Students praise Hillary as a strong role model for all

Debra D. Bass

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't have to work too hard to convince the largely Democratic crowd gathered at UNLV that her husband was the right man to lead the nation for the next four years.

Demetras Byrd, a senior kinesiology major, had already cast his vote for Bill Clinton when he attended Tuesday's rally. He was one of many students at UNLV who took part in early voting.

"I want to give him four more years, because I think he will do more for the African-American community than Dole," Byrd said. "If Dole wins, we are going to have to pack our bags."

Erin Niemeyer, a senior communications major, said she is "a Dole fan, but I would have to say despite my party affiliation, I was impressed with the turnout and having this many college students passionate about politics."

"(Hillary) Clinton is a good role model for a lot of people on campus and that says a lot whether or not I agree with her politics," said Niemeyer, who is editor of The Rebel Yell student newspaper.

Others said they liked Hillary Clinton and her politics.

"I want a liberal party in Congress, not a party that uses old interpretations of the Bible to tell me how to live," said Dmitry Lev, a 19-year-old freshman in the music department. "I want someone with an open state of mind like Clinton."

He cited issues where he differed with Dole as prayer in school, gay rights and gays in the military. He said Republicans are asking the country to take a step backward on important social issues.

"His party's outlook on the issues is just not my outlook," Lev said. "This is America, no one should be telling us how to live."

Vellanee Myers, a senior in elementary education, was impressed by the Clinton administration's commitment to education.

"What impresses me most about Hillary is her strong belief in family values and the push for education and the importance of education to everyone in our society, not just those who have (money and status) but for everyone," Myers said.

She likes the idea of a tax credit for educational expenses, because "it will go a long way to help people in the minority community."

Of Hillary Clinton, she said, "She has a genuine concern for all of humanity and I don't see that in the Dole campaign. I'm not prejudiced because of his (Dole's) age, but there's something about him that I can't put my finger on. He just seems to care a lot more for the people in the upper classes."

Though not old enough to vote, Orr Middle School students Kelli Caldwell and Monique Michael, both 13, said they would vote for Clinton if they had the chance -- Hillary Clinton, that is.

"I think she should be president, because she's strong and you can look up to her and we never had a girl before," Caldwell said.

Of Bill Clinton, they said, "He's cool, too."