Emory students, faculty and staff will join the millions of Americans at the capital to witness President Obama’s swearing-in today, while various events will take place on campus throughout the day in celebration of the inauguration.

Among the Emory population at the inauguration are members of a Transforming Community Project (TCP) group, which received a $300 mini-grant to develop ways to engage the Emory community in dialogues on race-related issues. The group proposed to use the grant money to attend the inauguration, film conversations with others who attend inaugural events and create a documentary about the trip to share with the Emory community.

College senior John Roberson, a member of the TCP group, said people from various backgrounds have been sharing their perspectives and experiences of the inauguration — for instance, a Republican from Mississippi who, inspired by Obama, became a Democrat.

“People are enthusiastic. They’re eager to get on tape and say their two sentences and whatnot,” Roberson said.

As Washington, D.C. hosts a record number of visitors for the inauguration, the lodging was an issue for the TCP group. Jennifer Heil, a third-year graduate student in the English department and a member of the group, said that hotel rooms were booked as early as November, when the group began searching for lodging. Those who were able to find a place to stay made the trip.

Heil, who grew up in New Orleans, said the trip carries as much personal meaning as it does a mission to create dialogue at Emory.

“I don’t think, being in my twenties, I’ve actually lived through very many historic events,” Heil said. “[We are] a generation disillusioned with the political process, and not necessarily engaged with it. That might change with the election of Barack Obama.”

Roberson said that attending the inauguration will be “like having a moment of history to take back with you.”

“Twenty years from now, when my kids are in school reading the history books, I can actually say I was there, kind of like my parents said, ‘I marched in the Million Man [March].”

College junior Jeremy Barr, who lives in Maryland, will be attending the inauguration with his family. Barr, who is the executive director of the Young Democrats of Emory, was involved with the Emory Students for Barack Obama campaign on campus last fall.

“Tuesday will be an event for everybody who worked on the campaign, helped out, voted for Obama,” Barr said. “I sort of feel very connected to Obama. I feel like I’ve played some small role in some capacity.”

Barr said he anticipates the poor cell phone reception, the cold weather and the crowd, but hopes to participate in University Media Relations’ live feed from students, faculty and staff on the Emory website during the inauguration.

“I’ve pretty much accepted that it’s going to be pretty uncomfortable. But I think it’s still going to be worth it, to hear the speech in some capacity,” Barr said.

Natalie Messer, College senior and the editor in chief of the Emory Political Review, said that she decided to attend the inauguration to be a part of the excitement in Washington, D.C.

“I just felt like I had to be here if I had the opportunity to,” Messer said.

On campus today, the College Council, the Office for Multicultural Programs and Services, Center for Ethics and the Office of Student Leadership and Service will host a viewing of the inauguration day activities in Harland Cinema that begin at 9 a.m. and last throughout the day.

Among other inauguration celebrations on campus include the Goizueta Business School’s community viewing event and the Association of Caribbean Educators and Students’ Inauguration Ball.

— Contact Michelle Ye Hee Lee.