KENT joined people across the United States and the world in celebrating “the renewal of our democracy,” as President Barack Obama calls the orderly transition of power on Inauguration Day. The Kent community followed the example of the former President as well in putting aside politics to celebrate America. In addition to the academic coverage in classes, the community continued in the spirit of the campus debates and other events of the campaign with broadcasts of the ceremony across the campus. Students and faculty followed the administration of the oath of office in each of the dorms, the Student Center and Dickinson Auditorium. In Mattison, the Inaugural festivities were projected on the theater's movie screen making it truly larger-than-life. One student remarked, "It was just like being there... only warmer!"
The highlight of the day was likely the Inaugural Ball at Kent. Blue Key transformed The Dining Hall with red, white and blue decorations and an entire wall of the "ballroom" carried the simulcast from the first-ever Neighborhood Ball in Washington, DC. It was great fun and a great opportunity to bring the events in our nation's capitol to campus.
