Jennifer Garner speaks to a crowd of students outside the Joe Crowley Student Union on Monday, Oct. 10. Garner came to the university to help register voters before the deadline on Tuesday.
Jennifer Garner was at the University of Nevada, Reno, on Monday to endorse Hillary Clinton for president and to encourage and register students to vote.
Garner was welcomed by a crowd of about 40 students on the plaza in front of the Joe Crowley Student Union, though more students gathered as she spoke.
Garner joked with the crowd about the number of people asking students to register to vote on campus, but also stressed the importance of voting.
“We do have a say, it does matter,” Garner said. “Use your say. It’s your responsibility.”
Garner asked the crowd to make sure their friends and family were registered to vote and go to the polls. She also encouraged them to vote early to avoid lines and crowds on Election Day.
Garner also threw down her support for several of Clinton’s policies including college affordability, minimum wage and universal preschool for all children.
“I am excited and proud to be standing up for her,” Garner said.
Garner’s visit comes a month before Election Day and close to the end of voter registration. The deadline to register to vote in person is Tuesday, Oct. 11 and Oct. 18, online.
Waleed Bassia, a sophomore nursing major, passed the event while on campus and decided to stick around to see what it was about.
“This election is a really good representation of the polarization and issues of our country,” Bassia said. “They’re trivial and childish. [The candidates are] not focusing on real issues. At this point, it seems like a popularity race.”
Bassia also expressed his frustrations about the candidates not discussing Syria issues in depth during the debates. Despite these frustrations, Bassia believes that Clinton has a better chance at becoming the president than Donald Trump.
The two candidates faced off in the second presidential debate Sunday night where they discussed their differing policies on the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Clinton said she would back the rebel forces in Syria to fight the Islamic State and the Assad regime. Trump said he would only put resources into fighting IS because the crisis in Syria can’t be helped.
Garner’s speech was organized by the Young Democrats of America and Students for Hillary to mobilize college students to to head to their polling stations.
“Celebrities have an interesting point of view on cultural problems, and I want to see why she endorses Hillary,” said Cheyenne Theis, a senior business management major at UNR.
Theis is an undecided voter. She was originally a Bernie Sanders supporter during the primary races. She said after watching the debates she thinks Clinton has better points, is more experienced in politics and has better government relations.
The most recent poll in Nevada by the Las Vegas Review-Journal has Clinton beating Trump by one point. The poll was taken prior to the debate and does not reflect voter opinion after Sunday night’s town hall debate.
“This definitely seems like the most intense election we’ve had,” said Hayley Canfield, a senior human development and family studies major. “There’s so much hate. It didn’t seem to be like this before.”
Madeline Purdue can be reached at mpurdue@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @madelinepurdue.
