Scripps College Logo

Close

About Scripps
At a Glance
  • Assessment and Institutional Research
  • Annual Financial Reports
  • WASC Reaffirmation Process
History
  • College Timeline
  • History of the Presidency
  • Scripps College Traditions
Initiatives
  • Centennial (Strategic) Plan
  • Diversity
  • Sustainability
  • Centennial Celebration
Our Campus
  • Scripps Merchandise
Administration
  • President
  • Board of Trustees
  • Senior Leadership
Claremont Colleges
Admission & Aid
Apply
  • First-Year Applicants
  • Transfer Applicants
  • QuestBridge Applicants
  • International Applicants
  • Homeschool Applicants
  • Veteran Applicants
Dates and Deadlines
Financial Aid
Visit
Why Scripps College
  • Scripps College Facts
  • FAQs
Contact Us
Academic Experience
Faculty
Majors & Minors
Academic Resources
  • Clark Humanities Museum
  • Department of Natural Sciences
  • European Union Center
  • Humanities Institute
  • Intercollegiate Feminist Center
  • Library
  • Registrar
  • Scripps College Press
  • Williamson Gallery
Post-Bacc Program
Research
Study Abroad
Life & Community
New Students
Creating Community
Leadership Center
Residential Vibrancy
Student Services
Contact Us
CARE@SCRIPPS
Career Planning & Resources
Title IX
  • Inside Scripps
  • Alums
  • Families
  • Careers
  • Giving
  • Events
  • Directory
Scripps Logo
  • Inside Scripps
  • Alums
  • Families
  • Careers
  • |
  • Giving
  • Events
  • Directory
  • About Scripps
    • At a Glance
      • Assessment and Institutional Research
      • Annual Financial Reports
      • WASC Reaffirmation Process
    • History
      • College Timeline
      • History of the Presidency
      • Scripps College Traditions
    • Initiatives
      • Centennial (Strategic) Plan
      • Diversity
      • Sustainability
      • Centennial Celebration
    • Our Campus
      • Scripps Merchandise
    • Administration
      • President
      • Board of Trustees
      • Senior Leadership
    • Claremont Colleges
  • Admission & Aid
    • Apply
      • First-Year Applicants
      • Transfer Applicants
      • QuestBridge Applicants
      • International Applicants
      • Homeschool Applicants
      • Veteran Applicants
    • Dates and Deadlines
    • Financial Aid
    • Visit
    • Why Scripps College
      • Scripps College Facts
      • FAQs
    • Contact Us
  • Academic Experience
    • Faculty
    • Majors & Minors
    • Academic Resources
      • Clark Humanities Museum
      • Department of Natural Sciences
      • European Union Center
      • Humanities Institute
      • Intercollegiate Feminist Center
      • Library
      • Registrar
      • Scripps College Press
      • Williamson Gallery
    • Post-Bacc Program
    • Research
    • Study Abroad
  • Life & Community
    • New Students
    • Creating Community
    • Leadership Center
    • Residential Vibrancy
  • Student Services
    • Contact Us
    • CARE@SCRIPPS
    • Career Planning & Resources
    • Title IX
Close
Search Scripps College
Scripps College News Feature Stories Scripps Presents: Nancy Pelosi to Students: “There’s a Special Place in Heaven for People Who Vote”

Close

Section Menu

  • Home
  • Student Life
  • Faculty Scholarship
  • Alum Newsmakers
  • Scripps In the News
  • Campus Updates

February 19, 2016

Scripps Presents: Nancy Pelosi to Students: “There’s a Special Place in Heaven for People Who Vote”

  • Feature Stories
  • News Releases

Nancy Pelosi and Vanessa Tyson

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi shared her trademark humor and pointed yet graceful conversational style while discussing a range of political and personal topics at a Scripps Presents: Conversations noontime event on February 18. More than 500 students and community members attended, erupting in appreciative laughter, particularly at her closing pronouncement that she believes “there’s a special place in heaven for people who vote.”

Vanessa Tyson, assistant professor of politics at Scripps, moderated the discussion with Pelosi, which took a lively path through the challenges of partisan politics, the Leader’s fight for bigger paychecks for American families, her success in raising federal emissions standards, and her hope for juvenile justice reform. Pelosi also shared how through her 28 years serving San Francisco for California’s 12th District in Congress she has been driven by her passions for justice.

“Coming here today, my daughter Christine reminded me to share with you how, when I first ran for Congress, the talk was ‘who said she could run?’ No matter what objections you face, you must be yourself—it’s worth it, and urgent for our country,” Pelosi urged the predominantly millennial audience.

As Democratic Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives for the 114th Congress, Pelosi is considered one of the most powerful women in politics. She noted that although she originally had no ambition for elected office, she was driven to help alleviate poverty in the U.S. and realized how she could make a difference as a woman.

“In Washington, we don’t call it the glass ceiling, we call it the ‘marble ceiling.’ It’s harder!” she said, grinning.

She has long been a champion of rights for women as caregivers, and talked about the “four legs of the stool” for legislative reform needed in the areas of better pay, national paid sick leave, quality affordable childcare, and support for seniors, where women carry a disproportionate caregiver responsibility. Pelosi expounded on how the country is a better place for everyone when there are better support systems in place for women who are so often in traditionally unrewarded roles.

“When women succeed, America succeeds,” Pelosi stated.

Pelosi emphasized throughout her talk how every person brings something unique to the political process, citing the importance of diversity and representative voices in all phases of democracy. She spoke diplomatically about the difficulties of navigating would-be bills in the divided and often corrosive bipartisanship environment in Congress. When asked by Tyson where the political parties could find common ground, Pelosi grinned, tilted her head, and addressed the audience directly, saying: “It’s not good. But it’s not as bad as you think!”

Pelosi delighted many Bernie Sanders supporters in the audience by acknowledging his unique ability to attract new and younger voters during a discussion centered on the presidential election proceedings.

The program concluded with student audience members submitting their questions to Leader Pelosi.

 

For more about Scripps Presents programs, click here.

Tags

  • Newsroom
  • Scripps Presents Series
About Scripps Visit Campus Request Info
Scripps college logo
1030 Columbia Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 621-8000
  • Campus Map
  • Virtual Tour
  • Diversity
  • Centennial Plan
  • Employment
  • Scripps Merchandise
  • Emergency
  • Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)
  • Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)

The Claremont Colleges.

© Scripps College | Accessibility | Nondiscrimination Statement | Privacy