By Jaci Schneider, Opinion Editor

Several ACU students joined the hundreds and thousands of Americans gathered in Washington D.C. last week to witness the second inauguration of President George W. Bush.

Five students from ACU’s College Republicans traveled to D.C last Tuesday to participate in the festivities. Tyler Cosgrove, junior finance major from Amarillo; Casey Bingham, sophomore political science major from Conroe; Billy Smith, sophomore marketing major from San Antonio; Missy Mae Walters, senior political science major from Abilene; and Hallie Roberts, freshman political science major from Fort Sumner, N.M., began planning their trip last April, Cosgrove said.

“It was a very patriotic week,” he said.

The group toured several memorials and sites in the city, attended the swearing-in ceremony, watched the President’s parade and met with senators Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R-Texas, and John Cornyn, R-Texas.

“I really enjoyed being around the excitement of the swearing-in ceremony,” Roberts said.

Along with the official presidential events in D.C., the group witnessed many acts of protest.

“Seeing the protests there was a learning experience,” Roberts said. “Living down here, you only see one side, and I think it’s important to know that in a democracy, there are lots of sides.”

Roberts said her spot on the parade route was in the midst of many protesters, and after she left the area, the police used water cannons and tear gas on the crowd.

“It was really crazy and a little bit scary at times,” she said.

Cosgrove, however, viewed the parade from a different location and witnessed someone throw a snowball at the President’s motorcade. He also saw a group of protesters giving the Nazi salute to the president and some of the armed forces.

“Besides that, the protestors I was around didn’t do a whole lot,” he said.

Cosgrove also attended one of the inaugural balls, the Independence Ball.

“It was hilarious because a lot of the main streets were shut down, and women in minks and men in tuxes were carrying their luggage through the slush,” he said.

Megan Holmes, senior political science major from Coppell, also attended the inauguration, but as a volunteer.

“It was incredible,” Holmes said. She said she helped seat people at two concerts, helped people park their cars at the Constitution Ball and attended the swearing-in ceremony.

Holmes spent last semester as an intern in D.C. with the American Cities program through the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities.

“It was the perfect end to the election process,” she said. “I saw the whole election process firsthand.”

“Just being in the city during that time is really different,” she said. “The whole city shuts down.”

Holmes said she recommends that everyone interested in politics should visit D.C. and try to attend an inauguration, and Cosgrove agreed.

“It was one of those experiences I’d encourage everyone to do,” he said.