Blowing Smoke: A look at the scandals VCU has become known for. \

O@Q1) [Q)CIDW

RICH GRISfI + FR6NCES CORm

ExecutIVe Editor & Semor Reporter

VCU students took to the streets in the thousands Nov. 4 after CNN projected Sen. Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.

The intersection in front of the Brandt, Rhoads and Johnson dorms was overtaken by spontaneous celebration.

The crowd then took over all six-lanes of Broad Street,

from in front of the Siegel Center all the way to Old City Hall, where students danced and cheered on the steps.

Cars crawled amid the crowd, many of them blasting '-'- Young Jeezy's "My President is Black," while students and Richmond locals danced atop. Obama supporters

carried campaign posters screaming "O-ba-ma" and

"U-S-A," among other phrases.

Supporters yelled, danced and cried.

Fireworks were lit in Monroe Park and throughout the downtown area.

Many in the crowd funneled out from the University Student Commons, after taking part in the election results party. The party had three different areas

for students: the Commonwealth Ballroom for

Democrats, the Richmond Salons for Republicans and the Commons Underground for independents and

members of both parties.

At 11 p.m. supporters erupted in cheers and cries as Sen. Obama was announced the presumptive winner.

dorms He waved an Obama campaign poster as the

crowd stood below Police cars lined the edges of the crowd, Simply looking on

Students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds came together to celebrate America's first AfricanAmerican president.

"I look at what he can do for me and what's bigger than me is us," said Donald Knight, director of political

affairs for the student government. "The word us is

spelled with a 'U' and an'S' and that's the United

States of America."

Supporters expressed overwhelming pride and happiness.

"God Bless America. His grandmother is so proud

of him right now," said student Joshua Maye. "His

grandmother, his mother, the civil rights movement, the women's suffrage movement, it was all worth it for

tOnight. Everyone who paved the way for this night, that's who deserves the credit."