Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, U.S. Senate candidate Elissa Slotkin and U.S. House candidate Curtis Hertel also delivered remarks at the event. Slotkin in particular emphasized the importance of college students’ votes in this cycle and apologized for the "toxic and polarized and angry" era of politics students find themselves in. 

"I’m sorry that you grew up with this," Slotkin said. "But your generation has shown over and over again that you’re not going to sit on the sidelines and let this crap happen in your county."

In recent weeks, reaching voters on college campuses has become a key goal for the Harris campaign, particularly in Michigan where she and Donald Trump remain neck and neck in recent polls. Earlier this week, Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, rallied in Ann Arbor, just outside of the central campus of the University of Michigan.

After a thunderous entrance to Beyoncé’s "Freedom," Harris immediately delved into the Israel-Hamas war, delivering a series of promises that attempted to appease Pro-Israel and Pro-Palestinian supporters.

"As president, I will do everything in my power to end the war in Gaza," Harris said. "To bring home the hostages, end the suffering in Gaza, ensure Israel is secure and ensure the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, freedom, security and self determination."

The war has been one of Harris’ toughest issues, particularly in Michigan where over 100,000 people voted Uncommitted in the Democratic primary to protest the administration’s support for Israel. At MSU, campus activists have been calling on the administration to divest from Israel for over a year, efforts that came to a head when five activists were arrested at a recent board meeting. 

Harris also promised to sign a bill restoring abortion rights nationwide, which the crowd responded to with chants of "we’re not going back," which has become one of the campaign’s most salient slogans.

Although Harris’ stances on abortion rights and climate change played well for the young audience, Harris also marketed herself to a national audience with promises to cut taxes for the middle class and flexed her former position as California’s "top law enforcement officer."

Beyond policy promises, Harris also sought to characterize her potential administration as pragmatic and open to a variety of viewpoints. In highlighting this pragmatism, Harris juxtaposed herself with Trump, who her campaign has criticized for surrounding himself with "yes-men."

"I don’t believe people who disagree with me are the enemy," Harris said. "In fact, I’ll give them a seat at the table because that’s what strong leaders do."

Harris’ goal to rhetorically contrast herself with Trump’s reliance on fear as a motivator culminated in her closing remarks, where she embraced community-building and togetherness as an antidote to the fear that has characterized "this last decade."

"Let’s be intentional about, in the face of a stranger, seeing a neighbor and understanding that our power to lift each other up is immense," Harris said. "Let’s do it... knowing the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us."

Harris’ visit, which marked her 11th trip to Michigan, came on the final day of early voting in Michigan. Claiming that "it all comes down to this," Harris encouraged students to have their voices heard on Election Day and to encourage their friends to do the same. Only by doing that, she argued, could students secure a future with "freedom, opportunity and dignity for all Americans."

"Let us remember that your vote is your voice and your voice is your power," Harris said.