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President Obama To Speak At UM On Thursday

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The University of Miami is having a big week. Former President Bill Clinton paid a surprise visit to students in UM President Donna Shalala's class Monday night and President Barack Obama is due to visit campus later this week.

Most students at UM must have thought Monday night would be business as usual, until President Clinton walked into their classroom.

"I was like oh my God, is this happening?" said UM Junior Huyen Do.

President Clinton gave students a lesson during the Health Care Crisis class normally taught by UM President Shalala.

"I will always remember this, like every year," said Do.

And Senior Clarissa Carlucci literally ran into President Clinton in the hall.

"I was just walking to class, and all of a sudden I see Bill Clinton walking by, and some Secret Service. So the great thing about UM is that you never know who you're going to run into on campus, and I've learned to carry my camera with me at all times," said Carlucci.

The students posted the photos to Twitter.

Meanwhile, Alexa Lopez, editor in chief of the student newspaper, The Miami Hurricane, broke news about President Obama's visit to the school on Thursday.

"I saw engineering students say, hey Obama's coming to campus and he's coming to the Engineering School, and I say, oh? Really?" said Lopez.

The White House confirms a presidential tour about energy security, but will not say whether the President will tour the Engineering School.

Mr. Obama is scheduled to speak Thursday afternoon at the Uniiversity's BankUnited Center.

Lopez says it's the kind of attention presidents should give young people.

"Makes you feel like you have a voice, that you have a purpose," said Lopez.

Apart from his speech at the BankUnited Center, the President will also have a lunch reception at the Biltmore Hotel and a private dinner reception.

CBS4 News coverage of the presidential visit starts Thursday at noon.

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