Obama to ASU

Considering my graduation commencement address from BYU was given by Vice President Dick Cheney, I jumped at the opportunity yesterday to see President Obama speak at Arizona State's Graduation ceremony. We were required to be seated at 2:30 for a 7 pm start to allow enough time for security. Water was being sold at the price of alcohol ($5.50 per bottle). It was more a more comprehensive security screening than if we getting on an airplane. Not only that but it is mid May in Tempe, Arizona so temperatures were in the high 90's low 100's. As pre-Obama entertainment and to kill time after we were seated Christine and I had a contest to see who could find the most awkward/embarrassing sweat mark and there was no lack of qualified candidates.
Part of the reason President Obama was scheduled for the event was because of his support for higher education and accessibility for all. This is ASU's motto and accordingly it was the largest graduating class in the country with over 9,000 graduates. Sun Devil Stadium was full with over 70,000 people. Part of the entertainment included Alice Cooper playing, among other songs "School is Out". The commencement address itself was very inspirational and applicable. Pres. Obama joked about the controversy surrounding the fact that ASU did not award him an Honorary Doctorate degree and used this as a theme to talk about how neither himself nor the graduates had accomplished the body of their work. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.