Knox Students Predict Future, Celebrate Present

On June 4, 2005, Knox students predicted the future. Watching then U. S. Senator Barack Obama receive an honorary degree and deliver his Commencement address, graduates Sarah Lammie '05 and Sarah Legowski '05 held a sign that read "Barack for Prez!" And they were not alone in their sentiments.

Senior Class speaker Dan Lieberman also couldn't resist referring to Obama's potential political future. As he started his speech, Lieberman turned to then Senator Obama, who was seated behind him, and said, "Hi, President Obama! Whoops, sorry about that, I was just trying it out, seeing if it fits." Obama laughed.

On November 4, 2008, the predictions of Lammie, Legowski, and Lieberman came true -- Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States.

"I told you so," said Lieberman, by phone from California on November 5.

Lieberman currently works in San Mateo, California, and is a field representative on the staff of Dr. Leland Yee, a member of the California State Senate. Lieberman did some work for Obama, but mostly helped two local candidates -- one won and one lost. "I made 324 phone calls on election day. The whole world is excited about where we can go next."

Students Celebrate
Current Knox students are just as excited as Lieberman. Shortly after Obama delivered his acceptance speech, hundreds of Knox students spilled out of campus dormitories and buildings and marched into downtown Galesburg. Upon returning to campus, the crowd danced to jazz music on the lawn of the Ford Center for the Fine Arts well into the morning.

Roughly 500 students participated in the peaceful march, which was characterized as a "spontaneous outpouring of joy" in the November 6 issue of The Knox Student. Students chanted "Obama," "Yes We Did," and "USA" as they marched downtown, ultimately ending up at Galesburg's town square on Main Street, where they sang the "Star Spangled Banner" around the square's fountain.

"It appears that the students are really excited about the outcome of the election," Jimmy Stewart, assistant director for campus life, told The Knox Student. "They're having a lot of fun, which is good, and I'm glad they're civically engaged."

The march was also noticed by Galesburg residents. In a letter in The Register-Mail, Galesburg resident Julie Jones notes her feelings upon seeing the students. "The positive energy rolling off that crowd was incredible. The three of us standing there watching the students agreed that even if you didn't vote for Obama, it had to be great to see so many young college students uniting behind a candidate and taking part in the political scene in such a positive way," she wrote.

Dan Lieberman's 2005 Commencement Speech

Knox Erupts Into Celebration, from The Knox Student

Obama Already Uniting People, from The Register Mail

Knox Congratulates Barack Obama

Barack Obama's Commencement Address

Knox Magazine Interview with Senator Obama

Senator Obama's Reflections on Knox College in Time

Barack Obama's 2005 Knox address selected for Great Speeches by African Americans

President Clinton Receives 2007 Honorary Degree