Dear President-elect Obama,

We at The Maroon would like to congratulate you on becoming the 44th president and commander and chief of the United States. Your historic victory as the first black man to be elected president serves as reminder that America is truly the land of opportunity.

We ask that you continue to carry on your message of hope and acceptance. As we enter the real world over the next four years, this is what we hope for in the leader of our country:

We’re excited about your commitment to education because of what it means for New Orleans. We hope that, if you do decide to involve the federal government in our schools, you will follow the progress of federal programs closely and make sure they’re effective.

We hope that you support our charter schools and encourages the creation of more upper-level schools where opportunity is not limited to income.

Assurance of American 401(k) plans is a serious need for current Baby Boomers, and it will only become more pressing for younger generations over the next forty years and beyond. Retirement plans are necessary for everyone, and we feel that this is the best time for you to formulate regulations to ensure that our hard-earned funds will not be taken from us when we need them.We hope that you encourage Congress to repeal the Patriot Act.

Any practice which allows the government to toss aside our rights to privacy through wire tapping and other means, as well as suspending habeas corpus and justifying torture, is sickening and must end.Although you have used vague language in doing so, you have distinguished yourself this election as the major candidate least likely to delve into foreign entanglements.

Make good on your word to get our troops out of Iraq, appoint advisors that try to avoid war at all costs, and stop the unnecessary spending of our taxes on the military.

 Your election as president proves that America has come a long way since the Civil Rights Movement. However, we feel like there is still more progress to be made in equal rights. We ask you to encourage equal rights for all regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.We would like to see more support of the United States troops.

They work long and hard, putting their entire life and career on the front line to protect our country. They deserve to be recognized and we should never forget where they are currently serving. You should constantly remind the citizens of the United States of America to wear yellow ribbons and become more patriotic-because regardless of party, we are one nation.

Watching our parents, it seems like the rich only get richer and the poor remain poor. It’s important that you as president establish programs to bridge this gap. America is nation founded on its citizens pulling themselves up from their bootstraps, but sometimes those citizens need more than bootstraps. They need your hand.

As college students, and the youth of America, we are thankful for the ability to participate and be a part of such a significant event in history.

Signed,

The Editorial Board of the Loyola Maroon