U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a self-described socialist and the only Independent serving in the U.S. Senate, spoke to an audience of about 150 people in Bostian Hall Saturday afternoon.
Sanders addressed a wide range of issues that touched on wealth distribution, the decline of the middle class, and the role of money in politics.
The event was sponsored by the N.C. State College Democrats.
Sanders said the Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Committee has allowed wealthy billionaires, such as David and Charles Koch, and Sheldon Adelson, a major casino magnate, to be able to bypass democratic elections and buy the candidate of their choice.
Before Sanders took the podium, four students spoke about how the policies enacted in Washington D.C. can have a significant effect on students here at N.C. State.
Student speakers included former Student Body President Alex Parker, who spoke about the increasing price of college tuition, Darren Lipman, a senior in mathematics and political science, who spoke about LGBT rights, Alli Kenlan, a freshman in environmental science, who addressed the importance of fossil fuels and environmental policy, and Lauren Frey, a freshman in environmental science, who addressed women’s rights.
Although Chancellor Randy Woodson was scheduled to welcome Sanders, he was not present.
