Some Inauguration Visitors Feel Misled

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I totally understand how she feels, for I am one of the students too that feels mislead! I have already alerted CNN about this matter and plan to alert more.! This is not right. Everything that they offered was descriped an a way to imply an more enjoyable experience. One worth the $2800. But the experience we recieved was not worth all the money and left almost all the students upset and feeling decieved. There are many students, including myself, that is expected to recall the events to a local newspaper, they expect to see pics and hear things that they could not get from just looking at the news and I have nothing to offer, except what has already been discussed in the news. We were told that we would be able to witiness firsthand the Inauguration and they also called us special guests on National Mall but we did not recieve any special attention, instead we were set free at 3:00 to roam the streets and find National Mall ourselves and fight the crowd for a good spot. We were also told that we would attend a Black Tie Inaugural Gala, and when we get here we are told that our "Gala" is actually a "Gala just for other UPIC students, and Obama would not be attending because he knew nothing about it. We spent $2800+ to be special guest to the Inauguration and attend a Black Tie Inaugural Ball Gala, but we recieved nothing more the the other people that came for the inauguration, maybe less!

Lorneshia R. Moore of GA 9:20AM January 21, 2009

It's not fair to be harsh on these "scholars" and "leaders" after all the buttering-up they were given.
The website used weasel phrases like "Witness the Inauguration..." and "View the inaugural parade..." and "The exclusive Black Tie Gala Inaugural Ball...". In none of these descriptions did the website state there was reserved or exclusive access to these events. The kids probably assumed they would be given this access, along with all the other special treatment they were getting.
Live and learn.
"Fool me once, shame on you,
Fool me twice, shame on me!"

jimmy of LA 7:40AM January 21, 2009

Ah, well -- the kiddies learned a hard lesson about "assuming" anything: you can't. It just goes to show what our universities are NOT teaching students about looking at the facts and using some common sense. It also shows the sense of entitlement the current generation possesses, and that they plan to protest their treatment? It would be laughable if it weren't so sad.

L. Martin of CA 9:04PM January 20, 2009

Grow up, kids.

Elijah M of FL 5:27PM January 20, 2009

Welcome to politics kid! He got your vote and now he's president. This is why they need to raise the voting requirement age. duh. The Al Gore lecture on the now defunct myth of global warming is just adding insult to injury.

stitchathome of VA 5:25PM January 20, 2009

If you look at the site it clearly does not promise any of those things. I think this is just a case of someone not looking closely at what they were getting.

lookforyourself of IA 5:01PM January 20, 2009

Check it out they are doing online enrollment for the 2009 University Presidential Inaugural Conference, hmmmm now what President is getting inaugurated in 2009?

Teeny of NE 4:57PM January 20, 2009