Monday, January 19. The charter bus barreled down the snow-covered interstate, passing less fearless buses and semis – and even snow plows – on its way to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of President Barack Hussein Obama. We’d left at midnight - about 55 of us on a trip arranged by Julia, a member of Women for Obama. Julia booked the bus and a block of rooms in a hotel 30 miles from the capital.

I was still on the bus the following afternoon when Angela, who I met at the first Evansville for Obama meeting in February 2008, called to tell me that she had tickets to the inauguration for my husband Brad and me. She had arranged with Congressman Ellsworth’s office to take possession of any unclaimed tickets and give them to dedicated Campaign for Change volunteers. Our tickets were in the Silver Section, the standing-room and final ticketed section on the mall.

After 15 hours on the bus, we arrived at our hotel and barely had time to clean up before we received a call from Ann, another long-time volunteer, who had arranged for a taxi to take us to the Metro station in 15 minutes. Ann led a dozen of us through the process of purchasing a round-trip pass for that evening’s Evansville Reunion in D.C., and an all-day pass for Inauguration Day, when lines for the passes (featuring Obama’s picture in honor of the occasion) were sure to be long.

The Evansville Reunion of Campaign for Change volunteers and staff was held at a restaurant near Dupont Circle, site of The Saging of the White House that evening. Ann, who misunderstood the technical details of saging (or “smudging,” in which a bundle of the herb is burned and the smoke believed to be cleansing), brought with her a can of McCormick Ground Sage dating back to the Nixon administration. As we walked back to the Metro station after the party, she sprinkled it here and there before passing the can to me. I flung it about, inadvertently sprinkling George Stephanopoulos, who was strolling behind us (and thankfully seemed not to notice).

Ann advised us to catch a cab to the Metro station at 4:30 a.m. on Inauguration Day, so I scheduled a wake-up call for 3:30 a.m., woke and bundled up, and, along with my husband and a few friends, was in a cab (called by Ann, who stayed behind to wait for others) and on my way to the station at 4:30 sharp. Within two miles of our destination, we were stopped by a line of traffic, so we walked the rest of the way in the freezing dark. Because we had already purchased passes at Ann’s suggestion, we were able to bypass the lines and board a relatively empty train bound for D.C.

When we emerged from Union Station near the Capitol, all was chaos. We were immediately confronted by masses of people wrapped in heavy coats and blankets, hawking Obama gear, forcing their way around roadblocks and past emergency vehicles, and trying to find their way through the maze created by a blocked-off mall and parade route. By asking officials and out of dumb luck, we found our way to the tunnel that was supposed to lead us to the Silver Gate. Thousands of people made their way through the long, dim tunnel, and it was a relief when we emerged into the light of day as the sun came up.

We followed signs until we came to an intersection clogged with people waiting for the distant Silver Gate to open. And there we stood. Over the next two hours, the crowd began to tighten. Some people pushed forward. Then, hundreds began to squeeze toward us, coming from the opposite direction in search of another ticketed area. I managed my panic by taking deep breaths and holding tightly to Brad’s shoulders.

Without warning, the mass moved forward. First we passed through a line of police who simply asked us to hold up our tickets. Then, as if possessed of its own intelligence, the crowd began to move sideways, to the left. We were forced into a narrower, pseudo-line and showed our tickets again before we were unexpectedly emptied into an open street and a dozen waiting security check-points. We were told to open our coats and hand over purses. I have been more thoroughly searched at a rock concert than I was for the inauguration of the first African American president of the United States.

And then we were inside, with a front and center view of the Capitol, plenty of elbow room, and a close Jumbotron, but still freezing, with no access to food or water, and another hour or so to wait for the big moment. We were drawn to the back fence of the Silver area by the strains of the Isley Brothers’ “Shout” and thousands of cheering people. Behind another fence on the free mall, the Washington Monument in the distance, people were packed like sardines. Each sardine was frantically waving a small American flag and jumping up and down to the “We Are One” concert on the Jumbotron.

It was quite the party compared to the mellow vibe on the Silver mall, where the screens were tuned to arriving officials and celebrities: Muhammad Ali, Jay-Z and Beyonce, Senator Ted Kennedy (cheers), Senator Joseph Lieberman (boos), John Cusack, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and many more. Though there were many boos, chants, and taunts when President Bush emerged, my husband and I did not participate, and wished it hadn’t happened.

If President Obama’s speech had not been captioned on the Jumbotron, those of us on the mall would have missed most of what he said. The speakers placed down the mall echoed distractingly and rendered the speeches unintelligible, so we were forced to read them. Students and staff gathered in Forum Two that day heard the ceremony better than we did. We didn’t even notice Chief Justice John Roberts flub the oath.

While I appreciated the president’s words, for me the high point of the ceremony was the musical performance by Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Gabriela Montero, and Anthony McGill. During the song, a flock of seagulls circled in front of and above the Capitol dome and flew over the mall, as if choreographed. While the president focused on practical concerns in his rhetoric, the birds and the song (John Williams’ “Air and Simple Gifts”) soared for him.

Soon after the speech, we began to look for a way out of the mall. After so many hours in the cold, we just wanted to warm up and find food – but so did two million others.

President Bush’s helicopter flew low over the mall as we tried to find our way out of the crowd. The trash was so thick in the streets it caught around our ankles. Mounted police patrolled the crowd. It was like a disaster scene as the helicopter flew far away beyond the horizon.

Getting out of D.C. was another adventure – one that would make this blog far too long. Suffice it to say that after walking many, many more miles on highways, through tunnels, and over bridges; losing, finding, and again losing our friends; being turned away from streets and Metro stations closed by design or overcrowding; and reaching a state approaching desperation, we met a kind police officer who told us where to find an open station. After a couple of hours and a very expensive cab ride from the end of the Metro line to our hotel, we were warm and fed, enjoying the inauguration celebrations on television in the lobby of the hotel with dozens of our “Obama friends.”

I couldn’t have done it without them.

And neither could President Barack Hussein Obama.

(You can view my pictures here.)

POST CONTRIBUTED BY: WENDY KNIPE BREDHOLD, writer in News & Information Services.

As I stood on the Mall last Tuesday, surrounded by over 2 million of my fellow citizens, I couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t a tentative smile, where the corners of your mouth turn up. It wasn’t a smile through the tears, although that was the reaction of many of the people surrounding me. No, my smile was what my father would have characterized as a “cheesy grin” – the type of smile where all of your teeth show, accompanied by the uncontrollable urge to break into hysterical laughter. Here I was, in Washington D.C., watching Chief Justice John Roberts swear in President Barack Hussein Obama, the country’s first African-American President.

I was a witness to history. (You can view a slideshow of my photos here.)

Earlier that weekend, my husband and I had spent our Sunday afternoon on a snow covered battlefield in Gettysburg. In many ways, this was the perfect place to reflect upon the magnitude of Tuesday’s inauguration ceremonies. After all, the Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Men had fought and died here – some to preserve our United States, others who firmly believed in their right to self-determination. In the background, there was always the uneasy, unanswered question of slavery. This battle set the stage for a Union victory and the eventual passage of the “Civil War” Amendments that would abolish slavery, provide citizenship to American-Americans, and enfranchise black male voters.

These Amendments, however, were not enough to secure equal rights for blacks in America. Jim Crow laws flourished throughout the south, requiring separate accommodations for whites and blacks. The 1896 court case of Plessy v. Ferguson further institutionalized the doctrine of “separate but equal,” leading to decades of discrimination against African-Americans.

Although I’m not old enough to remember the Civil Rights movement, my stepmother is. When I was growing up in Birmingham, Bonnie would tell me and my sisters about the segregated south of her childhood – from buses to movie theaters, from separate water fountains to separate bathrooms. When we would go down to the old Rickwood Field to watch our minor league baseball team, she would tell us the stories her father told her about the Black Barons, one of the Negro League teams which had played on that very field. And the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama? That bridge was named after one of Bonnie’s relatives.

Even though I wasn’t alive when Brown vs. Board of Education (1954) overturned the idea of separate but equal school facilities, the schools of my youth were operating under a desegregation order. My teenage years were seeped in the history of the civil rights movement. I learned about Bull Connor in my Alabama history class. I’ve been to Selma and to Montgomery. I have seen the jail where Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his famous letter in 1963.

Because of this, the inauguration of Barack Obama really was a personal experience. As the first African American president of the United States, he symbolizes the fact that Martin Luther King’s dream can come true. His election teaches us that while many communities still suffer from poverty and from de facto segregation, these problems can be surmounted. Now, when I tell my nephew that he can grow up to be the President of the United States, I am not lying to him.

My husband often calls me the “happy pessimist.” I’ll admit that this can be true. When you study public policy for a living, it’s easy to see the flaws in the system. The media coverage of politics can be brutal – “If it bleeds, it leads” – because it focuses on the low points of government. We talk about scandals like Governor Blagojevich allegedly selling a senate seat or disasters like the inadequate plans to evacuate New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. It is a rare news story that focuses on the positive.

Yet, when I think about my experiences on Tuesday, I am not pessimistic or cynical. I was a witness to the peaceful transition of power from one political party to the next – a contrast to that snowy battlefield in Pennsylvania. I saw over 2 million people willing to face the freezing cold, the overwhelming crowds, the TSA checkpoints, and the hour long lines to ride the Metro. I’m talking about large scale political participation, something that (unfortunately) doesn’t happen that often in American politics.

POST CONTRIBUTED BY: DR. MARY HALLOCK MORRIS, assistant professor of political science and acting director of the Master of Public Administration Program.

Old man winter and his by-products of cold, snow, sleet, freezing rain, and ice have arrived in the Tri-state. Winter is probably the most difficult driving season for this area. Not only do you have snow, ice, and the other elements to deal with, but there are fewer hours of daylight as well. Winter driving can be inconvenient, annoying, tiring, even infuriating, and sometimes hazardous, but with proper preparation you can offset those aggravations and minimize the risks of winter driving.

Therefore, I offer the following winter travel tips.

Important sources of information
As a student, faculty or staff member, it is important to know where you can obtain up-to-date information on the University and related weather conditions. These sources include signing up for the University’s RAVE text messaging system to receive important information on class delays or school closings. You may also check your USI email account and the USI web page; call the University’s emergency telephone hotline: 812/ 465-1085, the Security Office: 812/464-1845; and check the local media.

Driving on snow and ice
Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not drive or make unnecessary trips in winter storms. If you must, make sure your vehicle is clear of ice and snow. Clean the windows, all lights, and windshields of snow and ice. Travel in daylight. Good vision is a key to good driving.

Allow additional time to get to your destination. Be extra alert when traveling. Match your vehicle’s speed to the road, weather conditions, and other traffic. Plan the stopping of your vehicle and keep more distance between cars. When taking off from a stopped position, do not hastily accelerate the vehicle because the tires will normally just spin and not get any traction. When stopping, do not jam on the brake because it will likely cause the car to slide. Brake gently. If possible, avoid hilly terrain. Remember snow drifts may hide obstacles or hazards. Stay on main roads. Avoid back road shortcuts. Use the designated snow routes since they will be given priority for snow or ice removal. If your vehicle has four wheel drive, use it.

Car preparation
Install good tires. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions in the Tri-state. Make sure the tires have adequate tread and proper inflation. Maintain at least half of a tank of gasoline.

Have the following items on your vehicle checked: antifreeze level, battery and ignition system, brakes, exhaust system, fuel and air filters, heater and defrost, lights and flashing hazard lights, oil, thermostat, and windshield wiper equipment.

Carry in your car a winter emergency kit consisting of the following items: a shovel, windshield scraper and small broom, flashlight, battery powered radio, extra batteries, water, snacks or quick energy food, matches, extra hats, sock, and mittens, first aid kit with pocket knife, necessary medications, blanket(s), tow chain or rope, road salt and sand, booster cables, emergency flares, and fluorescent distress flag or brightly colored cloth.

Trip preparation
Plan trips carefully. Check the weather conditions prior to leaving. Listen to media reports or call law enforcement agencies for the latest road conditions. Let someone know your travel plans, such as destination, route, and when you expect to arrive. If possible, don’t travel alone. If you have a cell phone or two-way radio, keep your battery charged and keep it with you while traveling.

If your vehicle becomes stuck
If you can, pull off the highway on to the shoulder. Turn on hazard lights and hang a distress flag or brightly colored cloth from the radio antenna or window. Remain with your vehicle where rescuers are mostly likely to find you. Use your cell phone or two-way radio to call for assistance. Run the heater about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm. Keep the exhaust pipe clear so fumes won’t back up in the car and open a downward window slightly to let in fresh air. Turn the overhead light on at night when running the vehicle so that you can be seen. As you sit, exercise by moving your hands and feet to keep blood circulating and to stay warm. Drink fluids to avoid dehydration and eat snacks for energy. Be careful not to waste battery power such as operating the car radio, lights, and heater except when absolutely necessary.

Confidence
Prior to the arrival of winter weather, I believe most people, students and non-students, prepare minimally or at least take some steps for winter weather driving. Typically, it’s not until after the first winter storm arrives that people realize what few preparations have been made. Most young drivers tend to be overconfident when driving in winter weather conditions. I think this happens because they have not yet experienced operating a vehicle in winter weather conditions, have not had a traffic accident, and believe that they are invincible and nothing is going to happen to them.

The majority of these tips are not exclusive for winter driving conditions, but can be utilized for everyday traveling.

POST CONTRIBUTED BY: STEPHEN WOODALL, director of Security.

It is that time again- the New Year! A new year for many people means making resolutions. We have all done it – optimistically decided to get fit, manage stress, eat right, stop smoking, etc., only to give up before the end of January. There are many reasons we fail. But if you have decided to make a change in the New Year, here are a few tips to help you make this year a success:

• Choose a resolution that is meaningful to you. Many of us choose a goal because we feel we “need” to, not “want” to. Choose something that you really desire, not something that you “should” do or that you think will please someone else.

• Research your options and make a plan. For example, don’t try to quit smoking cold turkey without a plan. Look for a smoking cessation group or talk to your physician about prescription or over-the-counter medications that might help.

• Be realistic. Don’t set yourself up for failure by making your goal unattainable. For example, running a marathon on February 1 would be unrealistic for someone that is currently sedentary. A more realistic goal might be to achieve 30 minutes of moderate activity several days each week. Build on that weekly or monthly.

• Take small steps. Set a realistic goal and then break that goal into smaller ones. For example, if the goal is to lose 30 pounds, don’t try to lose 10 pounds the first week. Realistic weight loss is about one to two pounds per week. Break up your 30 pound goal into four to five pounds of weight loss per month.

• Share your resolution with a positive friend or family member. Choose a person that will support and encourage you, not nag you.

• Reward yourself. Celebrate even small successes by doing something you enjoy that doesn’t contradict your resolution. Get a massage, go to a movie with a friend, or buy that new CD you’ve been wanting.

• Expect to fall off the wagon. Learn from your mistakes and don’t beat yourself up. Prepare for setbacks and have a plan to get back on track as soon as possible.

If you have a fitness-related resolution, the Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness department can help - for free! We have something for almost anyone. If you are new to exercise and don’t know where to begin, or if you have been exercising and are looking for a change, schedule a fitness consultation. One of our student fitness consultants can design an exercise program just for you. We offer a wide range of group exercise classes: low intensity, stress relieving Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates, water body sculpting, step, cardio kick, etc. We even offer a couple of dance classes - hip hop and Zumba! We offer several incentive programs. You can participate and get free stuff! If you enjoy competition and athletic activities, checkout our intramural and special events schedule.

For more information, visit our website at www.usi.edu/rfw. Let us help you get started on the right foot!

POST CONTRIBUTED BY: STEPHANIE WALDEN-SCHWAKE, assistant director of Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness.