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Students help with millage

Gunner Badillo explains his contribution to the millage efforts at the State of the College Address.

Student Gunner Badillo has decided to get involved in the efforts to pass the millage.

He has walked the streets with President Kojo Quartey for a little over a month going door-to-door leaving material all over the county and speaking with anyone he meets.

Badillo said it takes time and energy, but the work has immediate impact. He said he can speak to 30 people in ten minutes.

“I want the community to be different and how dare I expect it to be different if I do not want to put the effort in myself,” Badillo said.

He is not being compensated for his efforts, but Badillo said he just wants to help his community.

“With a productive college, you have a smart community.” he said.

Badillo found out about the desire for student involvement when Quartey spoke about the millage during one of his classes. During a class break, Badillo asked Quartey when he was going out next and Badillo has been helping ever since.

He hopes that when students see his involvement, they will want to help too.

Students Leslie Austin and Chris Homes have also gone door-to-door with Quartey.

Quartey said usually a group of two or three people go door-to-door.

He said he works about ten to 20 hours a week lobbying for the millage. Since he still has regular hours at the college, he primarily goes door-to-door on weekends.

“It’s not my millage, it’s the college millage, but I am the leader of the college,” Quartey said. “I need to lead by example.”

They have finished Milan, Dundee, Maybee, and Raisinville, but they still have twelve more cities to go although some of them do not have a thick population.

In each city, they try to go to businesses, neighborhoods, and senior centers.

Businesses include gas stations, bars, and restaurants. They want to target places where many people will see the material.

People are picking them up. Quartey said he has gone to gas station in Maybee three times and every time the material is gone.

Quartey is still attending township meetings. Penny and Jim Ross cover the meetings he is unable to attend.

Several originations have endorsed the college and some have donated money.

Quartey said he did not know the community when he tried to pass a millage the first time, but now he knows the expanse of the county and is making an effort to reach every part.

“My entire career I have worked to try and make a difference in other people’s lives and this is going to make a difference not only in the lives of the students on campus but in the lives of individuals in this entire community,” he said.

“I have nothing better to do than to ensure that this millage passes.”