Obama addresses economic future in MSU speech
About 20,000 people congregated on Adams Field in West Circle on Thursday to see Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama speak about issues such as the economy, education and energy.
“Michigan has been hurting for a long, long time,” Obama said. “It’s time you had a president who will fight for you.”
Obama spoke at length about the economy and how Michigan students would turn the state’s economy around by developing alternative fuels and educating the next generation to compete in a global economy.
Just moments after the speech concluded, The Associated Press reported that Republican presidential candidate John McCain would pull his resources from Michigan, citing falling poll numbers.
Published on Thursday, October 2, 2008
Comments
Hal Brown
10/02/08 @ 5:18pm
I posted this before on another article, but will do so again. Forgive me. I’m old enough to be your grandpa.
The last rallies I attended was when I was a graduate student in social work. Three were on Walter Adams Field. One was for Geraldine Ferraro (the un-Palin V.P. candidate), and two were anti-Vietnam War rallies.
I’m not sure too many students today even know who the field was named for.
Walter Adams was the interim president of MSU for nine months in 1969 during the most tumultuous times at MSU ever. He was pro-student and anti-war. He often engaged students in candid off-the-cuff conversations as he walked on campus.
He said he would only stay on as president temporarily and despite the fact that half the student body signed a petition asking him to stay on as permanent president, he went back to being an economics professor.
I think it’s symbolic that Obama had his rally on a field named for him. Adams, who died in 1998, would be pleased.
For those who may remember me, find me by Googling Hal Brown. I write for a website named capitolhillblue.com
Jeff
10/02/08 @ 6:58pm
^^ Thanks for that info, i did not even know that area even had a name until about a year ago. Stories like that remind us of a time when students had something to complain about, and didnt start a riot just for the sake of it (as in cedar fest this spring).
Alice
10/02/08 @ 7:57pm
Yes, thank you Hal! That’s great to know and it makes me especially proud to have been there today. What a wonderful place America is! And it will be even better under Obama’s leadership.