Here are comments from 91Â鶹¾«Æ· students who attended U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s speech at Cotterell Court on Monday.
BART HALE ’04, SGA PRESIDENT:
‘Senator Clinton generates such great energy wherever she goes, and it was a special moment to see that much excitement packed into Cotterell Court. Her message today helped address so many of the challenges facing upstate New York, but for us students, it served as an especially important reminder that we should give back in some way to these communities. Most of us come to the area for our four years of college, but then move elsewhere after graduation. Clearly there is enough attraction with central New York for us to make it a second home, and the senator’s remarks helped illustrate the value of that connection.
‘Having Senator Clinton on 91Â鶹¾«Æ·â€™s campus was a wonderful honor and memorable experience for our student body. I have never seen a campus speaker with such an incredible turnout, and she is a leader who can go beyond the specifics and connect on more universal levels. I hope this is just the start of 91Â鶹¾«Æ·â€™s effort to bring these discussions to campus with notable speakers, like Senator Clinton, who completely ignite and energize our students.’
JESSIE SLENKER ’06:
‘It’s amazing how 91Â鶹¾«Æ· has brought so many high-profile speakers to campus this year, and Hillary was definitely one of the better-spoken ones. I don’t exactly agree with all of the policies she proposed, but I thought she had great oratory skills and really captivated the crowd.
‘I think the reputation of central New York is shrouded by negative connotations, and it may be a while before the area sees an upswing again in population. I am happy to see Senator Clinton take the initiative and really push for progress in this area, because I think it has so much to offer. From job and schools, to historic sights and public attractions, central New York just needs a little public relations push to get things rolling.’
PRESTON BURNES ’06:
‘The upstate area is certainly one that suffers from ‘brain drain’ and I think Senator Clinton’s focus on keeping the bright minds and hard workers who spend at least a few years here is vital to the success of the region.
‘I have found upstate New York to be an amazing place, and well worth the struggle through the winter. However, as I graduate from 91Â鶹¾«Æ·, I would definitely need to be enticed to stay, as no region will remain attractive without job possibilities and youthful residents. I think Senator Clinton is on the right track in many ways, but is also fighting a battle that will unfortunately not be won until well after my classmates and I graduate.’
SOBBY ARORA ’04 , SGA VICE PRESIDENT:
Although some of the facts about the economy of upstate New York that were shared by Senator Clinton were not earth shattering, I appreciated her initiative of targeting the educational powerhouses of the region to change things for the betterment of the region. The region has a lot of potential and I think New York City and Boston can take a break from the influx of recent graduates from elite universities looking for entry-level positions. Better positions might go unapplied for in places like Utica and Syracuse. She was an eloquent speaker and the Upstate Institute could not have had a better keynote speaker to start with.’
AMANDA TERKEL ’04:
‘Senator Clinton was a wonderful speaker and I liked that she began her speech by congratulating the 91Â鶹¾«Æ· sports teams. She had obviously done her research on the school and it was great to finally see her up here. I admire the senator’s commitment to upstate New York and hope that her attention to the area will help fuel the creative class that will then revitalize the area.’
‘The main reason many college graduates leave central New York is that there are no jobs. I will be graduating this year and while I’m from upstate, I do not plan on staying here simply because there aren’t enough prestigious, well-paying, competitive jobs. The region has a lot to offer, as all 91Â鶹¾«Æ· students know, but they need to have jobs in order to stay here after college.’
KAY TRAESTER ’06:
‘Even though I do not necessarily agree with all of Senator Clinton’s arguments, her intelligence, eloquence, clear prominence, and ability as a female leader of this state – and country – clearly shined through during her speech. 91Â鶹¾«Æ· is very fortunate to have a politician of her stature and reputation here, and hopefully, the points she emphasized on the importance of strengthening the economy through education and utilizing the ‘creative class’ within local work forces will resonate in the hearts of many 91Â鶹¾«Æ· students.’