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Former president visits campus |
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Tuesday, 29 April 2008 |
 | Clinton
| by CLAIR BAXTER Editor in chief
Former President Bill Clinton will speak at Appalachian State University today, according to an April 27 press release provided by the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign.
Clinton will speak at 3:15 p.m. in Varsity Gym.
The event is free and is open to all students and community members, according to AppalNet.
Student Government Association President Forrest S. Gilliam heard Clinton would be visiting Boone last week and spoke with a member of the campaign on Sunday.
“A [man] from the Clinton campaign called [Sunday] and wanted to look
at locations [for Clinton to speak at Appalachian],” Gilliam said.
“Varsity Gym seemed like a good size. We would have liked to do it
outside but it is still supposed to be wet and about 50 degrees.”
Clinton will visit Boone, along with 10 other North Carolina towns over a two-day period. Clinton’s
“Solutions for America” events are part of his wife’s, Sen. Hillary R. Clinton (D-NY), run for presidency.
“I think it’s helped to have a former president supporting her. I think
it’s been very good for her, for people to see that, to see him think
deeply about the questions and support her campaign fully,” Gilliam
said.
Political science professor Dr. Adam J. Newmark said Bill Clinton’s
appeal to young voters may be one reason he is visiting the campus.
“The interesting thing is, if you go back to 1992, Bill [Clinton] has
always resonated with younger voters,” Newmark said, referencing his
appearance on the then popular The Arsenio Hall Show.
He said college students are often “one of those groups that don’t turn out but could be a potential swing group.”
He said largely due to the Barack Obama campaign, the student vote may play a larger part this year.
“I was excited [when I found out Clinton was coming]. I get excited
with anyone that comes. I am a Hillary [Clinton] supporter so it’s
even more exciting to me. But I would be glad to have Barack [Obama]
here, or [John] McCain, or really anyone. It’s just an exciting idea,”
Gilliam said.
Newmark agreed.
“It’s a huge deal [for a former president to visit campus]. There
aren’t that many of them living any more. Bill Clinton coming to any
college campus is a big deal…it puts you on the map.”
Clinton’s office was not available for comment at press time.
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