By Nicole Houck, Contributing Writer

Penn State students showed up en mass at the main gymnasium of Rec Hall to listen to President Obama’s remarks this afternoon.

Students began lining up for tickets hours before distribution to increase their chances of getting in. Many of those who waited in line were not lucky enough to receive tickets to the event.

“I had to sit in line for a couple of hours. [The wait] was kind of long. We got there around 9 and tickets didn’t go on sale until noon,” said Penn State student Ray Sammons.

Penn State junior Audrey Snyder related saying, “I went to the HUB right after my class on Tuesday and waited in line for about an hour and a half to get tickets. I was lucky enough to be towards the end [of those who received tickets].”

Students who weren’t able to get tickets by waiting in line found ways to obtain them online. Typically, Penn State avoids distributing event tickets in advance in order to prevent students from re-selling tickets. However the event was postponed due to Wednesday’s inclement weather, giving some students the chance to scalp their tickets on Craiglist for upwards of $200.

Students braved today’s cold morning temperatures as the line began to form around dawn hoping to get a good seat for the event. The weather and the cold did nothing to hinder the excitement in the air. “We are…Penn State!” cheers resounded throughout the auditorium as students expressed their excitement for Obama’s presence on campus.

“Today, my friends and i arrived around 8am and luckily we were ahead of the line enough that we had a good spot. I think it’s a great, once in a lifetime chance to see the president and hear him speak and to have a good see for it is really cool. Years from now it’s something I’ll be able to tell my kids about, that not only did I see him speak, but it was here at Penn State in a pretty small setting so I think it’s pretty special,” said Snyder.

““I wanted to come see Obama because he is a historical president and it’s not that often that you get him to come to your own university. It’s fun to see that up close and not on TV for a change,” Sammons agreed.

Ian Weissman, junior at Penn State, felt the same way. “I came here because it’s a once in a lifetime chance to get to see the president and be this up close and personal. I think it’s going to be a really interesting speech.”

For those in attendance, Obama’s remarks did not disappoint. Students left the building inspired  by Obama’s message to “Win the future.” A common reaction to Obama was one word: “Awesome.”

“I thought the speech was awesome. I’m really into energy efficiency and the whole green movement, and I thought that President Obama definitely hit the mark with what he was saying and I really enjoyed it,” said Owen Osbourne, freshman.

“It was definitely awesome. I had the opportunity to meet him in the back before he gave his speech. He met with me and my fellow student leaders and just talked about energy and innovation, and how we can control the future. It was pretty funny. He said his daughters looked up to us. I take that more with a grain of salt, but still it was an awesome experience,” said Penn State student body president Christian Ragland.

“I thought it was very good. He motivated people to take more notice of what people are doing in the labs and up front trying to fight the battle for energy efficiency,” Christopher Nock.

“I am very excited about Obama’s vision. I think under his leadership all America will do is win the future!” said Zachary Gordon, president of the Juniata College Democrats.

Some were not swayed by Obama’s message. Student protesters gathered outside to express their distaste for the Obama administration’s energy policy.

“We think that energy policy should be judged by how well it benefits the average American. Does it lower his energy rates? Does it make it easier for him to get the energy he needs to run his life? We think the Obama administration has done a really miserable job at constructing an energy policy,” said Samuel Settle, a representative from Young Americans for Freedom.

Gordon said he didn’t read too much into the protests.

“Haters gonna hate,” he added.