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Clinton-Mania
Liz Miller
On Thursday, March 27 Dickinson hosted former President Bill Clinton. Turn out was large as many professors canceled afternoon classes so that students could attend and hear the former president's campaign speech for his wife. The doors to the Kline Center opened at 2:30 PM and although I was not there to witness the first comers to this event, I could tell when I arrived half an hour later that some people had been there for a while. Eventually, the front half of the Kline, where the speech was given, was crowded not just with Dickinson students and faculty but also with many members of the Carlisle community. The bleachers were packed and I found myself forced to stand near the back behind the various news station cameras. I asked a number of Dickinson College students what their motivation for coming to the event was. Many of the students I spoke to felt it would be a wasted opportunity if they did not come to hear the former president speak. “I'm here because I think I should be,” said Caitlin Bradly ‘08. This was the sentiment held by many of the students present. They weren't as concerned with the upcoming primary as they were with the opportunity to see a former president. However there were also students who admitted to being undecided and said that hearing what Clinton had to say might help them to decide which candidate to support. Whatever the reason it was good to see so many students out at a political event.
The speech was said to begin at 3:15, but it wasn't until 4:00 that the first set of introductions began. There was tremendous applause when Clinton finally did appear on stage and begin his speech. He had three main points for why Hillary Clinton is the best candidate for president; 1. She would work to reform our government so that it worked for everyone and not just a few people: 2, She would reform our country's standing in the world, and 3, Hillary is the best change maker and she will never forget what we look like today. Bill Clinton listed many of his wife's goals if she were to become president including universal Health Care, trying to create affordable lithium battery cars, making higher education affordable for everyone, rebuilding the middle class, and plans to get our troops home from the Iraq. As it neared 5:00 a large handful of people began to trickle out, but there were still people present to cheer loudly as Clinton urged the crowd to, “Let Pennsylvania say yes to Hillary Clinton!”
Even if many students were there primarily for the chance to hear a former president talk, there were also many people present because they were interested in the upcoming primary. Both supporter and non-support of Hillary Clinton came out to show their colors. The first section of bleachers was filled with people holding signs in support of the campaign, there were even cut out letters that read “We ‘Heart' Hillary.” Opposing these members there were several people wearing shirts or pins for Barack Obama. Some more vehement supporters shouted Obama even after the Bill Clinton had begun to speak. Perhaps because Pennsylvania is a swing state, or because of the nature of this campaign, the ‘apathetic youth' seem to be taking sides and are making a serious investment in the outcome of this primary election. And I have to say it's about time we made our voices heard. The Pennsylvania primary is on April 22 and if you haven't voted in your own state's primary already then be sure to vote in this one. As sophomore Emily Swain said, “now my vote matters,” and so does yours. |
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