University News
WIU Selected as a "Neighborhood Ball" Site for Presidential Inauguration
January 19, 2009
MACOMB, IL - - University Housing and Dining Services and Sodexo Campus Services at Western Illinois University received a surprise, yet welcome, call early Monday (Jan. 19) morning from the Presidential Inauguration Committee.
Western's Macomb campus has been selected as one of some 60 sites across the nation to host a "Neighborhood Ball," which will be webcast live on YouTube (youtube.com/inauguration), Flickr (flickr.com/photos/inauguration) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/obamainaugural) and taped as a possible feed on ABC network's inaugural coverage beginning at 7 p.m. (CST), according to Matt Bierman, director of residential life.
"We are among just a few universities, along with the University of Florida and Kansas State, to serve as site for a Neighborhood Ball. The majority of sites are restaurants, community centers and major public gathering places," Bierman said.
"Sodexo Campus Services, which manages Western's dining services, applied for WIU to be a host site in December (2008)," Bierman added. "Since we hadn't heard anything, we thought we didn't make the cut. Then we got the call this morning."
All of Western's dining centers will broadcast the Neighborhood Ball webcasts during the evening meal hours.
"It's fantastic," Bierman said. "Regardless of political affiliation, President-Elect Obama is obviously committed in getting students involved. This is a great opportunity for our students to come out and show their interest in government."
Western's Neighborhood Ball, which will run from 6-8 p.m., will be webcast live from 6:45-6:50 p.m. in the WIU Underground, below the Bayliss-Henninger Dining Center. A student will serve as the host and several students will be interviewed.
In Fall 2007, just before the 2008 presidential campaign started in earnest, Western Illinois University students participated in a five-day educational mock election - - "The Road to the White House Starts at Western Illinois University" - - complete with caucuses, primaries, party conventions and platforms and the presidential election. Western students cast their votes for Barack Obama in a landslide decision.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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