The Lincolnian

Issue date: 8/25/08 Section: News

Jurnee Smollett visits Lincoln to encourage students to vote in November's presidential election.

Jurnee Smollett, who appeared in best-selling movies like "The Great Debaters" and "Eve's Bayou" was on campus today stumping for presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

The Obama Campaign in Pennsylvania as well as the on-campus organization, People Standing United, arranged for Smollet's visit to campus in an effort to encourage Lincoln students to register and vote in Pennsylvania, long considered a swing state.

Dressed in a black and white "Obama for Change" T-shirt, and wide-legged khaki pants, Smollett arrived to campus at about 1:30 Sunday afternoon. Smollett says that she was moved to jump on board with the Obama Campaign when Obama spoke of his ideas for unity.

"I was inspired by unity," said Smollett, who added that she believes that Obama can help to unify the "red and blue states."

"You have no community if you have no unity," said Smollett, who has also had starring roles on the television sitcom "Full House" and "On Our Own."

Smollett, 21, said that she's interested in issues relating to education and poverty and has long been a crusader for HIV prevention. She is also interested in prison reform.

Smollett said that she is excited about the Obama's prospects of winning and said that she is using her celebrity status to help raise awareness about the issues that he supports.

"People are excited," said Smollett.

Last April, actress Tatiana Ali and actor Josh Radnor was on campus to show support for Obama's candidacy.

Smollett criticized the media's coverage of presidential candidates and added that first-time voters should not be deterred from casting a ballot because of information reported on television or in the newspaper.

"It is our job to research and question the media on our own," said Smollett, who added that college students are greatly impacted by this year's election.

"We inherit the country and college students want jobs when they graduate," she said. "Put in a leader who wants more Pell grants, who wants to eliminate the Financial Aid applications"

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