Emily Elconin
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“Whether we realize it or not we have so much political power in general. I always say how we are living history,” says Daniel Eggerding, a member of the Michigan State University College Democrats. “Right now is history in the making and we’re on the verge for electing the first female president. The millennial generation has become the largest demographic of electorate in American politics. We have more power than any other group."
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From left to right, Residential College in the Arts and Humanities junior Sarah Sparkman, Residential College in the Arts and Humanities junior Claire Bogrow, music performance senior Joseph Herbst and junior environmental economics and policy Jackie Zarzycki pose for a portrait on Oct. 16, 2016, in East Lansing, Michigan. All four Michigan State University students are members of MSU Greenpeace, which is a student activist organization dedicated to protecting the environment.
Emily Elconnin
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Residential College in the Arts and Humanities junior Claire Bogrow smiles between the leaves on Oct. 16, 2016, in East Lansing, Michigan. Last year, MSU Greenpeace went to Chicago with an organization called Saving the Arctic to petition to get krill product of the shelf at Walgreens. “It was a really fun experience. It was empowering and intimidating at first. We all wore penguin costumes. It was Intimidating and scary at first approaching strangers, but it quickly became second nature. We got the most photo petitions for that campaign for our group just on that day.”
Emily Elconnin
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Social relations and policy senior Ewurama Appiagyei-Dankah poses for a portrait in front of Case Hall. Appiagyei-Dankah is a volunteer for the Michigan Democratic Coordinated Campaign, where she helps better the racial climate in James Madison College. “There have been racial climate issues in James Madison, and I have played part in talking to faculty to make things better,” Appiagyei-Dankah said. “I also work with students and talk to them about issues they may not be able to talk to other people about.”
Emily Elconnin
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Neuroscience junior Lana Grasser stands in Case Hall outside the room where Michigan State University Students For Life meets. “Our role is to engage our community members here and share with them the information that we have about our topic, which is abortion,” said Grasser, who is president of the student organization. “We want to share with students how they can make a difference.”
Emily Elconin
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From left to right, MSU Students for Life members interdisciplinary studies sophomore Emily Pallarito, neuroscience junior Lana Grasser, education sophomore RoseMary Battle and neuroscience sophomore Aricka Orbell stand in Case Hall with anti-abortion signs they made. “It’s hard putting my beliefs out there. It’s something I’ve always struggled with,” Pallarito said. “I love the idea of helping women my age.”
Daniel Eggerding says his proudest moment is when he was at a Donald Trump rally in Grand Rapids this year.
He got up on his best friend’s shoulders and screamed as Trump walked onto the stage: “You’re a racist bigot!”
With a campus of more than 50,000 students, Michigan State University students have a diverse set of viewpoints. And with more than 600 registered student organizations, there may be a student group to cover most of those views.
“What’s so important is getting people organized and having people out who want to see that change happen,” said Joseph Herbst, secretary for Greenpeace and director of grassroots organizing activism for The Climate Reality project.
Claire Bogrow is the president of Greenpeace at Michigan State. Bogrow says the role of Greenpeace is to develop an organization of student activists that can work together and create campaigns.
“It’s encouraging to be with each other and to know that change is possible with the right people,” Bogrow said. “We get together and talk about issues and bring those issues outside of the university. We have created a large group of students who have the same motives.”
Lana Grasser works to engage students on a different issue. She is president of Students For Life, which advocates against abortion.
“We want to share with students how they can make a difference,” Stasser said. “This is a big political year, so we want to provide students information with where all candidates and political parties stand.”
Emily Pallarito, a member of Students for Life, said is hard for her to put her beliefs out in the open.
“I’m passionate about this organization. I love helping people and it’s what I plan on going onto in the future for my career,” she said. “I love the idea of helping young women my age.”
As a student, Ewurama Appiagyei-Dankah talks a lot to her friends about racial injustices. She describes herself as a passionate feminist who works to empower girls of color and women in general.
“It’s unique being on a college campus because in the James Madison College, we talk about things in the classroom and see them happen in everyday life,” Appiagyei-Dankah said.