News Highlights

Two employees journey to Washington to watch inauguration

John Bulcock, Nadeem Noor Mohammed

Minnesota State Mankato employees John Bulcock and Nadeem Noor Mohammed were among those who watched Barack Obama take the oath of office in person.

2009-01-20
By Robb Murray, Free Press Staff Writer [published in The Free Press, Mankato, MN, 1/15/2008]

The last time John Bulcock saw Barack Obama in person, he was still working at Iowa State University, and Obama was a long way from making history.

“There was a charisma about him,” Bulcock said. He shook the president-elect’s hand, said hello and had Obama sign a copy of his book, “The Audacity of Hope,” as well as a campaign sign.

That was in early 2007, when Iowans were the first to sample the offerings on the smorgasbord of presidential hopefuls.

Next week, Bulcock will get to see Obama in person again. But he’ll probably never get within handshake distance.

Bulcock — the assistant director for student activi­ties at Minnesota State University who advises the university’s fraternities and sororities — is among the more than 200,000 people with tickets to the inaugura­tion. Another million (or 2 million or 3 million) are just planning on showing up to be there when history is made.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I think,” he said.

Nadeem Noor Mohammed also is going.

He plans to road trip it with a couple of buddies, which will be his first time in con­fined quarters with the same people for 12 or 13 hours. Unlike Bulcock (who requested tickets from Walz’s office days after the election), Mohammed is going without tickets.

He’ll be among the huddled mass­es — or perhaps cheering or roaring masses — descend­ing upon D.C. to be part of it all.

Mohammed, born in India, is the building coordi­nator for MSU’s Centennial Student Union. He’s also a self-described news junkie — “I’ve always been inter­ested in current events”— and follows especially close­ly any news story dealing with foreign policy.

While there, he and his crew will catch the sights in D.C. as well as Pennsylvania. They’re hit­ting Pittsburgh and Gettysburg, as well as the many attractions of D.C.
itself.

And during the actual main event, Obama’s swear­ing in and inaugural speech, both Bulcock and Mohammed plan to call back to MSU, where a major event is being planned.

Both the CSU Ballroom and Ostrander will be set up for viewing the oath of office and speech afterward.

Televisions will remain on for hours afterward as net­works cover the parade and provide analysis on the first day in office of America’s first black president.
Bulcock and Mohammed are prepared to call in and have their voices amplified for the ballroom crowd to hear.

Greg Husak, student union marketing director, said they’re trying to create a buzzing atmosphere for students and anyone else to be part of.

“Everyone wants to see this,” Husak said. “And peo­ple like the idea of being at an event for these things.”

Husak said the student union made arrangements for the student viewing on Election Day. The response was strong, as several hun­dred students came to the Ballroom.

“The enthusiasm for that event is part of what spurred (the plans for inau­guration day),” Husak said.

And it is open to the public.

Anyone can come.

Bulcock said he knows the event is significant. But right now he’s worried about more practical con­cerns.

“Right now, the thing that’s on my mind is just getting there and getting around,” he said.

For more Free Press news go to http://www.mankatofreepress.com/

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