In 1982, Kamala Harrisarrivedat Howard.

As a campus embedded in the heart of Washington, DC, Howard hasnever been insulatedfrom the outside world.

And this year is no differentthe students we spoke to referred to wide-ranging, specific, and pressing concerns.

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Photographed by Blake Spencer

And we do need that sense of representation regarding reproductive rights.

Quincy, Fine-Arts Major

Were not voting for her because shes our alumna.

Were voting for her to save democracy.

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Indigo, English Major

It means a lot.

So yeah, it means a lot.

Im really excited to vote this year.

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Endia, Honors Finance Major

I feel like voting means it is my voice, basically.

Its just a lot.

It has a lot of weight behind it.

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Trey, Biology Major

Voting to me means that we have agency to change things.

I know that its an incremental change, but its something that everyone can do to make a difference.

Just voting in general, youre able to make some amount of change.

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Nandi, Acting Major

It feels very validating to be able to exercise my rights.

The fact that Im able to, I feel like I have to.

Britnee, Health-Science Major

To me, as a first-time voter, this is a big moment.

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Ive never voted before.

So its important for me to pay that forward, not only for them but also for the future.

Helena, Nursing Major

I just feel like its my duty.

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Ive always been involved in community service and helping out marginalized communities around me as a nursing major.

This is my vocation, so I feel like its just simply my duty.

I dont think its a hard thing to do.

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Im just happy to do it now.

I can participate now.

Shauna, Sociology Major

To me, voting means change.

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I think its such an important thing that people our age should vote.

We are such a large group of people and so influential.

So to me, voting just means a better country, honestly.

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And I thought about that when I was younger.

We should cherish that.

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