Hillary 2016?

There’s been plenty of buzz over the last several years regarding Hillary Clinton’s potential 2016 candidacy for President of the United States. Clinton has not yet stated whether or not she will run, but Delta College students and staff have several opinions concerning the Clinton’s and other women’s chances at the Presidency.

Tom Boudrot, associate professor of political science at Delta, said he thinks it’s “about time” a woman be elected president.

“It’s time for a woman to bring a different perspective to government and solve problems,” said Boudrot. “I think that they have special skills in negotiating and in compromising, that I think men probably don’t have.”

Boudrot said he believes Clinton is pro-education, which could benefit Delta students. In 2006, Clinton, while serving as a United States Senator, voted for an Education Funding Amendment, which would have added $3 billion for education, training, employment and social services programs in 2007.

Boudrot noted there are many powerful women at Delta, including President Jean Goodnow.

“I think that Delta has actually been kind of a trailblazer, that we are actually ahead of the government,” said Boudrot. “I think in a way, that it’s time for the government to catch up to Delta.”

Boudrot also noted that women still make less than men. According to a Sept. 17, 2013 press release from the United States Census Bureau, in 2012, women were only making 77 cents for every dollar a man was making.

Delta student Inney Prakash, 22, of Bay City, said he thinks Clinton running for president could be a positive step, but it won’t solve everything.

“We still have a lot of steps to take before we completely challenge the inequality in our country,” said Prakash.

Liz Ullrich, associate professor of political science at Delta, said electing a woman president could send the message that women can be as powerful and influential as men.

“We still expect women to be caretakers and we still expect men to be the ones that detach themselves from the household and go out and be powerful,” said Ullrich. “As long as that stays the same, women will always have a hard time getting into politics.”12