By Amanda Cedrone

Change is looming.

On Tuesday, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and the first African-American to hold the office. He will replace one of the least popular presidents since approval ratings have been on record, and will be expected to make crucial economic decisions within the first few weeks of his tenure in the White House.

As his inauguration quickly approaches, there is no shortage of excitement among Northeastern students and faculty.

‘With the state of our economy and the state of our prestige in the world, everyone is going to be looking to the new president for leadership and change,’ said Jason Palitsch, president of the Northeastern University College Democrats.

According to recent media reports, the inauguration could draw as many as 3 million people to Washington, DC, but there will be plenty going on at Northeastern for those who aren’t making the trek south.

Chair of the Political Science Department John Portz said they will play the ceremony on a large screen TV in their conference room at 306 Meserve Hall, serving chips and drinks during the event. The Office of Student Affairs is also screening the inauguration at the Curry Student Center Indoor Quad from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Most students and faculty said they will watch the inauguration at home with friends and family.

‘I’ll definitely watch [the inauguration],’ said Amanda Stutz, a sophomore American Sign Language major. ‘It’s an historic moment.’

The Northeastern College Democrats are planning on celebrating the inauguration in a different way. On Monday, they will be participating in the Obama campaign’s ‘Day of Service,’ during which they are asking anyone who wishes to be involved to assist in various public service projects across the country.

Obama’s rise to prominence, his speeches, and his approach to politics have already caused many people to compare his impending presidency to that of Abraham Lincoln, and the expectations for him are high.

‘It could represent a turning point,’ said political science professor Kevin Donnelly. ‘Obviously from a historical perspective it is very important, but only time will tell if it is a turning point in the terms of change people are looking for.’

Stephanie Loneck, a sophomore mathematics major, said she plans on attending the inauguration. Though she says it will be an historical moment, she has other reasons for attending.

‘I want to be able to share his ideas with people, not look at a textbook 20 years from now and say that I was a part of history,’ she said.