Significance of Obama presidency signals new era
Slavery was abolished in the United States in 1865.
Less than 150 years later, Barack Obama has become the first black man elected to hold the highest political official in the United States as the 44th president.
For Freeland senior and president of Students for Barack Obama Matthew Sous, this is a monumental moment in American history.
"It is amazing the stark differences between the two politicians and it is evident in their policies. With Barack Obama I think we will have better politics," he said. "That is why he was chosen. It is also really significant for him being elected as the first African-American."
For many students this election is important because this is their first opportunity to vote. Others expressed that they want change from the last eight years.
Ohio freshman Dierra Riley said this is history in the making.
"I am happy and excited for change. This is good that the U.S. still has some sense and is trying something new," Riley said. "I think Dr. (Martin Luther) King, Jr., would have been happy because we are living his dream for everyone to be united."
Apart from Obama's ethnicity, Flint freshman Nicole Dumanois said he also won because of his health care and tax plans.
"I think Obama will do a good job, but my dad owns a business and with taxation he feels that this will hurt him," she said.
Dumanois also said more people chose Obama because Republican presidential nominee John McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was not fit to be vice president.
Davison senior Sarah Stokes and president of the College Republicans said there are different reasons behind Obama's win primarily because of his new plans.
"I think there is a lot of cleanup that Obama will want to do, and put into effect the plans that he told the American people," Stokes said. "I think he will focus on economy and war. Obama's win is an accomplishment because no matter who would have won the race, history would be made."
Houghton Lake junior Chelsey Williams, has concerns about future equality for Americans.
"Some people are for equality but are not comfortable with a minority in the White House," Williams said. "It is really exciting. People say that he is young and inexperienced, but we have had experience and look where that got us. The people spoke up."
For Campus Conservatives spokesman and Topinabee senior Dennis Lennox II, Obama winning the election was a major accomplishment.
"This is certainly a historical election he won free and fair. We are also quite skeptical of what he will do. His whole idea of 'spreading the wealth' is something that (Campus Conservatives) disagree with. That is socialism," Lennox said. "(But) for an African-American Chinese-American, white man or woman (becoming president) is an amazing accomplishment."
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