Some Inauguration Visitors Feel Misled

misunderstanding

Some of these people voicing their opinions seem to believe that UPIC isa partisan organization. It is not. President Obama, Democrats, Republicans had nothing to do with any of the arrangements.

J Willard of ME @ Feb 19, 2009 11:38:02 AM

Information was changed on the website

After several complaints were made to the staff, the website was changed to cover their behinds, So for you people who think that we are young and stupid get all of the facts first instead of just ASSuming. Thank You

Pone of NC @ Feb 05, 2009 11:05:26 AM

UPIC SCAM

I was so excited to be apart of history, a part of history that I helped in that I begged my mother to pay the almost 3000 of her own money in this terrible economy, to have me go. On the 20th of January, I was crying my first tears of the year. They were not tears of joy but tears of frustration. After losing my friends in the hords of people I resulted to climb a tree to see the capital at 5 in the morning. I can honestly say if someone asked me if I would be willing to do it again I would say yes....but at a point. We were told many times that there would be special seating for us at the mall, this was not true as I asked many workers and they never heard of us. Also the lie they gave to us about the ball was unforgivable as it had everyones hopes up. My bus was one of the lost buses, we got to the gala late and were only able to be there for 45 mins. They shut the dance down at 12 and with no remorce to us that it was not our fault. we as girls took time and effort to look sharp going out of our way to buy a special dress, to the guys dressing to the 10's and only being able to have finger food with a small dance floor to acomidate 5000....well that didn't end to well. I can only hope that UPIC learned from this and will rethink on what to do in 2012. I will have my name in the lawsuit if one follows. The only way they will know how we really feel is if they pay for how they diseved us.

Ashley of CA @ Feb 05, 2009 02:42:53 AM

A Participant's Perspective

I am one of the students who participated in the UPIC Conference. Unfortunately, this is not a case of either stupidity or naivete. Those who entered the conference at a University level had formerly participated in various conferences held by this organization, which was formerly non-profit. Two years ago, it was purchased by a for-profit organization, unbeknownst to the alum of the former conferences. With the extremely positive experiences I had in high school at one of the company's conferences (namely the National Youth Leadership Forum on Defense, Intelligence, and Diplomacy), I did not expect the treatment we received at this Inaugural conference.

I must say that I am quite disheartened by the comments suggesting that those who participated were stupid or are in need of growing up. I did not believe that I would be shaking hands with the President, nor attending one of the Galas shown on CNN, but I did believe that the treatment we would receive would surpass that of being given food that was past the expiration date. Many students had called the organization beforehand out of curiosity for a headcount. Each student received answers of varying numbers of 500, to 1,000, to 1,500 students taking part.

I am aware of the potential backhanded deeds many businessmen and women can do once a dollar bill is placed in front of their faces. Unfortunately, many of the students taking part in this conference witnessed firsthand a Jekyll and Hyde of this organization.

The students are not snot-nosed kids who are throwing temper-tantrums in order to receive full refunds, many are simply writing teachers who recommend students for these trips to warn them of the negative turn around this organization has taken. I am not saying that there weren't disillusioned students who believed they would be having one-on-one time with President Obama, but the majority of us expected better treatment overall, outside of the promised inaugural functions. Although I can understand the initial "wake up" and "grow up kid" reactions, bear in mind that we students had former interactions with this organization of a positive nature which enabled us to have faith in this conference.

Fortunately, friendships were acquired by many during the conference and were were still able to witness history from the "cheap seats"!

Emily Z. of PA @ Jan 27, 2009 14:22:46 PM

I apologize but some of the individuals who put responses such as "grow up kiddies" and looks like our univeristy educations are going to waste...I cannot believe your utter ignorance and arrogance

Did you receive the invitations at your door complete with embossed insignia and the specific phrasing "you will enjoy priority seating at this historic event...be one of five hundred elite schoalrs from around the world to witness the swearing in of the president.." No, you weren't and as far as those bitter Republicans responding to this article, we signed up a year ago. Not on November 4th or any day after...no, we enrolled in January of 2008.

As far as the claim that we were simply dupes in this obvious scam, do you realize that we are students and that the individuals who signed the checks for our tuition to this event include Senators whom you elected, royalty from abroad, and people from all tiers of society. The attendees I have spoken to include docotors, lawyers, students receiving higher than a D average at Yale and Harvard (which is more than our belated president can even boast) and they too were convinced by the black and white verbage of our "personalized" invitations. If anything you can accuse us of being a bit fanciful, but not foolish or blinded by partisanship. I would greatly appreciate that you read this and attempt to begin to rethink your past attacks on not only what you "assumed" to be the youth of just the United States, but also accomplished professionals and their sons and daughters from abroad.

Natalie of CA @ Jan 24, 2009 21:58:49 PM

RE: They weren't tipped off by the website?

I attended the UPIC program. We had to sign up for it over 6 months in advance. We did not know who would be elected then.

J of LA @ Jan 23, 2009 21:15:00 PM

Being Naiive

I also attended this and it was not the "kids" that signed up for this! The first invitation letters were sent to the parents of the scholars and I still have everything that the conference sent us! This conference was even supported for by Senator Joe Biden Jr. In the originals it is said that we will be with the city all night as it buzzes with excitement and our "gala" closed at 11:20. The food was horrible... If you got any! They ran out more than once! And they didn't offer offical veiwing sites for the inauguration! They were for the parade! And many of the students that attended didn't see the inauguration at all, and that is what we were promised! "To witness the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States"

of MN @ Jan 23, 2009 20:02:43 PM

It's worse than you think

The "Congressional Youth Leadership Conference" and the "Presidential Inaugural Conference" are phony given to these (and ten other programs that have no authorization from Congress or to schools. They are scams of a for-profit marketing company called ENVISION, and they have been getting away with this scam for years. Students and parents and members of the press, PLEASE keep fighting for this, the students can't do it alone.

Julia @ Jan 23, 2009 19:19:18 PM