‘Eaters’ eyes on the Capitol

President-elect Barack Obama said that he wants his inauguration to be the most open and accessible in the nation’s history, and some Anteaters have taken him at his word. UCI students, faculty and staff joined the throngs of onlookers in Washington, D.C., Tuesday for the parade, swearing-in ceremony and other inaugural festivities, and they’re reporting on the historic events on the Anteaters at Inauguration 2009 blog.

Students Jane Phan, a second-year political science major, and Kevin Huynh, a third-year business economics major, are among those posting inauguration updates and photos.

Although they didn’t get the coveted tickets to the official ceremony, they were in the record crowd vying to get a glimpse of Obama.

“It’s historic, and I wanted to be part of it,” Phan says. “I didn’t want to watch it on TV.”

Huynh sent posts to the blog from his Blackberry, and Phan used her laptop whenever she could get a wireless connection.

UCI students who are already in Washington, D.C., through the UCDC academic internship program also posted to the blog. And Ralph J. Cicerone, UCI chancellor emeritus, described his view from his well-situated office as president of the National Academy of Sciences.

Those students who didn’t make it the Capitol have added to the blog from campus. A contingent of ‘Eaters and guests gathered Tuesday morning at the Anthill Pub and Grille to watch the historic festivities.

What does the presidential inauguration mean to you? How does it impact your life?

Go to the Anteaters at Inauguration 2009 site and post a comment to share your thoughts with the rest of the UCI community.