University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

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STUDENT LIFE ZERO Newspapers covering the election left on campus I I Sljc Jsirtu JJork (times ggjjg OBAMA RACIAL BARRIER FALLS IN DECISIVE VICTORY NINE States changing parlies from 2004: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada Virginia 53% Popular Vote 365 Electoral Votes 71,400,000 in campaign donations

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PRESIDENTIAL RACE ■ STUDENTS SPLIT INTO RED AND BLUE AS THE 2008 ELECTION SEASON HEATED UR Wearing her bright pink hat and button, she enthusiastically stood by the table and handed out another registration form. The student filled it out and handed it back. One more young person had registered to vote. One more voice to shape the future of America. Registering others to vote was just one of many ways students campaigned for the Republican Party during the 2008 election. Brea Bartholomew, a sophomore drama and advertising public relations major, was a part of this and a number of additional activities supporting her desired presidential candidate. “I felt really strongly about John McCain,” Bartholomew said. ‘‘I’m a strong Christian, and I didn’t agree with some things Obama stood for. I had to stand up for what I believed.” Bartholomew was a part of College Republicans and not only helped register students to vote, but also campaigned in her own various ways. She wore a pink McCain hat twice a week, owned three different T-shirts that she donned several times and sported her button every day. Bartholomew was a Kappa Kappa Gamma and said she convinced several of her sorority sisters to register. ‘‘I felt like kids our age were the future,” she said. Bartholomew and other members of College Republicans received some negative attention during their rallies. ‘‘Fayetteville was naturally Democratic so we got some funky looks,” Bartholomew said.‘‘Most people just ignored us, but a few tried to argue with us.” However, Bartholomew said the organization got several freshmen to join College Republicans during some of the campaigns. Shelby Gragg, a sophomore agriculture business major, was also a member of College Republicans and joined the Washington County Republican Committee. He wore his McCain T-shirt several times and handed out stickers and flyers to support his candidate of choice. ‘‘Somebody had to do it,” Gragg said. ‘‘Most students didn’t get informed, they just voted. I wanted to inform them. I felt like it was one of the most important elections we had. It was going to affect our future to keep capitalists’ policies and socialists out.” Campaigning for the Republican Party continued to be popular throughout the election season. “If you didn’t vote, you can’t complain,” Gragg said.“I think all kids at the UA did a good job picking a side and fighting for it.” TEXT: RUSTY JESTER IMAGES: COURTESY

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OBAMA WINS ■ Cries of “Yes we can” echoed across the UA campus, Fayetteville and the nation on Nov.4, 2008 as people everywhere watched as Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States. Attendants at both Republican and Democratic watch parties anxiously awaited as votes flooded in from across the United States. Early in the evening, Obama already had a definitive lead over Senator John McCain and by about 9 o’clock that night, it was clear to many that Senator Obama would soon become President Obama. After the Obama victory was officially announced, people immediately began looking forward to Jan. 20 2009: Inauguration Day. Plane tickets were booked and schedules were rearranged as people made their plans to travel to Washington D.C. The anticipated day finally arrived and a crowd larger than any the National Mall had seen before squeezed in front of the stage where Obama was sworn in. An estimated 2 million people gathered on the Mall with millions more watching from their homes around the world as the inauguration progressed in the frigid winter weather. The Obama Era officially began at noon when Obama and Vice- President Joe Biden were sworn in on the steps of the historic US Capitol Building. In addition to the record-breaking inauguration ceremony, glamorous balls and galas were thrown around Washington D.C. to welcome in the new leaders. That evening, after the inauguration, President and First Lady Obama danced at a ball amid cheering supporters and friends and America got their first glimpse of the changing face of the First Family. TEXT: SHANNON SANDERS IMAGES: U RRY ASH COURTESY 13