Students were greeted with flags waving in the autumn air and a sea of blue shirts as they walked onto campus on Oct. 2.

SFCC recently held an event called Lemonade with Lisa in which Lisa Brown, a Washington 5th District congressional candidates and challenger of longtime incumbent Cathy McMorris Rodgers, gave a speech and spoke to students.

“I’m a supporter,” said Anna Fruehauf. “I’m really excited to see her in person.”

In 2005, Brown became the first Democratic woman in the state to hold the position of Senate Majority Leader.

“I align with her beliefs,” Fruehauf said. “Who we elect affects our future’s so greatly.” On SFCC’s campus, all of the ASG members in executive positions are women.

“Many executive positions are held by mostly men,” said Nicholas Lee, an attendee of the event. “So I think that seeing women in those positions is liberating and important, especially in our current society.”

Brown was elected to the state legislature in 1992 and was then elected into the senate in 1996.

“I’m running for Congress because I’d like everyone to have the same kind of education opportunity that I had,” Brown said.

Brown is a first-generation college graduate and holds a doctorate. Lisa’s website states that she would not have been able to attain her PhD without federal financial aid.

“I’ll just ask you a question,” Brown said. “If you can refinance your car loan, shouldn’t you be able to refinance a student loan?”

The crowd erupted in cheers as Brown continued to speak about her views on financial aid for college students.

“We need to provide relief for students who will grow up in this generation,” she said. “The people who will be starting businesses, form families, buy houses and en- gage in public service.

“The Declaration of Independence says ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’ ” she said. “How will we make our founding documents true if we don’t have universal healthcare?”

Brown makes it a point to get out and campaign for herself by going door to door in her district.

“When I go knocking on doors for my campaign I see people of all ages.” said Brown. “Most people tell me they are registered to vote but they’re unsure how to get out there and cast their ballots.”

On campus there has been an obvious push to get students to vote. Flyers are hung in the SUB and members of ASG walk around at events and urge students to register.

“I think our campus is very proactive,” Fruehauf said. “They’re doing a great job at getting students ready to vote.”

SFCC’s website has a whole page dedicated to showing students how to register to vote and cast their ballots.

“Our country needs us all,” Brown said. “We need to exercise our vote and our voices.”

Though an on-campus debate never happened between the two candidates, ASG raffled off tickets to the 5th Congressional debate that was held at the Fox Theatre on Oct. 17.

Nearing the end of her speech, Brown spoke about the recent filming of the TV show Z-Nation that took place in Spokane.

“One of the things I’m really proud of is helping to create more economic prosperity in Eastern Washington,” Brown said, “They came to me and said there was no film or motion picture incentive.

“We created a motion picture and film program 10 years ago,” Brown said. “We now have Z-Nation being filmed here in Spokane.”

Brown says that when she visited the set a few weeks ago that she found out there were Zombies for Lisa.

“But the undead can’t vote,” she said. “But you can! So please do.”