It was an emotional scene on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at Lehman College, as students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Music Building on the Bedford Park campus to witness the historic inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama.

The Center for Urban Male Leadership, a student organization at Lehman that works to provide mentoring and educational resources to mainly male students of color, organized the event.

Red, blue and white balloons filled the air, as patriotic décor covered the tables. A shared excitement was palpable, as the audience patiently waited for the festivities to begin. The audience at Lehman cheered and gave President Obama a standing ovation after he was sworn in.

As soon as Obama began his inaugural address, however, the mood quickly changed. The audience sat in silence for the next 15 minutes, their attention focused solely on the new president’s speech.

As the event came to a close, audience members reflected on the importance of Obama’s inauguration, revealing their optimism despite the challenges the new administration will face.

“The younger generation will get to see a smart, young black person as President,” said Suzette Ramsudar, a graduate student who also works for Lehman. “I think [Obama] will inspire change.”

Iasia Bailey, a payroll assistant at the college, also reflected on what the inauguration means to future generations. “It’s important for my daughter’s future,” she said. “It’s a blessing for me and everyone in this country.”

Abel Sertsewold, a junior at Lehman, has high expectations for Obama. “There was a lot promised and a lot is expected,” he said. But Sertsewold also understands the immense challenges the new President faces. “[Obama] is a human being just like all of us,” he said. “I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt. We have to give him a chance.”

Offering some words of wisdom, Ralph William Boone, an adjunct lecturer for the English Department at Lehman thought for a few moments before he said, “[Obama’s inauguration] means that sometimes a man’s reach can indeed exceed his grasp.”