Holliday encourages students to vote, make a difference
Chris McCarty
That was the message students received Thursday night from Rosa Holliday, a part-time political science instructor at Saginaw Valley State University.
Holliday spoke to a small crowd in the Bovee University Center about the importance of voting and the lack of political awareness in today’s society.
“Fifty-three percent of Americans voted in the 2000 presidential election,” Holliday said. “That means 53 percent of the people in this country choose who controls the water you drink, the food you eat and the universities you attend.”
The hour-long speech also mentioned what Central students can do to get involved.
“Get on Web sites and find out what the issues are. There is not one issue that does not affect everybody. Politics affects every part of your life, and you control it because you vote,” Holliday said. “Your family’s future depends on the political system and who you put in office — there is no way you can avoid it.”
Holliday spoke about a new Web site that helps students with voting issues. People interested in finding out where they are eligible to vote, how and when to register, who and what is available to vote for, or how to use the voting device in their precinct can log on to www.mi.gov/sos and click on the Secretary of State link.
“Only 35 percent of Michigan residents voted in the gubernatorial primary in August, and that was a high number compared to the usual turnout,” Holliday said. “We have high registration but no participation, and that is awful.”
Holliday’s speech impacted Erin O’Conner, Greenville freshman, by giving her ways to get involved.
“It made me realize that, being a freshman at Central, I can still make a difference,” O’Conner said. “She gave some good ideas about how to get involved.”
Delta Sigma Theta vice president and Saginaw senior Iveory Morris said Holliday influenced her to pay attention to issues closer to home.
“I’m a political science major and she helped me realize that I should work more locally with the issues that affect me directly,” Morris said. “I would also like to see more students come to events like this, to see rooms full of people, to take an active interest.”
Delta Sigma Theta service sorority and Pi Sigma Alpha, co-ed political science fraternity, worked together to bring Holliday to campus.
“With the upcoming governor’s election, we thought it would be a good idea to let students know how much their vote counts, and we thought bringing (Holliday) on campus would be a good idea ” Morris said.
Holliday works during the day as a coordinator of education, training and worldwide purchasing at General Motors in Warren.
“I’m very, very passionate about politics, and I work with state and national parties,” she said. “My goal is to stop working at GM and have teaching as my full-time job.”
