Sen. Barack Obama’s address at N.C. Central University in Durham Thursday received positive feedback from some attendees, but left others still skeptical about the presidential candidacy of the self-proclaimed “hope monger.”

David Fuselier, director of N.C. State’s Students for Barack Obama and junior in construction engineering, said he was eager to hear from the presidential hopeful.

“He’s not swayed by the popular ideal. He wants to lead the country in a new direction,” he said. “After watching debates, he’s the candidate that most inspired me.”

President of the N.C. College Democrats Tara Ilsley said the rally inspired her, despite the political climate.

“He’s just a very charismatic speaker,” the junior in political science and Spanish said. “It’s a really hard time to pay attention to U.S. politics, just because it is so cynical.”

Obama echoed Ilsley’s frustrations in his speech, saying “nobody is listening in Washington.”

Fuselier said Obama even inspired him to work on a campaign, something he said he had never considered before this presidential cycle.

“I’m actually going out and campaigning. It’s really enticing and encouraging to get involved,” he said. “We just go out and either harass people to engage — make them engage.”

Fuselier said “getting people to think outside their own world” is what Obama’s campaign is all about.

In his address, Democratic presidential hopeful Obama called for such change several times.

“I don’t want little change, I want big change,” he said. “We’re gonna lead by deed and by example.”

Obama credited the potential for big change, in part, to diversity, which he said showed in the crowd at the rally.

“You’ve got folks from every background — young and old. You’ve got democrats,” he said, and paused for the loud cheers to die down. “[And] independents, and yes, even some republicans… You’ve got people sick and tired of George W. Bush.”

Ilsley said although members of the College Democrats back different candidates, she saw supporters of John Edwards and Hilary Clinton at the event.

In this spirit, Obama is making strides as “the uniter” to bring all groups together to reach common goals, according to Fuselier.

“He’s actually going across the aisle,” he said.

Obama said in addressing the crowd that his track record in Congress reflected his appeal for unity.

“When I got to Washington, we got Republicans and Democrats to agree to fix the legislature,” he said.

According to Obama, he hopes to continue to be the voice of all people if elected to office, but did have a message for the Republican candidates.

“All [the Republicans are] trying to do is campaign on fear,” he said.

Jay Dawkins, chair of the N.C. State College Republicans and junior in civil engineering, although unable to attend the rally, seemed somewhat skeptical of Obama’s goals.

“Obama is a senator,” he said. “If these are issues he cares about, he needs to stop peeing in our corn flakes and take action and make some real changes.”

According to Dawkins, the next president needs to be able to follow through on his or her platforms.

“Actionless hope and big politician smiles won’t solve our nation’s problems,” he said. “Uncommon leadership will.”

Fuselier said he is encouraged even by critics of Obama.

“From the Republicans, it’s good, even the attack, criticism,” he said. “It opens the talk and the dialogue.”

Obama’s address highlighted the need for open dialogue between parties, especially among “young people.”

“Every significant movement we’ve had, has been started by young people,” he said. “All those movements have started with young people realizing that the world as it is is not the world that has to be.”