Jan Morgan, Republican candidate for Arkansas governor, will host a meet and greet event at White County Fairgrounds tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. as part of her gubernatorial campaign. The question and answer session is just one in a line of similar events across Arkansas during the month of April.
Freshman public administration major Davis Rowan said he is looking forward to the event. Rowan, who hopes to work in the political realm eventually, said he believes it is important to attend events such as this as he strives to be a knowledgable citizen and voter.
“I want to … know where she stands on some of the issues because I want to be an informed voter,” Rowan said. “These people are making big decisions, and if you’re going to go out and vote, which you should definitely do … you should know who and what you’re voting for. You have a lot of power as a voter.”
Assistant professor of political science Lori Klein spent time working in the Florida legislature before teaching at Harding. She said she believes it’s important for college students to remain active and interested in state and local political happenings during their schooling, whether in Arkansas or in their home states.
“I really want them to be active in one place of the other,” Klein said. “I think a lot of times, people fall in a crack during college; they don’t think this is home but they don’t also stay interested and active … back home either, so they just fall through the cracks.”
Klein said attending events such as Morgan’s meet and greet is a good opportunity to become informed. She also suggested plugging into local White County Democrat and Republican organizations.
“I would recommend, whether you agree with this person or don’t, that the chance to go and meet a gubernatorial candidate is a pretty neat thing,” Klein said. “It’s one of the wonderful things about state and local politics: you’ve got the chance to meet these candidates, even for statewide office, on your own … That’s kind of special to really meet them face to face and get your sense of what you think about that person.”
Junior mathematics and political science major Evan Wolfenbarger said he believes the political world is a mission field for Christians. He said being a knowledgable voter is empowering politically and spiritually.
“Being well informed about politics leads to being well informed about world events,” Wolfenbarger said. “I think as a Christian particularly … being knowledgeable about world events and the political sphere can really help you get a better understanding of the world and how to approach people.”
