Elizabeth Dole tells student crowd about vision of 'an America we can be'

The Sept. 11 attacks have given the United States an opportunity to recognize its blessings and strive toward improving character and public policy, former American Red Cross president and Senate hopeful Elizabeth Dole said at the IU Auditorium Friday.\nDole's main message was that Americans should be appreciative of what they have and help the less fortunate through public service.\n"Look at us here today -- all of the wonderful opportunities we have," Dole said in her speech. "We've received that we might give. We don't fully appreciate this great right, this great freedom. We need to be cognizant of all of these wonderful blessings."\nDole's speech, "An America we can be," was co-sponsored by the Union Board and the IU Foundation. Dole, wearing a blue suit with an American flag pin, was introduced by IU President Myles Brand and Union Board Lectures Director Nick Hillman, a junior.\nMore than 2,000 tickets were distributed for the event, said Union Board President Vaughn Allen, a senior.\nImproved American values and character are essential to strengthening the nation, Dole said. \n"We are a good and noble people. We don't have to abandon our dreams, but we must not forget the values that (allow the dreams to occur)," she said. "Individual and national character, the kind we've seen since Sept. 11, are what we need for the long haul."\nAn increase in expectations is also crucial, Dole said.\n"From time to time we may fail our standards, but our standards will never fail us," she said. \nDole served under five U.S. presidents, starting as deputy assistant for consumer affairs under Richard Nixon, and was the first woman to serve as secretary of transportation under Ronald Reagan. She also was the President of the American Red Cross from 1991 to 1999, when she campaigned for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination.\nBefore her speech at the Auditorium, Dole spoke at the School for Public and Environmental Affairs to a group of about 40 graduate students, Hillman said. \n"She had a question and answer session," Hillman said. "You could (feel) the energy in the air, waiting for her to show up."\nAfter the speech, she attended the awards presentation for the Herman B. Wells Visionary Awards.\nThe many professional aspects of her life came together when she visited the World Trade Center after the attacks, Dole said.\n"It was almost as if three parts of my life were coming together," she said.\nAs secretary of transportation, she dealt with increasing airline security; as secretary of labor, she worked with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); and as president of the Red Cross, she gained experience with handling disaster situations.\nDole said the terrorist actions against New York City and Washington, D.C. produced positive responses in people.\n"For a few brief moments we saw the worst of humanity, but now we are seeing the best of human behavior," Dole said. "We have witnessed a rebirth of patriotism. Our houses of worship are filled."\nDole said citizens can still get involved in improving the United States.\n"While not all of us can have a part in the rebuilding of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, each and every one of us can have firsthand involvement in the rebuilding of America," she said.\nShe also briefly discussed her plans to run for the U.S. Senate for her home state of North Carolina and clarified that her speech was not to campaign.\n"Come January 2003, I hope to put my experience of persuading senators into good use," she said. \nDole answered several questions previously submitted by audience members after the talk. \nSenior Kenny Schwarz said he liked Dole's response to a question about whether America was ready for a female president.\n"I think her enthusiasm when someone asked if America was ready for a woman president was great," he said.\nThe United States is "most definitely" ready for a female leader, Dole said. \nIf Dole were elected to the Senate, returning control of education to states and local school districts would be a priority, she said.\n"We don't need more regulations, we need results," she said.\nSophomore Elliot Ransom, who wants to become a teacher, said he appreciated Dole's stance on education.\n"I really enjoyed the fact that she brought up education," he said. "We need to concentrate our efforts on improving the education system."\nSenior Amanda Gosch said she felt motivated by Dole's speech.\n"I think she's an excellent role model, and not only for women," Gosch said. "It's so wonderful to see people like that. Especially for women, we need people like her."\nGosch, who is interested in a career involving public policy, said she also enjoyed hearing about Dole's political experience.\n"I really like how she covered the areas of her career," she said. \nSchwarz said Dole's presence in politics is important.\n"She's really the wave of the future for women in politics," he said. "You only get the opportunity to see people as prominent as Elizabeth Dole occasionally. Once you have a name like this, you've got to go"