A number of ASU students and faculty will participate alongside the record numbers expected to turn out for Barak Obama’s presidential inauguration on Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C.

News organizations have reported as many as 5 million people could descend upon Washington that week.

A ticket will reserve a spot on the Capitol grounds; however for the first time in history, the entire National Mall will be open to the public for the inauguration, which will allow more people than ever to be a part of the historic event.

A total of 240,000 tickets have been printed for the swearing-in ceremony, said Maura Saavedra, a spokeswoman for Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz. Members of Congress distribute the tickets.

Saavedra said tickets are distributed through senators and representatives elected to the 111th Congress, but each member sets his or her own rules for who receives a ticket.

“We’ve already received hundreds of requests,” Saavedra said. “But constituents can also view the inauguration from nonticketed viewing areas along the parade route and on the National Mall, where large video screens will be set up.”

Tickets will be distributed at members of Congress’ offices in Washington, D.C.

The swearing-in of Obama is significant because it shows the world Americans don't make decisions based on the color of someone's skin, said journalism senior Anthony Martinez. He will be attending the inauguration with his cousin, but he said he’s not getting his hopes up about being in the ticketed area.

“I keep telling myself I will probably be standing on the National Mall with millions of other people who just felt the need to be there like I do,” Martinez said. “When Obama takes his oath, it's going to be such a monumental moment that I don't know how I'm going to react. It's just a moment that is going to be so much bigger than any of us and Obama, for that matter.”

Martinez began following Obama when he ran for Senate in 2004 and has seen him speak at the Tempe campus twice, in front of the Student Services Building in 2005 and on Hayden Lawn in 2007.

“The difference between seeing him speak in 2005 and at the inauguration is going to mind boggling,” he said.

Lauren Kuby, manager of events and community engagements for the Global Institute of Sustainability, said campaigning in five states for Obama and serving as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention was amazing. She said she bought a plane ticket to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration the day Obama was elected. Kuby, chair of the Tempe Democrats, has requested a ticket from all three Congressmen in her district.

“I’ve knocked on crack house doors in North Carolina [while canvassing for Obama],” Kuby said. “I was there at the beginning with Obama, so I’m compelled to be there again at the beginning [of his presidency].”

Nonprofit leadership and management junior Sam Richard said just being in Washington, D.C., is going to be electric. He said he’ll be flying into Philadelphia, then taking Amtrak “Joe Biden-style” to D.C. By doing this, he’ll be cutting his costs by more than half, and will converge in Washington with several friends.

Richard said the comparisons between Obama and John F. Kennedy have been plentiful. Kennedy’s inauguration speech in 1961 was the type of thing people told their children about, he said.

“This is the type of event I’m going to tell my grandchildren about,” Richard said. “This is a huge deal for me. It’s history, it’s my favorite city in the nation, and the atmosphere is going to be fantastic.”

Reach the reporter at philip.haldiman@asu.edu.