Alumni, Distinguished Politicians Greet President Obama
President Barack Obama visited Buffalo Thursday to discuss plans to reduce costs for higher education. Upon arrival at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, the president was greeted by two prominent SUNY Buffalo State alums—United States Congressman Brian Higgins, ‘85 (pictured at right); and Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown, ‘83 (pictured on left).
Higgins and Brown were among the first to welcome the president to the Queen City. Obama later recognized the two before delivering a speech to a capacity crowd at the University at Buffalo, although the president mistakenly referred to Higgins as the mayor of Buffalo before being corrected by the audience.
"This is what happens when you get to be 52-years-old," the president joked. “But your congressman and your mayor are doing outstanding work.”
Higgins and Brown weren’t the only Buffalo State representatives at the president’s local visit. Senior journalism major Michael Canfield, covered the event for the college’s newspaper, The Record.
“I was in the press pit with journalists from both national and local media outlets,” said Canfield. “It was an experience I'll remember for the rest of my life. I was proud to be able to represent Buffalo State there.”