Obama is doing the best he can, but not enough for some

One year into the Obama administration and many of the University's students feel that President Obama is trying the best he can, despite unfulfilled promises and massive roadblocks to accomplishing legislative changes as seen in the healthcare issue.

Students generally feel that it will take time to "clean up the mess that Bush left him," as sophomore Charles Cohen said. The most pressing issues found amongst the student body are healthcare reform, the economy, the wars, education, marriage equality, the environment and financial reform.

President Obama delivered the annual State of the Union Address on Jan. 30 in which he talked about some of the concerns Americans may have with his administration.

Many students found hope in the State of the Union, but some students and faculty remain suspicious that changes will be made.

"The thing about the State of the Union address is it's such an event. Everyone's there and the President enters. It has a rock star feeling. If you have good writers and an hour and no one can interrupt you, it has an intoxicating effect," philosophy and religious studies professor Richard Connerney said.

Regarding the address, freshman Samantha Symonds said, "Those were just words. He probably had someone write it for him. Words can only go so far."

For others, it felt good to hear some of the administration's new policy agendas, like the possibility of forgiveness of student loans. According to the State of the Union Address, the Obama administration intends to give families a $10,000 tax credit for four years of college and increase Pell Grants.

Under this policy agenda, graduates will pay no more than 10 percent of their income on paying back student loans. After 20 years, students will no longer have to pay back their student loans. If a college graduate chooses a career in public service, he or she would be able to stop paying back student loans after ten years.

"I think that the first year didn't turn out as good as everyone expected [it] to and I think he was criticized unjustly for it. The State of the Union proved that this was just the beginning – he still has three more years," graduate student Peter Marciano said.

"I think the first year is always the adjustment year. It's hard to accomplish anything because he's being looked at under a microscope," Marciano added.

"The first year really showcased his dedication to pragmatism. President Obama doesn't care about ideology; he cares about solutions. It's obvious that he sometimes can be too timid and noncommittal in legislative efforts, such as the case in the fight for healthcare reform," junior Colin Seeberger said. "However, I truly believe that in the past week and a half, he has found his voice again and is eager to move onto different legislative matters, such as financial reform."

When it comes to healthcare reform, many students and faculty are deeply disappointed. "Everyone's under-insured," security guard Pablo E. Carela said, whose most pressing issues are healthcare reform and education, specifically the 19 New York City public high schools that are planning to shut down. "Obama wants to walk the walk, but he's still talking," Carela added.

Students feel that Democrats and Republicans need to work together better in order for legislative efforts to happen. Two days after the State of the Union address, President Obama went to a retreat with GOP lawmakers in Baltimore. "I didn't feel that the State of the Union addressed the path necessary for Congress to pass a bill," senior Catherine Paitsel said. "During the Q & A, I saw the tension between the Democrats and Republicans that is halting the progress of the Healthcare bill."

It will take time for policies to be passed by Congress and more time for these changes to be seen in everyday life, but students are willing to give President Obama and his administration more time to deliver the hope and change that was promised.