Despite a busy campaign trail, Vice President Kamala Harris found time to return to her roots at Howard University, and offer inspiring words to incoming freshmen and their families outside of Cramton Auditorium on Aug. 12.
“I had freshmen orientation right here in Cramton where I met lifelong friends. You all are standing next to people who are going to be in your wedding,” Harris, an alumna of the institution, said proudly.
Students gathered with their parents for the second day of Bison Week, a time when the campus is closed to upperclassmen and specifically dedicated to orienting and welcoming a new class of leaders to campus.
“You are receiving a superior education priming you to be leaders of our nation and in the world,” she told the crowd, before reflecting on her own experience. “Look what happened, you might be running for president of the United States.”
According to reports from the New York Times, the Vice President hosted a mock debate on Monday at Howard to prepare for her Sept. 10 debate with former president Donald Trump. The Harris campaign did not respond to The Informer’s requests for comment regarding either visit.
However, the presidential nominee often mentions how the university has served as a home and breeding ground for her success.
“The thing that Howard taught me is that you can do any collection of things, and not one thing to the exclusion of the other. You could be homecoming queen and valedictorian. There are no false choices at Howard,” Harris said.
Khariss Bender, a junior broadcast journalism major, had the opportunity to report on Harris’ surprise visit and said the opportunity is one she’ll remember for life.
“Vice President Harris’ visit was a statement and an empowering message to all HBCU students — a message of hope that reminds us of what we are capable of,” Bender told The Informer. “Despite the stereotypes and setbacks we may face, we continue to exceed expectations and pave our own legacy.”
She believes visits like these are crucial developmental moments for those who aspire to create a career in Washington, D.C.
“I highly anticipate more political figures visiting,” she added. “Their presence will surely open doors for students like myself and grant us more opportunities to cover hard news and politics.”
Although the University did not respond to inquiries about the impact of Harris’ speech, former leaders on campus agree that the exposure is life-changing.
“Experiences like Vice President Kamala Harris welcoming the incoming class of Bison affirms that they are a part of a legacy of excellence,” alumnus Michael Franklin, former student body vice president shared. “Moments like this are a staple of the Howard experience and a reminder of the community that students are now a part of.”