President Obama Speaks at UR

On the heels of his speech to Congress presenting the American Jobs Act, President Barack Obama addressed a crowd of nearly 9,000 at the University of Richmond’s Robins Center on Sept. 9, 2011.

With just a few days’ notice, the University community came together to pull off the event, which welcomed not just students, faculty, and staff, but also residents from across the region and nearby colleges. “The staff was incredible, and the White House was a great ally,” says University President Edward Ayers. “As far as mobilizations of large events go, this is a pretty dramatic example.”

Regardless of their political affiliations, the thousands who lined up outside the Robins Center were excited to be a part of such an important moment in the University’s history “It’s great to see the students and community have this opportunity," says E. Bruce Heilman, chancellor and former president of the University. "It’s a part of what a university ought to be.”