KU Law News
KU Law News
Feb. 2, 2009
KU Law professor, alumni witness historic Obama inauguration first hand
From left, Ann Premer, Christie Sim Hudson and Jennie Guttery, all L'02, enjoy inaugural festivities on Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C.BROWSE A PHOTO GALLERY
Oread article on inauguration features Professor Andrew Torrance
University of Kansas School of Law Professor Andrew Torrance watched the inauguration of President Barack Obama from the same section on the National Mall as pop singer Mariah Carey and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, but it was the new commander-in-chief who impressed him most.
“I thought the inaugural address was wonderful,” Torrance said. “He made a very strong statement about how science should be restored to its rightful place, which is something I feel very strongly about.
“He did an elegant job of minimizing direct criticism of the previous administration, and instead talked more about the future. … He actually gave George Bush a hug, which I thought was a masterful and meaningful touch.”
Torrance’s purple-section ticket to the swearing-in ceremony came courtesy of the Obama transition team as a thank-you for his service on the technology, media and telecommunications advisory committee during the campaign. He was invited to advise on intellectual property law. Torrance downplayed his role on the committee, whose members exchanged ideas electronically in the months before the election.
“It was extremely cool to see the ideas that were being suggested,” said Torrance, an associate professor of law who teaches intellectual property, patent law, biodiversity law, and food and drug law. “I was very impressed with how seriously the campaign took new ideas and creative approaches to solving long-existing problems. Obama's team of advisers was full of intelligent, well-meaning people who were willing to listen to others and allow their own minds to be changed by what they learned, which is rare in politics. It was exhilarating to feel that what I teach, and study as a scholar, might actually have a tiny bit of effect in the real world on real people's lives.”
The nation’s capital seemed to depart from the real world briefly on Jan. 20, as an estimated 1.5 million people – including Torrance and many KU Law alumni – converged on Washington, D.C., to witness the historic transition.
“It was a strange mixture of excitement, joy, expectations – and also anxiety and security,” Torrance recounted. “There were military vehicles, helicopters and soldiers everywhere, including soldiers with guns that were 5 feet long.
“But everyone was in high spirits. It was obvious everyone understood the historic significance of the event. People were very emotional as well. A lot of people cried when he said the oath of office and they played ‘Hail to the Chief.’ I’ve never been with so many people who were just delighted to get up at 3 in the morning and line up so they couldn’t see anything happen and stand in the cold for six or seven hours.”
Linda Shewack, L’07, didn’t have that problem. She lives in an apartment on Pennsylvania Avenue and enjoyed a rooftop view of the proceedings with her sister’s family, who traveled from Pennsylvania to witness the occasion.
“With the aid of binoculars, we had a nice view of the JumboTrons, and our property managers passed out champagne so the corks started popping as soon as Obama finished the oath,” Shewack said. “We all had a blast, and I was so happy that I was able to have my teenage nieces down to see it all.”
Christie Sim Hudson, L’07, met some friends on Capitol Hill around 8 a.m. Tuesday morning and began her trek to the Capitol with purple-section tickets in hand.
“It was really, really cold – probably 15 degrees – but we all dressed very warmly, and I think our adrenaline was rushing so we didn't even really seem to mind the cold,” Hudson said. “Once we got close to the Capitol, we saw a huge, huge crowd of people.”
“Despite the number of people there,” she said, “people were calm and excited and polite – which you don't always get on the East Coast. We talked to everyone around us. Most people were from out of the D.C. area and had traveled very far and sacrificed a lot to get there.”
A tense moment came just after Obama took the oath, Torrance said.
“There was an explosion to our left,” he said. “Everyone looked to the left and gasped. And then there was another one, and then another one and another one.”
Torrance and the people around him breathed a sigh of relief when they realized the blasts were part of the 21-gun salute for the new president.