By Caitlin Marsch in Campus News, College Days on October 2, 2024
The Harris for President Campaign will visit Ripon College on Thursday, Oct. 3. There have been varying student reactions, but several faculty members expressed excitement about her upcoming visit.
Communication professor Steve Martin said that the college hosting such a significant event is a rare opportunity that should be embraced and celebrated, regardless of one’s political leanings.
“Being able to host an event that exhibits democracy-in-action, especially at such a high level, is exciting beyond words,” Martin said.
He also mentioned that this opportunity is great for both members of the campus and for the greater Ripon community.
“About four years ago, the college hosted then-Vice President Mike Pence, and that event brought a lot of attention and dialogue to the campus and the city of Ripon,” Martin said.
Political Science professor Henrik Schatzinger, who is also the director of the Center for Politics and the People at Ripon College, said that having Vice President Harris on campus is a good opportunity for the campus community to engage in meaningful political dialogue.
“After the visit, our community will have a chance to engage in a conversation about the issues that matter to many of us,” Schatzinger said.
He also said that it is important to be open to providing opportunities to candidates of all political leanings, including third-party candidates.
“As a college, we should strive to foster open discussions that allow a range of perspectives to be heard,” Schatzinger said.
Philosophy professor Paul Jeffries described it as a “real honor” to have the sitting vice president visit Ripon.
“I thought it would be a really wonderful opportunity to have the first woman of color running for President coming to speak, and for students to have the opportunity to get up close and personal to what a political campaign is like,” Jeffries said.
He also touched on Ripon College’s history of bringing different political figures to campus.
“It will actually be the second vice president we’ve had on campus, because Mike Pence came to campus several years ago, during the summer,” Jeffries said.
Jeffries said that his academic life has been accentuated by these types of “historical moments.”
“I was here at Ripon in 2008 during the Obama election, and it was really exciting,” Jeffries said. “I remember my wife and I walking through the Spot, and everybody was all excited, and it was fun to watch the student enthusiasm, and having students get to witness history.”