Joining thousands across the nation, Whittier College alumni, students, faculty, and staff came out in force to express their civic pride in response the 2017 presidential inauguration.
Beginning on inauguration day, the Bonnie Bell Wardman Library held a viewing event for the early-morning ceremony, with about a dozen individuals in attendance. And, at least one member of the Poet community attended the event live in Washington D.C., financial advisor and Washington state native Paul Swesey ’10 braved the cold weather to see history first-hand.
For her part, Alma Corrado Barrios ’17 attended a protest and rally in downtown Los Angeles on inauguration day. “I felt overwhelmed by the amount of people present at the rally,” she said. "But, most importantly, I felt inspired and realized that we have the power to spearhead change. We have the power to stand up for what’s right. I am motivated and prepared to fight for my immigrant community."
Saturday morning saw many Poets participating in the Women’s March, which held events in cities throughout the country. Members of the Whittier community checked in from Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, and Washington D.C. And, Poets traveling in Greece and Myanmar for Jan Term sent messages to show their solidarity.
Chris Sasiela ’90, who works for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in the nation’s capital, donned a pink cap and Whittier College sweatshirt and joined her local contingent.
Molly Berger ’07 participated in the march in her hometown of Denver. “My experience … was extraordinary. I am a lifelong feminist and women's right advocate but for me the march was about standing up for so many other issues too; institutionalized racism, climate change denial, classism, LGBTQ+ rights, rights of Native Americans, etc.,” she said. “I am thrilled so many people attended the marches around the world and plan to do everything I can to keep the momentum alive so we can turn that energy into action."
Visiting Associate Professor of Social Work Hamilton Williams, who has participated in various marches, brought his own activism to the classroom. He coordinated a bus to take students to downtown Los Angeles to witness the march first-hand. He wanted students to see how the coordinators of the march worked with many organizations and sponsors to spread the word and get people involved. “Politicians don’t pay attention unless people show up, make phone calls, or surround a building. The energy at an event can’t be replaced,” he said
“I marched for all the people who couldn’t march that day. Some people would have marched had they still been alive, some had to work, some people didn’t know a march was happening, and some wanted to march but were afraid of repercussions and threats from family, friends or from significant others,” said Lia Kozatch ’08, who traveled to Washington, D.C. from California to participate in the march.
As a follow-up event to the live streaming of the inauguration, Garrett House opened its doors and hosted a live broadcast the Women's March on Washington for all campus community members who could not attend other local marches. Over continental breakfast, attendees listened and discussed their reactions to speakers such as Gloria Steinem, Angela Davis, Judith Le Blanc, and Linda Sarsour.
"Looking at the guiding principles of the Women's March, we considered the ways in which this kind of collective popular activism and advocacy for inclusive justice - gender justice, racial justice, economic justice, sexual justice - can actively play a major role in shifting public discourse with the potential to shape public policy,” said professor Rosemary Carbine who hosted the event.
"Working in the area of leadership development, our goal is always to show students how to be informed about current affairs, be critical thinkers, and find productive ways to engage civically when they feel called to it,” said Dean of Student Joel Pérez. “It was inspiring to see some many students and alumni participating in the Women’s March — expressing their views constructively. In reality, participation in politics and activism has always been part of the Whittier culture.”
