UT students score tickets to see Obama

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Hundreds of UT students waited in line at the UT student union this morning to nab tickets to hear President Obama speak Monday afternoon.

"I was involved at all different levels of the campaign at offices here in Austin and I never got to see him," said Erica Puckett, who was first in line to get a ticket.

Now, with her ticket in hand, Puckett will be able to get up close and personal with President Obama, who she voted for, during his visit to Gregory Gymnasium.

Fellow students sharing in Puckett's excitement, bore the heat and a long line to get the same opportunity.

"We were waiting in immense body heat for three hours you know," said Sasha Henry, a UT freshman.  "How many times are you going to get to see the president on your campus? Probably, never again in my life."

"It was crazy, people packed, everybody all bunched up," explained Monica Cannon, a UT nursing student.  "But I know some people at the back of the line that are fighting tooth and nail to be where I am at right now [with a ticket]."

Tickets were only available on a first come, first serve basis to UT students who brought along a valid student ID Card.

Students were only allowed one ticket a piece.

Junior Jamaal Felix was lucky and landed a ticket.

"I think it will be inspirational [to see Obama speak]," Felix said.  "It will be a great moment to be alive. A great experience, one that I can tell my kids."

Obama will talk education during his time at UT, but some students believe Obama will be delivering a bigger message.

"If it were generalized, it would come from the Oval Office or White House. He wouldn't be here. I am excited to hear what he had to say.," Cannon added.

Along with the excitement will come street and building closures to accommodate the secret service and other members of the president's security team.

Gregory Gym will shut down certain sections to ensure the president's protection, forcing the health conscious to be flexible over the next few days.

"It's a mild inconvenience, but it is not everyday that the president comes to UT," said Rahul Jain, who frequents the gym.

These are minor inconveniences many other students are not put off by, but are rather excited to deal with.

"We got bleacher seats," screamed a female student to the KXAN camera crew.

Those who were lucky enough to get tickets were warned no to lose them because there are no replacements.

The only way to see and hear Obama now is to receive an invitation.