The University of Tampa was given the unique opportunity to host the President and Vice President of the United States not for a usual town-hall meeting but one that was strategically placed after his first State of the Union address and one that announced a high-speed train system to be built between Tampa and Orlando.
This announcement brings a multi-billion dollar economic development to the Tampa area by creating jobs and connecting the two cities.
For students that will be graduating at the end of this semester and a few years down the road, Obama’s message of job creation, economic growth, energy conservation and healthcare reform may be very promising.
What an honor it was to have both the President and Vice President on our campus among the minarets of Plant Hall and a student body who seemed to be pretty dead set on the candidates during their campaign for the presidency.
Students waited for hours on line to get tickets on the Wednesday before the town-hall meeting and then waited online again before the doors of the Martinez Sports Center opened to the ticket holders.
The question begs how the high-speed rail system will impact the University of Tampa.
The rail system will definitely connect the two cities creating endless opportunities as the Tampa station is set to be constructed only a few blocks away from UT.
Hopefully, the university will capitalize on this new endeavour and see where the train takes them.
Plans also call for the rail to extend both to Jacksonville and Miami.
The $8 Billion used to expand the rail system in the United States comes from the Recovery Act which Vice President Biden has been working diligently on accomplishing. $1.25 billion will be used in Florida.
To have our university chosen to host such an event is remarkable and whether or not students are fans of Obama, they should consider the fact that they were here when the first sitting President came to UT in the university’s 80-year history.
The night before Obama arrived at UT he gave his first State of the Union address and even mentioned Tampa his address to the nation.
As he revisited his address in the town-hall meeting, he know that making changes it not any easy thing to do but he is committed to do what he said during his campaign.
How will the graduates and current students of UT take Obama’s message to heart?
His plan to curb expenses on college loans speak to us pretty clearly and it was apparent when the crowd went wild.
He wants to revitalize the middle class and some of us may be in that category or may end up in that category in the future.
The bottom line is that whether or not we agree with President Obama, he has the capability to change our future.