As President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated Friday, UF students can watch the ceremony at five different locations on campus.
David Parrott, the vice president for Student Affairs at UF, emailed students Tuesday afternoon announcing the Office of Student Affairs will provide viewing locations for students at the Reitz Union Chamber, Graham Hall Gallery, Broward Hall Rec. Room, Tanglewood Village Commons and Corry Village Commons.
Showings will vary but will be between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, UF spokesperson Janine Sikes said. Opening remarks begin at 11:30 a.m., and Trump’s official swearing is at noon, USA Today reports.
Sikes said UF hosted similar events during President Barack Obama’s 2008 inauguration. Department staff will be at the locations to talk with students who wish to discuss the ceremony.
“We’re providing a venue where if you want to watch the inauguration day event and want to talk with others or be with others, then there are venues to do that on campus,” Sikes said.
After the inauguration, administrators with UF Multicultural and Diversity Affairs will hold a panel of faculty, department staff and students to discuss the first 100 days of the Trump administration.
Gabe Lara, the Multicultural and Diversity Affairs’ interim associate director, said he hopes everyone can have an open conversation.
“We just want to make sure we have a lot of discussion and dialogue with our students who feel that he may not be the best choice, or some students who feel that he is the best choice,” Lara said.
A Facebook event titled “UF Student Walk Out” was created by Joseph Peralta, who is encouraging students to walk out of class and to Gainesville’s City Hall for an inauguration protest. The event is scheduled for 11:15 a.m.
“It’s a means of making a statement,” the 20-year-old UF plant science junior said.
Gabrielle Brown, a UF pre-pharmacy freshman, plans to watch the inauguration although she couldn’t vote in the election. Brown, 18, said she would have, but she only became a U.S. citizen last week.
“It’s history; I know it sucks, but it’s important,” she said.
