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youthjournalism.org
With students behind him, President Barack Obama speaks Wednesday at Central Connecticut State University.
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By Sherry Sah
Junior Reporter
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – It’s time to raise the
federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, President Barack Obama told a cheering,
enthusiastic crowd at Central Connecticut State University today.
federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, President Barack Obama told a cheering,
enthusiastic crowd at Central Connecticut State University today.
“Too many Americans are working harder thanever just to keep up,” Obama said. “Nobody that works full time should ever
have to raise a family in poverty. It’s time to give America a raise.”
Governors from four states – Rhode Island,Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut – sat behind Obama on the stage.
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Sherry Sah / youthjournalism.org
President Obama at CCSU
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“Each of us cares deeply about creating new
jobs,” Obama said, later adding that New Hampshire is also part of the regional
coalition.
jobs,” Obama said, later adding that New Hampshire is also part of the regional
coalition.
The president called the four “the Justice
League of governors,” and joked, “I’d call them the New England Patriots, but
that name is already taken.”
League of governors,” and joked, “I’d call them the New England Patriots, but
that name is already taken.”
The nation’s unemployment rate is the lowest it’s
been in five years, Obama said, but there are other, troubling trends that have
been “battering” the middle class.
been in five years, Obama said, but there are other, troubling trends that have
been “battering” the middle class.
“Average wages have barely budged,” Obama
said.
said.
The goal is to “build an economy that works
for everybody, not just for some,” the president said, including equal pay for
equal work and job training.
for everybody, not just for some,” the president said, including equal pay for
equal work and job training.
Minimum wage earners are not typically
teenagers, Obama said, but on average are 35 years old and mostly women. He
said many of them work full time and struggle to support a family on $7.25 an
hour, the current federal minimum wage.
teenagers, Obama said, but on average are 35 years old and mostly women. He
said many of them work full time and struggle to support a family on $7.25 an
hour, the current federal minimum wage.
Obama also addressed the high cost of
college. He said every young person deserves a fair chance to go to college.
college. He said every young person deserves a fair chance to go to college.
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Sherry Sah / youthjournalism.org
CCSU music education
major Alexander O’Neil
sang the national anthem
before Obama’s speech,
an amazing moment he
said was one of the
biggest in his life.
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“No young person should be priced out of a
higher education,” the president said. He said it’s tough to pay for college on
the low pay of a work study position.
higher education,” the president said. He said it’s tough to pay for college on
the low pay of a work study position.
Raising the minimum wage, the president said,
is “common sense” and would make a huge difference for many families.
is “common sense” and would make a huge difference for many families.
“This is not a small thing. This is a big
deal,” said Obama.
deal,” said Obama.
Having Obama visit was also a big deal to
local officials and students.
local officials and students.
State Rep. Betty Boukus, a Democrat from Plainville,
said she shook Obama’s hand. Having the president here was “just wonderful,”
she said.
said she shook Obama’s hand. Having the president here was “just wonderful,”
she said.
CCSU freshman Arnes Capacho, 18, said he agreed
with what the president wants to do with the minimum wage.
with what the president wants to do with the minimum wage.
Graduate students Michelle Triompo, 25, of
Rocky Hill and Jessica Folod, 30, of Bristol, said they think raising the
minimum wage is a great idea.
Rocky Hill and Jessica Folod, 30, of Bristol, said they think raising the
minimum wage is a great idea.
Folod said she could relate to what the
president said.
president said.
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Sherry Sah / youthjournalism.org
Mayor Erin Stewart
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New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, a 26-year-old
CCSU alum, said she was “completely honored” to have the president in her city
and speaking at her alma mater.
CCSU alum, said she was “completely honored” to have the president in her city
and speaking at her alma mater.
Stewart, a Republican, called raising the
minimum wage “a Band Aid” that won’t fix the problem. While she said she
understands that the current minimum wage is “not necessarily a livable wage,” the
focus should be on being more business friendly so new jobs are better paying ones
with benefits like health insurance.
minimum wage “a Band Aid” that won’t fix the problem. While she said she
understands that the current minimum wage is “not necessarily a livable wage,” the
focus should be on being more business friendly so new jobs are better paying ones
with benefits like health insurance.
Stewart said she got a lot of grief for her
posts on Twitter from fellow Republicans about her wanting to take a ‘selfie’
with Obama. While she didn’t get the picture she wanted, she said, she
definitely tried.
posts on Twitter from fellow Republicans about her wanting to take a ‘selfie’
with Obama. While she didn’t get the picture she wanted, she said, she
definitely tried.
While she may disagree with Obama on raising
the minimum wage, Stewart said it doesn’t matter.
the minimum wage, Stewart said it doesn’t matter.
“It’s up to Congress now,” said Stewart.
Protesters Focused On Environment,
Economy and Ukraine
By Sherry Sah
Junior Reporter
NEW BRITAIN – Outside the gymnasium where President
Obama spoke Wednesday afternoon, protesters held signs and chanted about a
variety of issues.
Obama spoke Wednesday afternoon, protesters held signs and chanted about a
variety of issues.
Paul Gebauer, a postal worker from Clinton,
Connecticut, held a sign with his daughter’s photo and a reminder of Obama’s
early promise to make climate change a priority.
Connecticut, held a sign with his daughter’s photo and a reminder of Obama’s
early promise to make climate change a priority.
“I care about the climate,” Gebauer said.
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Sherry Sah / youthjournalism.org
These protesters outside
the gym focused on the
situation in Ukraine.
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Sky Button, a 17-year-old senior at Windsor
High School, opposes the Keystone XL pipeline project. He said he doesn’t like the
president because he thinks he is too conservative.
High School, opposes the Keystone XL pipeline project. He said he doesn’t like the
president because he thinks he is too conservative.
John Ulatowski, a construction worker from
West Haven who is out of work, said he wanted to be there to express his
concerns.
West Haven who is out of work, said he wanted to be there to express his
concerns.
“I am not happy with the economy right now,”
Ulatowski said, adding that he’d like to see the president work to create better
jobs, such as manufacturing, rather than focus on the minimum wage.
Ulatowski said, adding that he’d like to see the president work to create better
jobs, such as manufacturing, rather than focus on the minimum wage.
For Marko Rudik, a first-generation Ukrainian
American, the issue was peace in Ukraine.
American, the issue was peace in Ukraine.
“We’d like President Obama to stand in solidarity
with the people of Ukraine,” said Rudik, holding a large Ukrainian flag, and “answer
the aggressive action” of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
with the people of Ukraine,” said Rudik, holding a large Ukrainian flag, and “answer
the aggressive action” of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Rudik said he didn’t want military action,
but rather measures like sanctions or changes to trade agreements. He said he
wants Ukraine to remain whole and be at peace.
but rather measures like sanctions or changes to trade agreements. He said he
wants Ukraine to remain whole and be at peace.
