Robert Hoggard: How does being at an HBCU impact your political views?
Ariell Tillman: It allows me to see politics from a black perspective. Financial aid cuts can possibly threaten the future of black schools because of the lack of money. Black schools are the schools that seem to take the hardest hits. If college becomes more expensive, enrollment will continue to drop, resulting in less money for institutions. This means that more schools will continue to be on the verge of shutting down.
Robert Hoggard: Is voting important for college students, if so, why?
Ariell Tillman: Voting is very important for college students. Whether students realize it, who and what we vote for can determine finances for education, opportunities, tax cuts and our future in job opportunities after we graduate. Many students need to also take in consideration that one day we will be old and social security benefits need to be important to us also because the current laws will lay a foundation for the laws of the future.
Robert Hoggard: Who should college students vote for in the coming election and why?
Ariell Tillman: College students should definitely vote for President Barrack Obama. He has already done so much for college students, such as, offering hope, lowering college loan interest rates, trying to install a plan to penalize institutions who raise their tuition and much more. Republicans want to cut out everything!
Robert Hoggard: In a televised interview, Congressman from Missouri Todd Aikin, said that women had the power to prevent pregnancies that result from “legitimate rape”. In rare cases when pregnancies occurred, he said, abortions still should not be allowed. How do you feel about his comments?
Ariell Tillman: What is “legitimate rape”? Rape is rape! Decisions like this should be left up to the mother to choose. He should have kept his comments to himself.
Robert Hoggard: Any other comments?
Ariell Tillman: It is very important that students educated themselves on politics and go to vote!
