SUNY Plattsburgh Celebrates Presidential Inauguration with Community Service
Faculty, Staff and Students Support Local Food Banks
Hundreds of SUNY Plattsburgh faculty, staff and students joined with community members
to take part in the inaugural ceremonies and perform a community service at the same
time. An estimated 350 people gathered in Yokum Hall where they watched the event
live. They clapped. They cheered. They used noise makers. They gave standing ovations. And
they donated.View Photos of Campus Inauguration Celebration"When the room started filling up, that's when I really got excited. When the money
started coming and the food pouring in, that was really cool too," said Holly Heller-Ross,
interim associate dean of library and information services and one of the event's
organizers.By the end of the festivities, the food collection boxes were overflowing and $240
had been collected for the Interfaith Food Shelf and JCEO's Food Pantry.Before the ceremony, Dr. Elizabeth Bernat, assistant director of academic advising,
gave a warm welcome and an overview of the events. She also led a discussion after
the ceremony, inviting people to share their thoughts and feelings, and she thanked
community member Marti Martin and the organizing committee for putting the event together.
Meanwhile in Washinton D.C.
While members of the Plattsburgh community were gearing up for the celebration here, Associate Director of Public Relations and Publications Michelle Ouellette was waiting in line on the mall in Washington, D.C."The crowds were shoulder to shoulder, belly to back," said Ouellette."There were times when you couldn't lift your hands up because people were smashed so tightly together"
The View from the Yellow Section
SUNY Plattsburgh Alumnus Ryan McLaughlin '08 also saw the event, first-hand, from the yellow section a little further back. McLaughlin, who now lives in D.C. and works at D.C. Charter Health Care, two blocks from the Capitol, arrived at around 6:30 a.m. and had no trouble getting to his spot on the mall. "We kind of had a view," he said. "It was not the best view. But we took it for the experience and overall atmosphere."For McLaughlin, the event actually started on Sunday at 7 a.m. when he went to the Lincoln Monument to attend the 2:30 p.m. concert there. He was amazed at the number of people coming in."I met people from other countries, London and France. This inauguration has a global impact. It doesn't just affect the United States but our relations worldwide," he said.Increasing Civic Engagement
SUNY Plattsburgh's mission is, in part, to provide all students with a commitment to "responsible citizenship within a global community." The college is proud of its efforts to enhance interest and participation in American democracy and civic and community service. Such efforts include those of the Institute for Ethics in Public Life, the American Democracy Project and the Center for Student Involvement.Contact Information
If you would like to learn more about Volunteerism at SUNY Plattsburgh, please contact:Cori Matthews, DirectorOffice Location: Angell College Center 101
Phone: 518-564-4830
E-mail: [email protected]
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