By Katie Rhodes
On Thursday, Oct. 23, Springfield College welcomed former White House Press Secretary and Senior Presidential Advisor, Karine Jean-Pierre, onto campus. At 7 p.m. in the Field House, a crowd of well over 500 students and faculty members gathered to attend Jean-Pierre’s appearance. The event was a part of Springfield College’s Art and Humanities series, which invites annual speakers who showcase the cultural, social, and political potential of arts and humanities.
Jean-Pierre’s appearance coincided with the release of her most recent book, Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside Party Lines, which was published on October 21. During her presentation, she read excerpts from the book and reflected on her time in the White House and her recent decision to switch her party affiliation, leaving the Democratic party to become an Independent. She left students with a rallying call to take action in preserving our country’s democracy.
“I got to meet a few of you earlier this evening, and I have a lot of hope because of you all,” Jean-Pierre said to Springfield students after being welcomed onto a stage of maroon and white marigolds by Springfield’s Dean of Arts and Sciences, Rachel Rubinstein.
Jean-Pierre broke a lot of barriers throughout her career as the first black and first openly LGBTQ+ White House Press Secretary. Additionally, she was the longest-serving female in the role in U.S. history, serving for two years and eight months.
Jean-Pierre got involved in local politics after graduating with a master’s in public affairs from Columbia University. Early in her career, Jean-Pierre worked in political campaigns and advocacy, before working for the Obama administration, then the Biden administration, where she held the role of press secretary.
The eldest child to Haitian parents, Jean-Pierre immigrated to New York City when she was five years old. Her upbringing taught her the importance of hard work, fighting for your beliefs, and shaped her commitment to public service.
“Democracy isn’t a guarantee,” Jean-Pierre said. “It’s an inheritance, and it’s up to us to decide whether we keep it alive. It’s up to each and every one of us in this very room.”
After spending the entirety of her career as a loyalist in the Democratic party, Jean-Pierre’s shift to Independent shocked many. During her presentation, she challenged the two party system, declaring that the U.S. government needs a change.
Describing what “independent” means to her, Jean-Pierre said, “It doesn’t mean standing alone. It doesn’t mean giving up on my beliefs. It means refusing to be boxed in by systems that benefit from our division.”
She proposed her perspective that the current two party system is broken, placing priority on the parties rather than the needs of the American people. By describing the hostility between the two major parties, Jean-Pierre highlighted the importance of a system where people can communicate openly.
Expressing fear for the future of the U.S. government, Jean-Pierre emphasized the necessity for young people to take action to protect our democracy. She encouraged the students of Springfield College to make decisions independently, by not viewing politics through the lens of a party. To her this means to be courageous against pressure to conform or abandon beliefs, but to be open minded to new ideas and possibilities. After Jean-Pierre spoke, President Cooper reflected on the event.
“I think it’s good for all of us to hear different perspectives so we can define our own,” Cooper said. “When I looked out to all the students today, I thought, you could all be whatever you want.”
Cooper described observing a sense of inspiration among students as they left the field house, chattering among themselves. Jean-Pierre’s goal was to spark an open conversation and inspire the young people of Springfield College to get involved in the future of our democracy.
After the event, first year student Kierstin Reardon commented on Jean-Pierre’s event. “It was really cool to have someone who held such a powerful role on our campus,” she said.
Because of the recent rise of political violence and the assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus, pulling this event off was a challenge. Originally, Karine Jean-Pierre’s talk was supposed to be open to the public, but in order to ensure her safety and the safety of Springfield College students and faculty, a Springfield college ID was required for admittance.
During her presentation, Jean-Pierre commented on the rise of political violence in the past couple of years. She acknowledged the “political trauma” young people have grown up surrounded by. From the aftermath of the September 11th attacks to the global pandemic, the political atmosphere we have come to know has been altered by fear and hostility. Jean-Pierre marked the resilience of the young generations and new voters.
Jean-Pierre ended her presentation by addressing the students of Springfield College directly.
“What gives me hope, what inspires me, is that you are not waiting for permission to lead,” Jean-Pierre said. “You’re organizing. You’re voting. You’re calling out hypocrisy.”
Jean-Pierre’s message, despite being a cautioning one, was rooted in hope for the future.
Photo courtesy of Springfield College