As the 2016 elections draw closer, candidates begin to dot the headlines, with boundaries of opinion being drawn and political debate filling the social canvas. At MSU, students have begun to band together in support of their favorite candidates, including 2016 Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a close runner-up for the 2008 democratic nomination, has steadily amassed a loyal base of supporters she hopes will take her to the White House in 2016. Among those supporters are Spartans for Hillary — a movement started by students on MSU’s campus.
“I have supported Hillary Clinton since she served as Secretary of State under the Obama Administration,” James Madison student and political theory and constitutional democracy sophomore Ronald Owens III said.
“After being in contact with her campaign and her Michigan organizer, I knew (her 2016 campaign) was something I wanted to be involved in ‑ that’s when my cofounder, social relations and policy student Daniel Eggerding, and I founded Spartans for Hillary.”
Owens said he and his fellow supporters try to create an atmosphere where everyone is welcome.
“I met Ron in Washington, and he mentioned (the group), so I did some research to figure out if that’s what I want to support,” Spartans for Hillary Community Director and freshman international relations student Kyle Flynn said.
The Spartans for Hillary movement attended campus events such as Sparticipation and Spartan Remix, spreading their message and hoping to win student support.
“We will also be seeking out further recruitment opportunities to help grow our base on campus,” Owens said.
Spartans for Hillary hold meetings every Tuesday from 7:15 to 8 p.m., in room 134 at Brody Hall.
“There are many things that appeal to me about Hillary Clinton and they all drive me to support and fight for her to be in the best position to better our country the way I know she will,” Owens said.
“Her international experience, being the most traveled secretary of state ever, has an unquantifiable value in the fragile global environment we see today. “...We need a champion who’s an expert in diplomacy.”
Student-run political organizations like Spartans for Hillary might play a part in mobilizing young voters, giving them a cause to unite around and encouraging participation in the political process.
“Voter efficacy is a big thing for me,” Flynn said. “(The voter turnout among youths) in this country, there’s a lot of room for improvement there. It’s lucky that we have the right to vote, so you might as well take advantage of it.”
Groups like Spartans for Hillary will continue to grow and take action as 2016 approaches and students begin to rally around their chosen candidates and causes.
