You may recognize Jill Birkinbine from one of your science classes. She is an allied health and health education major. She likes hockey and works at a pizza shop. She is a pet owner and trainer of four poodles who have won various honors at dog shows. She is a pretty typical college student... who is crazy about Hillary Clinton.
The most important political issues to Birkinbine are women's rights and the environment.
According to HillaryClinton.com, Clinton has been an advocate for women's rights for many years. She has demanded equal pay for women, supported a woman's right to choose, empowered lower-income women, helped prevent teen pregnancies and supported women's health issues.
Clinton's Web site also details her plan to help the environment. As President, she will decrease dependence on foreign oil, encourage schools to reduce emissions on campus and use "smart grid" technology to be more energy efficient.
Birkinbine has made efforts to start a young Democrats group on Otterbein's campus, a group that is not currently formally recognized. Although she really wants Clinton to win, she says that she will support Obama if he wins the primary election.
"I would just welcome change from the current administration," she said.
Birkinbine feels that Clinton is the most relatable candidate. "I am glad that I can support her as a woman," she said. "But gender is not the reason I'm voting for her. I agree with her on the issues."
Birkinbine thinks that Clinton is not as liberal as she is accused of being. "She wants to focus on issues that have been ignored, but she is not so extreme that the changes she wants should keep people from voting for her."
If you walk by Birkinbine's dorm window, you will see her "vote Clinton" sign proudly displayed. To conservatives who hate on her Clinton-loving, Birkinbine said, "Bring it on."
