said." There are no more race-related leadership issues."

A bit further south, more than 50 students and faculty at HCC's SouthShore Center gathered in the community room to watch a live online feed of Obama's inauguration. Many said they gathered with others to see history unfold.

"I came here because it really is history in the making," said Karen Boosinger, a reading and writing instructor at the center. "I'm happy that I have a free period. If this were taking place two weeks from now, I'd be teaching right now."

As Obama addressed the country for the first time as president, everyone in the room sat silently, staring up with a mixture of wonder and slight disbelief at the projected image of the nation's new commander-in-chief.

"We had an essay contest not too long ago at the school and the topic had to do with what the inauguration meant to us," said student Fred Ferrante. "I think it's ironic how President Lincoln was also from Illionois and was sworn in while the country was at war, and we're seeing the same thing again today with President Obama.

"That was one of the most historic inaugurations in the country's history, just like today's."

At the Brandon campus, Michelle Shine of Brandon sees the new president as a model for positive change.

"He has eliminated all the excuses," Shine said.

"Whatever you set your mind to, you can do it," she said, sitting with friend Chanell Foore of Seffner, who were promoting their church, Peculiar People Ministries.

"I'd like to see people get more involved in community service," Foore said.

"Obama started as a community coordinator," she said, noting he has set the example people should follow.

While not everyone in the student center proclaimed themselves pro-Obama, at least some said they still hope for positive change.

"I didn't vote for him, but he's the president," said Amanda Baio of Valrico. "As long as it doesn't get any worse, I'm good. I hope things get better."

"I didn't vote for him, either," said Vanessa Wetjen of Seffner. "But you have to give him a chance to see how he can do."

Black, white, Hispanic and Asian students joined a few faculty members in the school's auditorium as Obama took the oath of office and gave his inauguration speech. Some waited until moments before the oath to take their seats.

The small crowd cheered and hooted after Obama finished taking the oath. They cheered more when he was introduced as the new president.

"Times are bad. It's hard right now in America," said sophomore Brent Peterson of Niceville in the Florida panhandle. "He brings new hope and inspiration ... that we can face the challenges and embrace them.

"It's a great time for everyone to come together," he said.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at yhammett@ tampatrib.com or (813) 865-1566. Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at jceballos@ tampatrib.com or (813) 865-1555.

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