Rutgers-Camden students will have their own trains — a River Line train from Camden and an NJ Transit train from Trenton — to see Obama speak at
CAMDEN -- They've got a ticket to ride.
On Wednesday and Thursday, Rutgers University-Camden will graduate more than 1,400 students in four ceremonies at the BB&T Pavilion on the Camden Waterfront.
But before that, about 300 Rutgers-Camden students will take their own personal trains early Sunday to New Brunswick for President Obama's keynote commencement speech. What's more, the River Line train that will pick them up in Camden will be festooned in Rutgers colors and slogans.
The students will then transfer to their own NJ Transit train in Trenton for the second half of the trip. The ride will be free, thanks to an agreement between the university and transit officials. There won't be a dedicated train home, but free tickets will be offered to the students.
"The announcement came out three days before our university president was scheduled to visit for a student leader meeting," said Mary Beth Daisey, vice chancellor of student affairs at Rutgers-Camden. "Of course our students wanted to know if they could attend. The NJ Transit police and other officials met with us and they were all very kind. They were terrific to work with."
The Camden students won't be donning their caps and gowns, bringing guests or receiving their diplomas at the New Brunswick ceremony. They'll simply be listening to the speech like any other spectators. Although some New Brunswick students expressed displeasure that graduates from the Camden and Newark campuses were invited, two Camden grads who spoke to NJ Advance Media had nothing but positive things to say.
Evin Robinson, a graduating business major, has wanted to see Obama in person since he was first elected. Robinson, a former Marine, originally hails from Mississippi, but ended his military career in New Jersey. He wanted to stay in the area, so Rutgers-Camden seemed like an obvious choice. He will start graduate school this summer.
"I'm looking forward to the whole experience," said Robinson. "I've seen [Obama] visiting around the area but I've never had the opportunity to go. So I feel privileged to be able to go now. It makes it a little more real -- it doesn't feel real yet that I'm graduating, but going to see the president speak and taking a special train, that feels good."
Samantha Muller, a dual applied anthropology and history major as well as a mother of five, first started college 20 years ago.
"I'm pleased with the administration's decision to allow students from other campuses," she said. "If we are one school, as we're often told, then we are one student body."
She doesn't agree with Obama's politics, but says she's happy to hear a sitting president speak.
"My president has a message for me and my fellow future alums, so I want to be there to hear what he has to say," Muller said. "After leading our country for the past eight years I am sure he has some wisdom and experiences to share that I can learn from. I can admire the man and not agree with him. If after 20 years Barack Hussein Obama wants to congratulate me, I'll take it."
Andy Polhamus may be reached at apolhamus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajpolhamus. Find NJ.com on Facebook.