Obama to speak at Tech?

**imported_yomama** · December 12th, 2006, 08:46 PM

from roanoke.com
Tech invites Sen. Obama to speak at celebration
By Greg Esposito

BLACKSBURG -- Illinois senator and possible presidential hopeful Barack Obama may be coming to Virginia Tech next month.

If his schedule allows, Obama will speak Jan. 15 in Burruss Hall Auditorium as the keynote speaker at Tech's weeklong Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. On Monday Tech spokesman Mark Owczarski pegged the odds of Obama coming to Blacksburg as "50-50."

Ray Plaza, projects specialist for diversity initiatives in Tech's office of multicultural affairs, said the odds are a little better than that.

"I'm an eternal optimist, so I'd put the odds at 60-40, maybe 75-25," he said.

Plaza and Owczarski said they should have a better idea next week about Obama's appearance. The university invited Obama to speak at its first weeklong, campus-wide celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. in January. It was the first time the university canceled classes for the holiday, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson gave the keynote address.

Plaza said Obama wanted to come last year, but his schedule wouldn't allow it. This summer, Tech's Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity began discussing the possibility of Obama visiting campus in 2007. Last month, Tech President Charles Steger sent an official invitation to Obama's office.

Plaza said discussions about a visit are in the final stages, and he's hopeful they will be completed by Christmas. Tommy Vietor, a spokesman from Obama's office, said only that no events have been scheduled for that day yet.

Plaza said there are no specific contingency plans for a replacement if Obama can't make it. But that's something that will be addressed in January if necessary.

Obama, 45, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004 after serving on the Illinois state senate. He's considering a presidential bid in 2008, and calls for his candidacy picked up steam last weekend when he visited New Hampshire. He spoke in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,500 at a victory party for the state's Democratic party and signed hundreds of copies of his new book, "The Audacity of Hope."

Obama has also written "Dreams of My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance," and Plaza expects him to touch on some of the themes of King's life and issues of race in the country if he visits.

"He's someone who I think epitomizes that message that Dr. King had," Plaza said. "And he's sort of an up-and-coming African- American role model and leader in the black community."

**NotSoSilentBob** · December 13th, 2006, 05:03 PM

The Howard Dean of 08.

**burton2019** · December 13th, 2006, 05:50 PM

I think you meant to say the next president of the US.

**NotSoSilentBob** · December 13th, 2006, 05:53 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I think you meant to say the next president of the US.

[/ QUOTE ]

D O U B T full

An Illinois democrat in the White House would be perhaps the worst thing that has ever happened to this country. Worse than Bill Clinton.

**Jason** · December 13th, 2006, 06:39 PM

Clinton was awesome and you know it! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

On a side note you can bet ole vthokie22 will be up his rear! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]