Obama visit to campus canceled

President Barack Obama's visit to USF campus has been canceled due to the state of emergency declared by Gov. Rick Scott.
SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
President Barack Obama’s planned Wednesday visit to USF was canceled after Gov. Rick Scott issued a state of emergency in Florida in response to the approach of Category 4 Hurricane Matthew.
Obama was scheduled to talk about the Affordable Care Act. The talk was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Campus Recreation Center East Gym. The visit would have closed down Campus Rec, the Champions Choice dining hall and parking lots 22A, 22D, Lot 6 and Lot 15, according to University Communications.
“Normal campus operations are expected on Wednesday,” Adam Freeman, university spokesman, said.
As for any campus closures due to Hurricane Matthew, Freeman said he was not aware of any at this point.
Susan MacManus, national political analyst and USF political science professor, said she wasn’t surprised by the cancellation and thinks most people would understand that the declaration of the state of emergency was the right decision.
“You don’t ever want to interfere with a disaster,” she said.
She said she doesn’t think the cancellation will have much of an effect on the purpose of the event, which she said was about rallying millennial voters for Hillary Clinton and sharing the success of the Tampa area in getting people to sign up for health care through Obama’s plan. MacManus said she thinks the president will reschedule and come to campus in the future.
“Obviously people understand that natural disasters … are more important than a presidential contest, at least in the short term,” she said.
More Stories
Revamped Dabke club introduced at USF
After the Bull’s Dabke club disbanded in spring 2022, Dabke dance club president Claire Fosburgh made it her priority to bring back the club that represented a personal connection to her family’s Syrian-Lebanese culture after settling in the U.S. “I was raised to have this appreciation for our culture and our food, but my family […]
Solano, Malanga win SG presidential run-off election
Juniors Sebastian Solano and Jessica Malanga were announced as Student Government (SG) president and vice president in the 2023 SG presidential run-off election. A total of 2,087 votes were cast across all three campuses, in which Solano and Malanga won 1,076. Runners up Cesar Esmeraldi and Elizabeth Volmy drew 1,011 votes, a 65-vote differential. Election […]
On-campus political groups split on bill targeting diversity initiatives
Student-led political groups on campus have presented differing opinions and action plans regarding House Bill 999, which targets diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and critical race theory (CRT) initiatives at the state’s public universities. House Bill 999, which passed through the Florida state house on March 13, aims to prohibit state colleges and universities from […]
Trans+ Student Union holds Gender Affirming Clothing Swap
Among hundreds of clothing items separated by tops, bottoms and accessories displayed on top of several chairs in rows, the Trans+ Student Union (TSU) aimed to provide a safe space for over 45 students in attendance to explore their gender expressions through fabric. The Gender Affirming Clothing Swap event was held at the Marshall Student […]
Student-led art exhibit showcases multidimensional change
Standing in front of a group of 20 attendees in the dimly lit Marshall Student Center Centre Gallery, freshman interdisciplinary social sciences major Carolina Gutfruend shared the significance of honoring sexual assault awareness through her art. Recounting her own experiences with guilt and shame as a survivor of sexual assault, Gutfruend said she wanted her […]
Students, faculty rally against state legislation targeting diversity initiatives
At a Tuesday rally intended to create student awareness for preserving academic rights, history professor Alex Levine read aloud two emails he received earlier this week from prospective employees and graduate students expressing fear for their future at USF. One of the emails was from a trans philosophy graduate student who messaged him about her […]