Columbia’s close proximity to Grant Park gave students easy access to attend President-Elect Barack Obama’s historic Nov. 4 rally.

An estimated 240,000 people were at the rally to hear Obama’s victory speech beginning at about 11:00 p.m., long after the polls had closed.

“Obama reaches out to a lot of young people. He is refreshing,” said Wilfredo Cruz, a sociology instructor in Columbia’s Liberal Education Department.

Tickets were required to get into the rally. The ticket application and subsequent waitlist were online, but supporters without a ticket were still invited to listen to the rally and stand in Butler Field and in the remaining areas of Grant Park.

“I got to the rally pretty late, at 8:30 p.m., when it was super-packed,” said Nate Olison, a junior fiction writing major.

People of all ages and backgrounds came to the rally to witness an event that many said they will be remember for generations to come.

The Chicago Police Department and U.S. Secret Service tightened security and were able to keep the rally under control for the hundreds of thousands of people who wanted to be a part of the celebration.

“The entrance to get into the rally at Congress Parkway was insane,” Olison said. “Vendors were everywhere and we tried to find the coolest Obama shirts.”

Due to the crowded streets and sidewalks in the South Loop, some supporters opted to watch the rally from the comfort of their own homes.

“I made a huge dinner and watched the rally on CNN at home with my boyfriend,” said Jodie Annin, a junior fiction writing major.

Ticket holders at the rally were able to go into the fenced-in area at 6:30 p.m., two hours before they had originally scheduled to let people enter.

“I wish I would have stayed at the rally,” said Deirdre Burke, a sophomore entertainment management major. “I went to the rally around 5 p.m., then went home to watch it with my friends and family.”

Columbia’s campus closed at 3 p.m. on Nov. 4, as did some businesses in the South Loop due to security concerns.

“This is a moment in history and I am so excited it’s all here in Chicago,” said Courtney Ahern, a sophomore interior architecture major.

Columbia students were excited to hear Obama’s speech live as it was broadcast worldwide.

“Obama is such a motivational speaker, and he is really engaging,” Olison said.

The election has inspired some Columbia students like Ahern to vote for the first time.

“This was my first time voting for president,” Ahern said. “Students should follow politics because it’s our future [at stake].”