Rubio rally draws Roanoke students of varied political views (updated w/video)
February 29, 2016
Sen. Marco Rubio addressed a packed C. Homer Bast Center gymnasium at Roanoke College on Sunday evening, marking the first time in the College's history that a candidate for president has visited campus during an active campaign.
Roanoke students who hold a variety of political views, from Rubio supporters to those who oppose the Florida senator, attended the rally that drew about 2,600 people to the Bast Gym and to the College's Colket Center, an overflow viewing space.
Brittany Piro '16, a member of the Students for Rubio group at Roanoke who volunteered at the rally, said she was in "disbelief" when she learned that the candidate for the GOP nomination for president would be visiting her campus.
Piro, a political science major who described herself as a socially moderate conservative, said she supports Rubio because "I believe in his immigration plan."
"He's running on the emotion of hope for the future," she said.
Alex Boone'18, chairman of Students for Rubio, said he appreciates Rubio's perspective on student loans and debt.
"We are incredibly inspired by his story and what he stands for," said Boone, who also volunteered at Sunday's rally.
It's about doing your civic duty to be an informed citizen. Everybody bases their support on what they get on hearsay, but they don't actually have the evidence of what that candidate said to back it up.
Cullen Truett '13, in a WDBJ7 interview on attending the rally, though he is not a Rubio supporter
Roanoke senior, Lydia Cox '18, doesn't support Rubio, but she attended Sunday's rally for the opportunity to see presidential politics in action.
"It's a great educational experience regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum," said Cox, a sociology major who is minoring in American politics.
Cox supports Bernie Sanders, a Democrat, for president.
"I think he's the most honest candidate on the ticket," she said.
Another Roanoke student, Vicki Daguerre-Bradford '17, said she plans to vote Democrat for president. She supports the Democratic Party because of its stance on women's rights and other key issues.
Still, Daguerre-Bradford, who is majoring in both political science and international relations, was among the crowd of people in Bast Gym on Sunday. She said she purchased her ticket to the Rubio rally before she found out that it would be held at Roanoke.
"It's not every day that you get a presidential candidate at your school," she said.
Watch and hear Roanoke students from all sides of the political spectrum discuss their views at the Rubio rally.
Students engage during presidential candidate’s visit from Roanoke College on Vimeo.
Marco Rubio Rally at Roanoke College
Roanoke students wait in line outside of the Bast Center before the Rubio rally. Many of them did homework while they waited.
Roanoke student protestors stood on Market Street, across from the Bast Center.
A reporter with WVTF interviews Dr. Bryan Parsons, an assistant professor in Roanoke's Public Affairs department.
Marco Rubio posed for a picture with a few Roanoke students before going onstage at the rally.
The audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the rally.
The Students for Rubio group at Roanoke College.
