Chelsea Clinton touts education plan at Roanoke College (with video)

Presidential politics came to life at Roanoke College on Wednesday.

Roanoke students, faculty, staff and community members crowded the College's Olin Gallery to hear Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, speak about her mother's plans to relieve college loan debt and help to make higher education more affordable.

Some sat and many stood for the hour-long event that marked the second time this year that a prominent political figure has visited Roanoke's campus. In February, Sen. Marco Rubio, a former candidate for the GOP nomination for president, spoke in the College's C. Homer Bast Center.

Roanoke was one of several stops that Chelsea Clinton has made in many states to tout her mother's plan to help make college affordable, including offering income-based loan repayment, the ability to refinance student loans at current rates and debt relief for entrepreneurs.

Becca Cook '18, who is interning with the Democratic Coordinated Campaign, introduced Chelsea Clinton and spoke to the crowd about why she supports Hillary Clinton for president.

"We need leadership in this nation that understands higher education," Cook said.

Three Roanoke students - Ariana Bagherian, Myles Cooper and Brieanah Gouveia - sat onstage with Chelsea Clinton and shared briefly their personal stories of financing a college education.

"Education is something that we all need to value, and I look forward to living in a country where education is affordable to all," said Bagherian '18, who explained that she will have $150,000 in debt by the time she graduates college. She is majoring in communication studies at Roanoke and plans to attend law school.

"We need to level the playing field for everyone," said Cooper '19, president of the Roanoke College Democrats and a philosophy major.

Roanoke students of all political views attended Wednesday's event.

Alex Boone '18, president of the Roanoke College Republicans, said he welcomed the opportunity for students to meet candidates from all political spectrums.

"It's great to have more attention on Roanoke College to bring a lot of spotlight on some of the issues," Boone said. "I'm glad that we're having what I view as the opponent come to campus to sort of represent both sides. It's always interesting to see other people's opinions."

"It's election season, it's so exciting," said Mikaela Wall '17, who attended the Clinton event but said she may vote for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate for president.

Cooper said it is "incredible" that several major political figures have visited Roanoke this year.

"Regardless if they're Republican or Democrat, I think it's the best way to get students politically active on campus," he said.

Watch a video from the event:

Chelsea Clinton Event from Roanoke College on Vimeo.