SIUE students share volunteer experience during Bernie Sanders’ rally

Shortly before Spring Break, Paige Cooper and Haley Schlecht received a welcome opportunity when they learned through the College of Democrats and SIUE student government that Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders would be holding a campaign rally at the Vadalabene Center on March 4.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to a crowd of supporters outside of the Vadalabene Center March 4. (Photo by Joseph Lacdan)

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to a crowd of supporters outside of the Vadalabene Center March 4. (Photo by Joseph Lacdan)

Cooper and Schlecht met with a member of Sanders’ campaign on March 3 and received brief training with other students at the VC. Cooper and Schlecht arrived at 6 a.m. and hours later the crowd stretched more than two miles close to cougar village. Cooper and Schlecht served as crowd control, making sure the crowd stayed in line and assisted handicapped attendants.  Despite the 24-hour notice, thousands poured onto campus. At about 10:30 a.m. security closed the doors at the VC and the remaining thousands were turned away and filled SIUE’s gymnasium to its 4,000 seat capacity. Fortunately, the students said there were no incidents and the line went smoothly.

“I was not expecting that many people,” Schlecht said.

Cooper and Schlecht are both involved in student government; Schlecht is running for Student Senator of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Cooper, a political science major, said she embraced the opportunity to volunteer for Sanders’ campaign. She said she identified with Sanders’ for several reasons,

“I think we have a lot of social and political issues that we as a generation talk about,” Cooper said. “I think every big movement like that needs a face and Bernie could be that face. I think even if he’s not president that he will become that face of this ideological change and call for more equality among socioeconomic groups. I think he just speaks for a lot of the inequality that people like to see and talk about but don’t really know what to do. I think seeing somebody who is not like a corporate or big person you’ve heard before is really a cool thing.”

Haley Schlecht (left) and Paige Cooper volunteered as crowd control support during the Bernie Sanders' rally on campus March 4. (Courtesy Photos)

Haley Schlecht (left) and Paige Cooper volunteered as crowd control support during the Bernie Sanders’ rally on campus March 4. (Courtesy Photos)

Schlecht, a criminal justice major said she supports the Senator because of his stance on social issues.

“I liked reading past articles about him,” Schlecht said. “He’s been there for everything. Supporting free education. If we don’t get free college someone who is working that hard to lower costs is really important. Healthcare is really important to me. I’m for universal healthcare than everything. Equality is so important to me especially if you are a woman it’s important that someone is supporting you and your rights. He doesn’t have any super PACs. Everything is pure donations. It’s all based on people. There is nothing sketchy about what he’s doing.”

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