The Presence of a President

Julian Cotom ‘25

Photo courtesy of Tallulah Hawley ‘25

The city of Yonkers (and more or less the small village of Bronxville) was visited by the 46th president of the United States, breaking the 50 year absence of an American president making a visit to the city. More notably, Sarah Lawrence College had its first sitting presidential visit in the college’s history. The students, of course, were ecstatic before, during and after the event. We had only been notified around 40 hours before the event, so the timing made the ordeal even more shocking. “Why here?” we all wondered. The out-of-the-blue visit was a campaign strategy for New York’s gubernatorial election. Joe Biden wasn’t even the main speaker, Kathy Hochul was. He and several political figures in the Westchester and New York area were all endorsing the governor and urging people to vote blue in the election. The “blue wave” washed over our small liberal arts college and noticeably changed the general atmosphere.

What started the general speculation was the large presence of law enforcement around the college campus. A plethora of construction workers were also seen along every powerline adding special cameras to them. Even before the event, when we were not aware of what was in store, the presence of authority had taken a space in our routine. Whether it was taking a different route on campus, driving on single lane traffic, or even a notion of fear, the quaint campus that we had become adjusted to suddenly shifted into an obstacle work zone of surveillance.

An email was sent on Friday night revealing the news, and students were talking non-stop about it from then on out. It felt as if a television star was reported to have been spotted in an area of New York City, only it was on our campus, and it wasn’t just any celebrity. This aspect can also show how the atmosphere has changed because Sarah Lawrence doesn’t have a regular celebrity schedule. Intellectuals and scholars alike flock to the college as guest speakers, but none have that “public figure” aura like the president. The weight of this appearence pushed many people to get excited over the thought of someone with national status appearing at the school. Maybe there was a little too much, especially since the president only had a guest speaker role. Many other major political figures appeared at the rally in support of Kathy Hochul and to urge people to vote. Among those were Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, his colleague Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Congressman Jamaal Bowman. Biden’s presence overshadowed the weight of major political figures being on the campus for Sarah Lawrence students. Even Kathy Hochul jokingly said that she was a “warm-up act for the president.” 

The rally wasn’t specifically for the students of Sarah Lawrence, but the college would assume the role of a public space for the community and public of Westchester county. Even people from other areas of New York showed up to attend the event. Students were given the chance to register and attend the event, and register and attend they did. Two lines stretched from opposite sides of the four-way intersection on Kimball Ave. and Glen Washington Rd.: one for the students, and one for everyone else. The student line started at the crosswalk and went down Kimball past the two bus stations, and the public line went down the hill adjacent to Bates leading into the Bronxville area. The lines merged into one as soon as a wristband was given. Students who got in the line before the parking and setup even started were put in the “Student Section” which brought individuals up close and personal with a barricade separating you and the president and others. The lines moved really slowly, so the event started while there were still many people in line. I was still in line for 2 and a half hourse when I heard cheering, clapping, and the singing of the choir organized to kick off the rally.

After waiting in line, more security awaited. Barriers were scattered across the entrance of the campus center and beyond. The police, the state troopers, K-9 units and the Secret Service were all present, cautiously so. A couple snipers were perched on the Yoko sculpture, alert and at the ready. A metal detector stood up right next to the PAC emergency pole many students are familiar with. “No bags, no drinks, and empty your pockets!” You couldn’t bring your own signs, you were provided some. After the “Student Section” was filled, the remaining people and students meshed together on the South Lawn. Every now and then someone would rise up on their toes to see if they would be able to witness the president walking across Westlands. An announcer would introduce the next speaker with, “Ladies and gentlemen, the president of…” while phones would go up high only for them to be put down shortly after when it was revealed that whatever “president” they were, it wasn’t the one that was wanted. One speaker came out after another, and the crowd cheered at their messages. Once Joe Biden walked to the podium, the crowd could not stop cheering.

The cheering could have possibly been heard from anywhere around the college vicinity. The cries resembled those of fans watching their home team win a game or the opening number of a favorite band or artist. The quiet college that we were all accustomed to disappeared with those cries. An event like this brought something out from the students, and it was enough to transform the space. I used to find it impossible to imagine Sarah Lawrence as a loud and grand college, but with this national presence, I see that it is possible for the students of Sarah Lawrence to speak out with a great force. Was there always this much force, or is this a new awakening for what students can bring for more public events? Maybe it could have been a one-time thing.