The MSU community is preparing for Vice President Kamala Harris’ rally at Jenison Fieldhouse tonight. With lines stretching as far as Wells Hall to the doors of Jenison, supporters eagerly awaited the person they hope will be elected president Tuesday.
Two of those people, Frank Brooks and Rachel Carlson, said they were excited about Harris’ visit to campus to hear what she will say just before the election.
"I’m looking forward to hearing her speak, and I’m excited to see the hopefully future president," Brooks said.
Carlson, who graduated from MSU in 2006, was looking forward to seeing the "first female president."
"I’m just really excited to see her in person," Carlson said. "I've watched most of her speeches."
The two described themselves and "excited" and "hopeful."
"I want to support the person who I think should be the president of the United States," Brooks said.
Like Carlson, more MSU alumni waited in line to hear Harris speak. Nick Somoski, who graduated in 2014, and Adam Kibiloski, who graduated in 2018, said they were also excited to see the vice president.
"I think it’s great," Somoski said. "I don’t think a candidate has come to MSU since Obama in 2008. It’s awesome to see it."
Both Somoski and Kibilioski said they immediately signed up to attend the rally after learning about it from a text message.
"I’m just excited to be in the same room as her and get to experience her actually speak in person," Somoski said. "I’ve seen a lot of the election coverage online, but just being in the same room as her is going to be awesome."
Somoski said he showed up to support Harris at her rally because "there was no choice" between Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump.
"I was going to vote for her all along," Somoski said. "I am voting for her and not against Trump."
Even while they were still waiting in line, Kibiloski said it was "nice being around like-minded people."
"You see all these people excited and you feel better about things," Kiblioski said.
Every vote matters, Kiblioski said, including the ones from students across campus.
"It could come down to a few thousand votes, and there’s a few thousand students on campus so every vote matters in the state," Kiblioski said.
Business and acting freshman Zachary Barker said Tuesday’s election is the first one he will vote in.
"She appeals to my generation by being open about her experiences," Barker said. "We both come from a middle class family and her, as a Black woman, my mother is a Black woman, seeing what she’s accomplished, it’s very inspiring that first of my ethnicity and complexion can get to her heights of success."
Barker saw the rally as a place that could provide a "sense of community," and a great opportunity.
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Despite the excitement, Barker said he is still anxious about the election results.
"It’s a very close election, and I think you got to get out there and vote," Barker said. "It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I feel like, especially seeing a presidential candidate, I feel like you can’t be too educated."
Barker encourages other students to “vote for what you believe in” on Election Day.
Civil engineering freshman Marvin Den called Harris’ visit "a very, very great thing."
"MSU has a history of a lot of people having a lot of boldness in their voices, so I feel like it’s a great opportunity for not only students to be here and see her in person, but students from other states to be here as well," Den said.
