The event was only the eighth time a sitting president has spoken at the university, and UNC sophomore Owen Ruth was excited to witness it.
“I mean, he’s probably one of my biggest role models in life, and I get to see him at my university and talk about issues that I care about, because obviously he’ll be garnering his speech toward us,” Ruth said. “I think it’ll be good to get his opinion, especially as we go into the election.”
UNC sophomore Terren Williams shared Ruth’s anticipation for the event.
“I am so excited that I can’t actually handle it,” Williams said. “I am having trouble being a normal functioning individual.”
During his speech, Obama stressed the importance of taking advantage of early voting.
“The goods new is, you don’t have to wait six days to do the right thing,” Obama said.
Repeating the mantra, “Choose hope,” Obama also used his speech to campaign for Clinton, telling that crowd that they can “finish what [they] started eight years ago.”
“This is the moment where Americans can stand up for our best selves,” Obama said.
UNC freshman Ashley May agrees that Hillary is the best candidate for the presidency.
“I think she has potential to be pretty good for the country since she has the most experience in the government already,” May said.
UNC sophomore Alexandra Hummel also believes that Hillary’s experience qualifies her for the job.
“I think that she’s really qualified to be president,” Hummel said. “I think that a lot of people criticize her for things that have happened in the past, but I don’t think with as much experience as she has that you can get by without a little bit of scandal. I think she’s definitely qualified to be president.”
Northwood sophomore Katie Fuller was also drawn to the event by her support of Clinton.
“It was more Hillary [that brought me to the rally],” Fuller said. “Even though I love Obama, and I’m so happy about what he’s done in the past eight years, I just think that this election is so important, because I just cannot even imagine what Donald Trump would do for the country. So I just think it’s great that we have an option like Hillary Clinton. She’s so qualified. She actually knows what she’s doing.”
According to Northwood sophomore Monica Alvarado, who “worships” Obama, the atmosphere of the event was very welcoming.
“The experience was amazing,” Alvarado said. “Being there, I felt like I fit in, because there were so many Democrats there, and they had the same views that I did. Everyone was for the same thing, and I felt like I belonged there. His speech was great. I connected to it a lot with immigration and things like that, and I understood what he was saying.”
Though Alvarado mainly attended the event to see the president, she too supports Clinton.
“If I could, I would definitely vote for Hillary,” Alvarado said. “I’m with her—there’s no doubt about it.”
Although Fuller is also too young to vote, she believes that the election will greatly impact her future.
“I think [this election] affects me so, so much,” Fuller said. “I know someone who fits into every single niche of people who Donald Trump is hurting, because he literally only supports people who are just like him. I just think that for young people especially, who are a little bit more open about their differences, it’s so important. This election could just make or break so many things.”
– By Sara Heilman
