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(04/23/19 2:00am)
By Julia Marnin
Former Production Manager
Whether they were Mario Kart fanatics or Grand Theft Auto experts, nothing could prepare the students at the College for The Arrive Alive Tour’s car simulator.
On Thursday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., students stopped by Alumni Grove during their usual commute to class to test out a car simulator, which allowed them to experience the dangers of driving under the influence or while texting.
The simulator was the main attraction of The Arrive Alive Tour, which was an event hosted by the Alcohol and Drug Education Program and the NJ Division of Traffic Safety and co-sponsored by Delta Zeta sorority. The event also raised awareness of distracted driving as part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
Although this is the fifth time the nationwide Arrive Alive Tour has visited the College, ADEP Director Joe Hadge believes last semester’s car crash near campus has made this issue much more personal for students.
“The importance of drinking alcohol and not driving really hits home,” Hadge said.
According to Heidi Martinez, Arrive Alive’s safe driving awareness instructor, drunk driving is the leading cause of car accidents for 18 to 22-year-olds.
“It kills 10,000 people every year,” she said.
Arrive Alive’s distracted driving simulator used a real car for students to sit inside, put on goggles that impaired their vision and choose between a simulation of driving drunk, high on marijuana or while texting. Drivers could then control the simulated car with the wheel, gas pedal and brakes while watching the screen to see where they were going.
“The simulation is as accurate as we can make it and it's a real car that we travel in,” Martinez said.
According to Martinez, the simulator is effective in raising awareness because it is a safe environment for students to experience dangerous behavior.
“It’s got the same delay in reaction time and gives you tunnel vision as well,” Martinez said.
After the simulator, students were handed a ticket with their “blood alcohol concentration” and a list of the different possible infractions, which included speeding, swerving and collision.
The event gave students learned a lot from the opportunity to participate in a variety of drunk-driving simulations.
“I did the drunk driving simulator and I crashed and hit a pole” said Frank Dinozzi, a junior elementary education and history dual major. “It was hard. I went too slow and almost hit a person as well.”
Dinozzi said that while the event was entertaining, and while it was fun to see who was most successful in the simulator, the event also did an impactful job of drawing students’ attention to the dangers of drunk driving.
Throughout the event, the sisters of Delta Zeta took turns working a table to get the signatures of students who pledged they would not drive under the influence or distracted. Students also signed the petition to ensure that they would not get into a car with an unfit driver.
“Because one of sisters was in the accident that happened back in December, we thought it was super important for us to be involved,” said Katerina Lallos, a senior psychology major. “We want to help make sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to anyone else on this campus or anywhere.”
The Arrive Alive Tour also raises awareness about the dangers of texting while driving.
“People obviously have the stigma against driving drunk especially after what happened last semester,” said senior speech pathology major Sam Theriot. “It's good to inform people that texting and driving is just as dangerous.”
Someone driving with a phone in their hand is six times as likely to get into an accident than someone who is drinking and driving, according to Martinez.
“Everyone that got in these accidents thought that they were good at (texting and driving),” Martinez said. “The near misses aren't always near misses and it can lead to a fatality or car accident.”
Martinez highlighted that texting and driving has been a major problem in New Jersey, with police cracking down on the problem by handing out an increasing number of tickets.
The Arrive Alive event also taught students about the dangers of driving while high, which can be trivialized or overlooked.
“I’m very concerned about marijuana in connection to driving,” Hadge said. “We are trying to tell the politicians that.”
Although recreational marijuana use is legal in states like California and Colorado, driving and using that practice remains illegal in New Jersey.
“If you smoke marijuana, it takes an extra second for your brain to tell yourself to react,” Martinez said. “Someone can pull out in the road in front of you like they do everyday and you’re not going to be able to respond in time.”
The event reminded students of the need to practice responsible driving to ensure public safety and keep themselves and others out of harm’s way.
“It’s not only unfair to yourself, but it's unfair to everyone else on the road,” said Kyle Bailey, a junior criminology major.
(09/11/18 8:36pm)
By Julia Marnin
The opportunity to study and live in another country is unlikely to occur again once you graduate from the College — that’s why every students should absolutely find the time to study abroad during their four years here.
It’s easy to become wrapped up in your own life and career after graduation, which makes it difficult to travel. This is why students at the College should step outside of their comfort zones and see the world now before they have adult responsibilities tying them down.
This semester, I am studying in Heidelberg, Germany. Before I arrived, I was both excited and scared. Do not let fear be the force that holds you back. I have learned that the best things happen when you do something that scares you.
The College provides amazing opportunities that every student should seize to experience another culture.
If it’s the process that worries you, don’t worry –– the College makes studying abroad easy. There are countless exchange programs and study centers all over the world that students can attend.
The advisers at the center for global engagement help find the right program for you. With the step by step application process, everything runs smoothly. Even if the area you would like to study in is not a part of an exchange or study center, the College can connect students to third party study abroad options as well.
Living in another country for a couple weeks, a semester or even a year can seem super long, but it’s not. It is only a moment in your whole lifetime and is sure to be an experience that you look back on as one of the best times of your life.
Even if studying abroad has not crossed your mind once, consider it. It provides an experience that cannot be achieved by vacationing in another country for a shorter period.
You will be immersing yourself in an entirely different culture and gaining new world perspectives that will allow you to grow in a variety of ways. Living in another country opens your mind and reminds you that there is a whole world out there that can be quite different than the American bubble you live in. You will try food you’ve never tasted and you will witness sights that are straight out of a National Geographic magazine.
Lifelong connections and friends can be made in the country you’re living in. Also lifelong friends can be made with the people you study abroad with. Together, you’ll make memories that you will share together forever.
You begin to learn so much about yourself as well as the other cultures you come in contact with. Also, you may even learn a new language and be able to take that home with you. Not to mention, studying abroad is a great resumé booster. It demonstrates your independence and adaptability.
Of course, studying abroad comes with challenges, but these are healthy challenges that will shape you into a stronger and smarter person. I am learning to live with less because I couldn’t pack my whole life into one suitcase and a couple bags for a semester. Also, I am learning to be smarter with how I spend my money.
There is a whole word out there waiting to be discovered, and students at the College should certainly diversify their college career by studying abroad.
Students share opinions around campus
"Should students study abroad in college?"
"You only get to see the world so many times. Once you get a job, it's hard to travel the world."
"It's good to get out of your comfort zone and experience other cultures."
(03/28/18 12:17am)
By Julia Marnin
Production Manager
Days before I started my freshman year at the College a year and a half ago, I was extremely anxious. I did not know what to expect from this new chapter of my life and was beginning to get cold feet. So many thoughts swirled around my head. Was this the right decision? Should I have gone to another school? Will I make any new friends?
My worries stemmed from the fact that I was stepping outside of my comfort zone. I was leaving the comfort and familiarity of my home and family that I was used to.
The car ride up to the College on move in day was particularly nerve wracking. I knew I couldn’t change my mind. Little did I know at that moment, my decision to come to the College and step outside of my comfort zone was one of the greatest decisions I ever made.
I realized this was the right school and I made plenty of new friends. The College has become a place where I thrive. It only took me being momentarily uncomfortable to make that transitional jump.
When I use the GPS on my iPhone, it uses the College as my home address — which is fitting, because the College really has become my home.
Had I stayed in my comfort zone, I would not have grown the way I have. Leaving it instilled character in me, and has bettered me as a more independent person. Since then, I have met people and encountered opportunities that I would have missed out on.
I had to remember the benefits of leaving my comfort zone when I was faced with another opportunity to leave it.
Early in my college career, I knew I wanted to study abroad as a junior for a semester. However, that was a decision that had to be made in advance of my junior year. The College had become my new comfort zone, and now I had to choose if I wanted to step outside of it.
As a sophomore, I discovered that the study abroad program I desired the most would work best during the fall semester of my junior year. At the time of this discovery, I realized there was not much time until the application deadline.
I had to make a big decision. Many questions came to my mind. I thought, “What if I’m not ready to spend months in another country by myself? What if I’ll get homesick? What if I won’t make any friends on the program I go on?”
I realized that all of my what-ifs and worries were quite similar to the ones I had before I came to college. Moving an hour away from home versus moving across the Atlantic ocean seemed incomparable. This would be a large step outside my comfort zone. However, I remembered that taking a leap of faith in coming to the College brought the best change to my life.
Instead of worrying about the negative possibilities of studying abroad, I thought of all the positive potential. Since I’ve grown so much in coming to the College, I realize how much more I would grow leaving it for a semester. Immersing myself in a new culture and language different than my own can truly teach me independence.
I decided that even though it may be scary to study abroad, I had to apply. It is again time for me to leave my comfort zone, and to see what awaits in life’s next chapter.
Leaving your comfort zone is a chance for a new start. It is a way to shake up the monotonous schedule of day-to-day life and embark on a new journey.
You will learn things about yourself that you never knew, and gain memorable life experiences. Even if your experiences outside your comfort zone aren’t always positive, you will surely learn something. You will be happy to know you had the courage to be uncomfortable.
The only way to progress and grow in life is to start taking risks. If you find yourself feeling that you’ve felt comfortable for too long, you know what to do.
(03/20/18 9:03am)
By Julia Marnin
Production Manager
A growing sense of uneasiness spread across campus as rumors of human trafficking filled students’ heads. Speculation was centered on multiple incidents where students encountered groups of people who invited them to a dubious off-campus event.
“They asked me and my roommate if we’d be interested in joining their bible study that meets off campus, but they didn’t tell us where,” said Kayla Mahns, a junior psychology major.
The way these people described their bible study was very vague, which made the invitation seem suspicious, according to Mahns.
Campus Police began to investigate the group that was approaching students on campus, and came to the conclusion that it was a religious organization called the World Mission Society Church of God.
“Our officers have investigated these reports and spoken directly with people associated with this group,” said Tim Grant, the College’s interim chief of police, in a campus-wide email. “At this time, we have found no cause for concern but will continue to monitor the situation.”
The World Mission Society is religious organization that originated in South Korea. Since then, it has established multiple churches across the U.S. A spokesman and missionary for the group, Victor Lozada, said that the organization has had multiple locations based in New Jersey for around 20 years. This religious organization is distinguished from others due to its unique belief in both a male and female God.
Members of the World Mission Society claim they have been falsely accused of luring female students into human trafficking at multiple college campuses, including Vanderbilt University and the University of Mississippi.
“The person now thinks that they were at risk of being kidnapped and trafficked,” Lozada said.
From his research, Lozada believes the rumors started from a Facebook post in California.
Viral posts on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter alleged that people who preach about “God, the mother” are actually a part of an elaborate human trafficking scheme. Students of the College eventually caught wind of these social media posts.
“My roommate ran into my room worried because she saw a screenshot posted in the ‘TCNJ Class of 2018’ (Facebook) page warning about the group,” Mahns said.
Lozada and members of the religious organization are very disappointed with the prevalence of such rumors revolving around their group. Immediately upon hearing these rumors, Lozada said “the first thing we did was go to the police department.”
The organization wanted to know what could be done to end these accusations because of the fear they had spread. Lozada said he was advised that the best thing he could do was issue statements on social media saying that the rumors were not true.
Lozada said he even approached some of the people who posted the accusations, and asked them to take them down. The individuals responded by saying that they wanted to raise awareness, even if the rumors were not true.
“These accusations fell upon us because we simply approach people and invite them to our bible study,” Lozada said. “No one fact-checked. Nobody did their research.”
It has become dangerous for followers of the church to preach their beliefs — Lozada said that some of the people who believe the allegations are calling for violence on members of the World Mission Society.
“Our members are getting harassing texts, phone calls, voicemails and death threats,” Lozada said. “Some members almost got ran over by vehicles and our churches are in the risk of being vandalized.”
Lozada said it is likely there are college students who are members of the church at some of the campuses where the rumors have spread.
“Our students preach when they’re in school. Our military members preach in the military. Members in the workforce preach in different fields,” he said.
Some of the students at the College had positive encounters with the religious organization.
Kara Barone, a sophomore nursing major, said one of the women she talked to gave her a phone number and a link to the World Mission Society’s website.
“They were actually nice,” Barone said. “I didn’t think they were a part of human trafficking (organization) until everyone started talking about it in my sorority’s group chat.”
The church has been actively reaching out to publications that have reported on this issue to subdue the damage of the human trafficking allegations.
“Yes, human trafficking is happening, but the rumors are sending people in the wrong direction,” Lozada said. “It’s hurting us as religious individuals because our basic beliefs are being attacked.”
(10/17/17 12:41am)
By Julia Marnin
Staff Writer
The deadliest mass shooting in American history occurred on Oct. 1, leaving 59 dead and over 500 injured in Las Vegas, according to CNN.
Stephen Paddock, the 64-year-old gunman, opened fire at concert goers from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, according to CBS.
ABC reported that over 22,000 concert goers attended the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival. Country singer Jason Aldean was rushed offstage mid-performance, once the gunfire started and bedlam broke loose.
“The gunshots lasted for 10 to 15 minutes. It didn’t stop,” witness Rachel de Kerf told CNN.
Not knowing where the gunshots came from, people scattered. Some tried to hide while others hopped fences. Many victims lost their lives shielding their loved ones, a witness told ABC.
The New York Times reported that police body cameras captured part of the chaos. Police were heard issuing warnings that some refused to believe. One bystander shouted at officers that the shots were fireworks.
CBS reported that a SWAT team found Paddock dead in his room due to what appeared to be suicide.
In the hotel room, 23 firearms were found. A compound used in explosives, ammonium nitrate, was discovered in his car. Authorities found an additional 19 firearms, ammunition and various explosives in his home, according to CNN. Paddock lived in a retirement community 75 miles away from Las Vegas.
ABC reported that Paddock used a hammer-like tool to break his hotel windows prior to the shooting.
Paddock had no criminal record prior to the incident. The New York Times reported that authorities are still working to piece together Paddock’s motives.
The shooter’s brother, Eric Paddock, told reporters that Paddock was not affiliated with any religious or political parties, according to CBS. Though ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, the FBI said that it had “no connection with an international terrorist group.”
Paddock’s girlfriend, Marilou Danley, is considered a “person of interest” to the case, according to The New York Times.
Danley was overseas when the attack occurred. ABC reported that when she returned to the United States on Oct. 3, she was immediately met by FBI.
“I have a clean conscience,” Danley told her brother, Reynaldo Bustos, over the phone, according to ABC. “I didn’t have anything to do with this.”
Fox reported that Paddock did send thousands of dollars overseas to an unknown source. It is debated if that money was sent to Danley, and if it has any relevance to the shooting.
NPR reported that on Oct. 4, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump met with victims while visiting the University Medical Center.
CNN reported that Trump condemned the shooting as “an act of pure evil.”
Aldean responded to the tragedy with a post on Instagram.
“I am so sorry for the hurt and pain everyone is feeling right now and there are no words I can say to take that pain away,” Aldean posted. “Just know u are all in my heart and my prayers as we go through this together.”
(09/26/17 5:28am)
By Julia Marnin
Staff Writer
Ever since he was three years old, nothing has stopped Jack Wallace from pursuing his passion for playing sled hockey. Not even an extreme boating accident could shatter his dreams of playing again.
Now a sophomore biomedical engineering major at the College, Wallace says he’s one of the youngest professional players on the U.S. Men’s National Sled Hockey Team.
Wallace and his teammates have their sights set on victory as they prepare to compete in the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
“Jack Wallace is one of the young guns on our squad,” said Dan Brennan, the U.S. National Sled Hockey team’s general manager. “He is a big strong player with a great deal of offensive skill as well. He has a bright future and we're excited to have him on the team.”
Wallace didn’t originally start out playing sled hockey, though.
Up until he was 10 years old, he invested his time into playing ice hockey. But things drastically changed one summer when Wallace became severely injured during a family vacation.
While water skiing on Lake George, New York, his sister fell off the ski. After she fell off, Wallace had let go of his line. While left floating in the water, Wallace’s dad pulled the boat between them to untangle their lines. In the middle of untangling the two, the boat’s throttle was unintentionally pushed, causing it to spin around 180 degrees and run over Wallace.
“It hit me on my right side and broke my femur,” Wallace recalled. “I spun, and then the propeller caught my right leg and completely shredded it.”
In and out of consciousness and going into shock, Wallace was raced back to shore where an ambulance picked him up.
Eventually he was airlifted to a nearby hospital where his leg was immediately amputated. Due to the accident, Wallace was in a coma for three days and spent two months in the hospital.
There are two scars on his left foot that remind Wallace of the accident.
“I was very lucky,” he said.
Then, everything changed when he turned 11 years old. After receiving his first prosthetic leg, Wallace tried to go back to the sport he loved: ice hockey.
Unable to play because of his prosthetic leg, Wallace decided try sled hockey and has been playing ever since.
“There’s a classification for playing sled hockey and it’s basically having a really difficult time playing stand up hockey,” Wallace said. “There’s a wide range of disabilities in sled hockey.”
In the sport, players sit on sleds that have two blades underneath them. They move around by propelling themselves forward, holding onto the two sticks that have ice picks on them.
Wallace realized he wanted to play professionally when he witnessed ice sled hockey player Josh Pauls help the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team take the gold at the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics.
“When I saw that, I said, ‘that’s the pinnacle of the sport right there,’” Wallace said.
Pauls, who is now one of the team’s captains, had nothing but positive things to say about Wallace as a person and player.
“He’s a lot of fun to play with considering how he can play both a physical and skill game,” Pauls said.
Before making the national team, Wallace played on the U.S. developmental team for three seasons.
“It’s basically like the B-squad. The players that want to develop to become national team players,” Wallace said.
Now on the national team, Wallace has a full schedule with little room for down time.
This past April he went to Gangneung, South Korea to play in the 2017 Para Sled Hockey World Championship. The championship served as a test event for the rinks that will be used in the 2018 Olympics and Paralympics.
“He really flourished and grew going into the world championships last year where he was an impact player,” Pauls said.
At the end of each month, Wallace flies out to the national team’s training camp.
“We inspire each other and we make each other work hard,” Wallace said. “What makes the team great is our chemistry together.”
When he isn’t traveling, Wallace is busy with training and exercising.
“I put in 20 to 30 hours a week training, watching films, skating and working out,” he said.
Helene Lewis, a sophomore nursing major and one of Wallace’s close friends said, “I’ve always heard Jack talk about sled hockey, but after watching him play, it’s clear how dedicated he is to the sport.”
On top of consistently training, Wallace tries to balance his school work.
Next semester, Wallace will take a break from school and move to Chicago with his team in preparation for the Paralympic games.
Wallace has a two-week-long tournament in Italy, followed by another one in Buffalo, New York and then the Paralympics in South Korea to finish off the team’s hectic schedule.
Once things settle down, Wallace plans to revisit his studies over the summer and hopes to be back on track to graduate by his junior year.
After the Paralympics and completing his degree, Wallace sees a long career ahead of him as a professional athlete.
“I’m going to play sled hockey until my shoulders fall off,” he said. “That’s the plan at this point.”
(09/12/17 1:50am)
By Julia Marnin
Staff Writer
The city of Frankfurt, Germany, was forced to evacuate 60,000 residents as experts worked to defuse an unexploded World War II bomb on Sept. 3, according to The New York Times.
It took more than a thousand workers to help clear the area around the bomb site, according to Reuters.
The New York Times reported that the deadly weapon weighed roughly 4,000 pounds, requiring nearby civilians to evacuate at least a mile around the area. The bomb was discovered by construction workers in a site residing near Goethe University in Frankfurt.
As a potential blast from the past, the weapon was dropped by the British Royal Air Force on Nazi Germany towards the end of the war, according to The New York Times. The bomb is known as a “blockbuster,” named after its deadly capacities.
German authorities believe the bomb’s shockwaves would have caused substantial damage to the Western part of Frankfurt, according to ABC.
The city’s hospitals and retirement homes were made top priority during the evacuation as they left Frankfurt a day before the rest of the city, according to The New York Times.
The Times also reported that this was the largest evacuation in Germany since its post-war years. However, Frankfurt was highly prepared for a successful evacuation.
“There was no worry, no rush, no kind of fright. Folks were being attentive to the demands and what they had to do,” said Antonio J. Garcia, who works in one of Frankfurt’s financial firms, according to The New York Times.
ABC reported that multiple ambulances were available to pick up residents who were unable to leave themselves.
Thousands of civilians with no where to evacuate were able to dwell in Frankfurt’s trade-fair complex, Messe, according to The New York Times. Other areas for displaced persons included Frankfurt’s Jahrhunderthalle convention center as well as a few museums. The German Architecture museum was visited by roughly 250 displaced persons.
The New York Times also reported that the German Architecture museum’s director, Peter Cachola, spoke of the unusual sight of citizens settling down for long durations with laptops or newspapers to occupy themselves as technicians worked to disable the weapon.
The defusing of the bomb was delayed because some residents refused to evacuate the area despite warnings issued by fire chiefs, according to Reuters. Those who did not cooperate were taken into police custody.
German work schedules were not affected on Monday, as bomb experts were able to finish the job after working all day on Sept. 3, according to Reuters.
To make sure the area was clear, police checked the streets surrounding the bomb site, according to the Times. A helicopter with a camera was also used for extra assurance which could detect people through heat sensitivity.
Evacuations due to newly discovered bombs from World War II are not an unusual occurrence in Germany. The New York Times reported that 15 percent of bombs that were dropped on the country during World War II did not explode. Seventy years later, roughly 2,000 tons of weapons from the war are found annually.
(08/29/17 2:11am)
By Julia Marnin
Staff Writer
Barcelona was ridden with fear on Aug. 17 when a terrorist drove his van into a crowd of unsuspecting people. CNN reported 13 people were killed and more than 100 others were left injured.
Related incidents occurred as a house exploded in Alcanar and a second attack ensued in Cambrils, which left five suspects killed by police, according to CNN.
These deadly events stemmed from a group of terrorists that had a deadly agenda to bomb Barcelona’s churches and monuments, according to BBC.
The man believed to be the van driver, Younes Abouyaaqoub, was at large for four days until he was shot and killed, according to BBC. Knives and fake explosives were found on him.
There are four remaining suspects believed to be apart of the terror group, BBC reported. They faced a judicial trial in Madrid.
Mohamed Houli Chemlal was the only one out of the four that has made confessions regarding the plots. Chemlal and another suspect have been charged with murder and the crime of belonging to a terrorist organization, BBC reported.
The mastermind behind the terrorist cell was a discreet imam named Abdelbaki Essati, according to The New York Times. He secretly recruited young men for the Islamic State to carry out his plans.
The final two suspects detained were not charged with crimes. Mohammed Aallaa was released on bail, while Salah ah-Karib was to undergo further investigations, according to BBC.
Essati groomed the men with beliefs rooted in jihad, instilling in them that they would be recognized as martyrs in the Koran if they died in their attacks, according to ABC.
Essati is believed to have been killed in the house explosion in Alcanar. There, he and the terrorist cell manufactured explosives that were to be used in their plots.
The New York Times reported that 100 butane gas cylinders were found in the Alcanar house. After losing their explosives to the blast, the terrorist cell’s loyalty to Essati prompted their attempts to spread terror in any way possible. The explosion in Alcanar occurred the day before the van attack.
BBC reported that in Barcelona, Abouyaaqoub decided to get behind the wheel of a van and attack the popular tourist street, Las Ramblas. Weaving through the crowded streets, he rammed into scores of unsuspecting people.
After the attack, Abouyaaqoub fled the vehicle and escaped the location, according to The New York Times. He proceeded to stab a man to death during his breakaway.
BBC reported that police were unable to stop and shoot Abouyaaqoub because the area was too packed with civilians, according to a statement issued by Catalonia’s Interior Minister Joaquim Forn.
Early the next day, another van attack occurred in Cambrils where seven people were hit and one woman died, according to BBC. The attackers were immediately shot by police. Five of the suspects in the terrorist cell were dead. They had many weapons with them along with fake explosive belts similar to what Abouyaaqoub was wearing.
BBC reported the last time Spain experienced terrorist attacks as deadly as these was in 2004.
(01/23/17 9:33pm)
By Julia Marnin
Staff Writer
Donald John Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on Friday, Jan. 20, assuming the role of commander in chief.
He delivered an inaugural address with promises of rebuilding the nation and giving it back to the “forgotten men and women.”
The day began with Trump and his wife, Melania, going to tea and coffee hosted by former president Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle.
Afterwards, guests gathered at the Capitol building for the swearing-in ceremony.
Former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were present for the event, however, George H. W. Bush was unable to attend due to a respiratory illness, according to USA Today.
The transfer of power began as Vice President Mike Pence took his oath administered by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Donald John Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States (envato elements).
According to The New York Times, Pence was sworn in with Ronald Reagan’s bible.
Then, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. administered Trump’s oath of office to him, using a family Bible and President Abraham Lincoln’s Bible, according to Washington Post.
Trump gave his inaugural address moments after the transition of power took place. This was a historic moment as the transition made Trump the oldest president to take office.
In his 16-minute speech, Trump proclaimed messages and promises that were familiar to his campaign.
He thanked the Obamas, saying, “They have been magnificent” during the transition period.
The speech had a populist spirit, as it portrayed a willingness in Trump to work toward the interests of the average American citizen.
He described not only a transfer of power taking place between two administrations, but a transfer of power from Washington D.C. to “the American People.”
Trump stated that what matters is that “our government is controlled by the people” and said a “historic movement” is beginning in which “a nation exists to serve its citizens.”
He continued his speech by painting an image of a country that needs to be fixed and an “American carnage” that needs to end.
He mentioned issues that he felt had caused the alleged carnage, such as poverty, abandoned factories, a flawed education system, crime and drugs.
In order to resolve these issues, Trump addressed the American people by saying, “I will fight for you with every breath in my body.”
He later stated, “We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our dreams.”
Trump briefly mentioned foreign policy by promising to “reinforce old alliances and form new ones” and also deal with the threat of “radical Islamic terror.”
He infused patriotic ideals throughout his address and hinted at a new chance for national unification: “A new national pride will stir our souls, lift our hearts and heal our divisions.”
The speech ended with Trump’s signature campaign slogan: “Make America great again.”
Following the address, 16-year-old Jackie Evancho sang the National Anthem.
Afterwards, Obama and his wife departed in a helicopter to Joint Base Andrews to say their farewells before leaving on a vacation to Palm Springs, Calif.
Prior to the inaugural parade that began at 3 p.m., Trump, his wife and leaders in Congress attended a luncheon. There, Trump asked former rival Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton to stand. He said, “I have a lot of respect for these two people,” according to The New York Times.
The celebration of the new president included the inaugural parade that stretched down Pennsylvania avenue.
As the many ceremonies took place, Washington D.C. was filled with protests.
According to The New York Times, most of the protests were peaceful, however, clashes between protesters and police occurred.
The police brought out tear gas, as some of the protesters became violent and vandalized local businesses. Shop windows were broken and some protesters burned a limousine. Many arrests were made.
Trump and his wife attended three inaugural balls that night. According to CNN, aides said there were few inaugural activities because Trump wants to get to work as soon as possible.
Many House Democrats boycotted the event, according to Fox News.