My name is Elias Saigali. I am the President of a registered organization at the University of California, Berkeley that I have established called Students For Change, with the sole purpose of bringing the President of the United States to address the spring graduating class of 2015 on our special day. The University of California, Berkeley is widely regarded as a prominent university and is currently the leading public institution in the United States. In addition, the campus has been politically active for over half a century and continues to influence modern history and politics. Among our many simpler objectives, the main mission of our organization is to invite President Barack Obama to deliver the general commencement address at our Memorial Stadium to the Spring Class of 2015. I am sure many of you are wondering "why President Obama?" Well, let me thoroughly explain why. 

Students For Change was designed to offer a communal experience between the students of the university and its faculty. I signed the organization’s constitution allowing all students with interest to become members and removed all possible restrictions. By doing so, I tried to mirror President Obama’s effort to direct the nation in a hopeful direction and unite all Americans to create brotherhood. I am thrilled to be leading such an amazing, life-changing project and I hope you can find it in your heart to support a group of students who have dedicated their entire college career to launch and represent an organization that so strongly supports higher public education and college affordability. What President Obama and his administration have done for American education, in general, is alone something we are proud to support. Had it not been for the President, maybe not a single one of us would even be at this prestigious university and come to find the powerful voice within us, which ultimately enables us to reach out to him and help shape the nation in the first place. 

I study Political Science as a fourth year at Berkeley, and I look on to also become a U.S. President for the great changes I seek to see in the country and the evident love that I have for it. Both of my parents were immigrants and carry strong nationalism on their very backs each and every day. The many open doors they were offered upon entrance into this great nation were far more than expected. The purpose of their travels was for strong education for themselves, but more importantly, for their children - my sister and I. Fortunately, the dream they had as they moved to an unfamiliar land came true as I am now an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. It has been made evident that America always lends a generous hand to those in need of it, and now I ask you, Change.org, to lend your hand so we can together make a difference and demonstrate to President Barack Obama the change and progress we hope to see in the country as he continually advances the nation. The purpose of this petition, however, is to ask you to also support our organization and open a door for us to bring President Obama to speak at our campus. The benefits of the President visiting this university are apparent as his presence on our campus, alone, will further demonstrate his support for college affordability and commitment to higher public education. It would additionally be a magical experience for students, staff, and the surrounding Bay Area communities to witness the third U.S. President to speak at our Memorial Stadium and the ninth U.S. President to visit our campus. It is he who campaigned change in the beginning and it is our turn to take a step forward and give back to the great nation we so dearly adore. 

By having President Obama come speak at the university, the nation will truly see that if you join hands with your President and raise further awareness about the positive impacts that higher public education has made, he will help you and lend his support in return. I dream of shaking Barack Obama’s hand as a leader myself and just telling him how great of an inspiration he is to me and the ways he has positively impacted and transformed my life's goals. Together, with the strong support from the members of my organization, the University of California at Berkeley, and your help, this dream is destined to become a reality. I truly live my life in suspense waiting for this very moment to come. I believe in change, in higher public education, and in college affordability, and I know you do too --- so sign this petition and let us make this happen!

Thank you so much for your time and support! Each one of you is truly making a difference and taking a step in the direction of change. May God bless you all and the United States of America. Go Bears!