Anticipation is mounting around campus about the upcoming visit of President Clinton. Some students say they are curious what he has to say and why he picked SIUC.

I think anytime you see the president it’s going to be exciting because he’s the most important guy in the U.S., Patrick Hewitt, a junior in athletic training from Broadwell, said. I guess he picked SIUC because it’s in the Heartland and Illinois is an important part of his campaign.

Tara Marshall, a senior in theater from Mason City, said it is great that Clinton is coming to SIUC when he could go to a bigger or more prestigious school in Illinois.

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A lot of people’s first reaction, though, is that he is just trying to get more votes, and he doesn’t really care about SIUC, Marshall said.

The thrill of seeing a president up close and in person electrifies most students, Brad Blades, a junior in business management from Marion, said.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the president actually in the same place as you, Blades said. I would like to see him.

Hewitt said he is less interested in what Clinton has to say than he is about simply seeing the president.

This is the closest I’ll probably ever get to seeing the president, Hewitt said.

Robin Myers, a graduate student from Pennsylvania, said she is interested in what Clinton is going to talk about.

I would like him to address the issues we’ve been hearing about the cuts in loans and grants, especially for graduate students, Myers said. It would be nice if he’s going to be concerned about the cuts Republican Congress is trying to make.

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A shuffling of priorities may be in store for some students who want to see President Clinton but have classes on Monday that might conflict with their objective.

If he comes I’ll check him out if it’s not going to interfere with my classes, LaShawna Penny, a junior in finance from Chicago, said. I’m not going to break my neck to go.

Kim Blum, a senior in journalism from Lake Zurich, said a rumor has been circulating campus that students may not have to attend school Monday because of the president’s visit.

I’ve heard more students be excited about getting out of classes than about the president coming, which is sad, Blum said.

Blum said she is not enthused about Clinton’s visit.

I can’t stand him, Blum said. I’m not into someone who sends our troops over to other countries to die when we should be doing things here in our own country.

Mary Oswell, a freshman in political science from Carterville, said Clinton is going to talk about issues students should be interested in.

It is an honor the president picked SIUC, Oswell said. Students should want to listen to him speak at our University, it’s something to be proud of.