President Bill Clinton Speaks at Mount Saint Vincent
4/15/2016
College hosts Hillary for America event
Riverdale, N.Y. – Former President Bill Clinton spoke at the University of Mount Saint Vincent on Friday, April 15, 2016. Mr. Clinton led a rally for Hillary for America to engage voters ahead of the New York State Presidential Primary.
With a program including Mount Saint Vincent President Charles L. Flynn, Jr., New York City Councilmember Andrew Cohen, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Assembly member Mark Gjonaj, and Congressman Eliot Engel, President Bill Clinton took to the stage to address hundreds of people—many of whom were Mount students.
“I’m embarrassed to admit, though I have been living in New York for many years and I have been campaigning in New York for longer, I thought I knew more about New York than the average New Yorker, much less the average American,” said President Clinton. “I have never been to this campus before, and it is so beautiful—I think it is a wonderful thing, so I thank you.”
Mr. Clinton continued, elaborating on the College’s diverse campus community. “If you look around this crowd today, here we are, at a Catholic institution of higher education. Look at these students here—it looks like we are convening the United Nations.”
The former president took another opportunity to note the diversity of the crowd in his speech. “Look at this room,” he said. “No one who walked through that door today was asked to check their faith at the door, to check your race at the door, to check politics at the door. Everywhere in the world, people are working together for inclusive economic opportunities—inclusive social policies, which is a fancy way of saying we love our differences—it makes life more interesting. But, our common humanity is the most important thing.”
Mr. Clinton’s remarks and observations reflected a point made by President Flynn at the beginning of the day’s program during his introduction and welcome. “We’re proud of our students and faculty—we’re proud of this College,” said Dr. Flynn. “It represents the best in this country and the best of the American Dream. A recent federal study identified only five independent and public colleges and universities in the United States that have demonstrated both a high commitment to socioeconomic inclusivity and to extraordinary student success. The Federal Government identified Mount Saint Vincent as one of only five.”
The event was held in the College’s Smith Hall. Candidates have been campaigning across New York leading up to the state’s April 19 primary. The College is nonpartisan, and is not endorsing any candidate or campaign. In an effort to serve its community and engage students in matters of civic importance and intellectual debate, the College offered space for an event to each of the Democratic and Republican candidates in the New York Primary.
About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational and career opportunities of New York City, the College equips students with the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary for lives of achievement, professional accomplishment and leadership in the 21st century.