Interviewee: Bailey Wallace
Interviewer: Emma Wallace
Location: Remote interview
Date: October 8, 2020
Accession #: ELEC 015
Length of Recording:
Summary
Bailey Wallace, born in 1999 in Hong Kong, China, grew up in the Glen Ellyn suburb of Chicago. The interview includes discussion about Bailey’s family and their traditions, her life as a student at the University of South Carolina, and her perspective on the 2020 presidential election. In the interview, Wallace discusses the election culture on her college campus and within her friends. She discusses COVID-19 and its effects on the election. She reflects on her parents and their impact and influence on her political beliefs and how she will be getting involved in the 2020 election. She shares the issues important to her in the upcoming election, and how she will be voting. She talks about the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the open Supreme Court seat and emphasizes the importance in voting in the election and shares how to get college students out to vote.
Keywords
Civic Engagement | COVID-19 | College | Student Voting | Ruth Bader Ginsberg | U.S. Supreme Court
Recording
Transcript
Emma Wallace: This is an oral history interview for the 2020 election, sharing stories of civic engagement, oral history project, part of coursework for honors, college class SCHC 326, documenting the perspectives and experiences of those who are engaged in some way in the 2020 election. This is Emma Wallace. The date is October 8th, 2020. And today I’m interviewing Bailey Wallace remotely. I’m in Columbia, South Carolina, and Bailey is also in Columbia, South Carolina. Would you start by giving me your full name and spelling it?
Bailey Wallace: My name is Bailey, B-A-I-L-E-Y, Wallace, W-A-L-L-A-C-E.
EW: Where and when were you born, Bailey?
BW: I was born in Hong Kong in 1999.
EW: That’s very cool. Is that…
BW: Thank you.
EW: Where you grew up?
BW: No, I only lived there for about six months, and then uh we moved back to Chicago and um we lived in Glen Ellyn, a suburb about 30 minutes outside of Chicago, and I have lived there ever since.
EW: Okay, so what was the community of Glen Ellyn like?
BW: It was very tight knit I’d say. It was kind of you grew up with all the same kids, went to all the same schools, sports, everything like that. I loved it. The town wasn’t that big. Also, we had a little downtown area and it was nice because it seems like you could walk from one side to the other.
EW: Okay, so now talk to me about your parents. What were their names?
BW: My dad’s name is Jeff Wallace and my mom’s name is Kristy Wallace.
EW: Okay, and where were they from?
BW: My dad is from Danville, Illinois and my mom is from Northbrook, Illinois.
EW: Okay, and what do they do for work?
BW: My dad works for the National Christian Foundation, and then he also rents out houses in Florida. And then my mom is a part time nanny for one of our old neighbors.
EW: That’s very fun. Now, let’s talk about your grandparents. What were their names?
BW: My dad’s parents’ names were or are (laughter) Paul and Rosemary Wallace, and then my mom parents’ names are John and Janette Adams.
EW: And where are they from?
BW: Paul and Rose are both from um Illinois. And then John Adams is from Ohio and Janette that is from Michigan.
EW: And what did your grandparents do for work?
BW: My dad’s parents both were farmers, but now they are both retired in Florida. And then my mom’s parents, John and Janette, John worked in kind of business world like stocks and selling. And then Jeanette, she was a teacher, but then she also was Mrs. Ohio when they used to live in Ohio when my mom was probably two. And she also, a part of being Mrs. Ohio, had a news column called “Guidelines to Glamor”, and she would write about different tips for makeup or lifestyle, beauty or anything like that. And we still have um a lot of the news clippings today. And it’s always fun to kind of go back and read them and see if any of the guidelines, like still, we could use them now.
EW: Awh that’s very cute and very cool that she was Mrs. Ohio. Um what kind of family traditions did you experience?
BW: I’d say our family is very big in family tradition. Starting from a young age, Christmas was a big one. We’d always celebrate Christmas eve with my mom’s side, opening presents, whatnot, and then Christmas day we would always wake up super early, my parents would go downstairs and we’d have to sit on the stairs and wait for them to have their coffee and make sure.. my mom would start preparing food and whatnot. Then they would video tape us and kind of ask us what we wanted from Santa, what we think we’re going to get, and then they’d video us running down the stairs, going to the presents. And then we would always have cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning, which is one of my favorite parts…
EW: Yummy.
BW: And then we also, Thanksgiving is a big thing in my mom’s side of the family. One of the kind of newer traditions I’d say, probably the past five-seven years now, we… my dad will fry a turkey, and so that’s always a big hit with the kids always…
EW: I bet that’s good. (laughter)
BW: Once the turkey comes out of the fryer, we all circle around it and eat the fried skin off of it. And then probably for the past ten years now we’ve been doing a Thanksgiving talent show. It’s supposed to be every family [member] has a talent and then there’s a trophy awarded to the best talent at the end of the night, but every family never always participates usually. (laughter) My family probably has won, and then my youngest sister she always used to have at least one or two acts by herself. (laughter) Then my… one of my aunts Wendy, she’s very theatrical and is competitive and she will always have a funny talent and she’s done Irish tap dancing with a full-on costume and wig, to she pretended she was Miley Cyrus on a wrecking ball. She will literally do anything just to make us laugh.
EW: Well that sounds like a fun tradition! Who had an…
BW: It is.
EW: Who had an influence on you growing up or who did you look up to?
BW: I’d said one of my biggest influences or role models would be my Aunt Wendy. Majority because she had breast cancer when I was younger, and every time we went to go visit her, she always had a smile on her face and was happy. No matter if she was on chemo and was throwing up earlier, she always had a smile on her face and was saying she’s going to beat it, and she did. And even still to this day, she is always asking how we’re doing, calling us, she always came to our sports games or anything, supporting us. And even she’s flown down to South Carolina to visit at college, which was so much fun. And also just her work ethic, I’d say, is something I look up to and just how she has grown within the company she works for.
EW: Well, she sounds like an awesome woman. So, you mentioned that you’re a student at the University of South Carolina. What is your major?
BW: I am majoring in accounting with a concentration in data analytics.
EW: Okay very cool. Are you involved in any activities on campus? And if so, why did these activities interest you?
BW: Yes, I am involved in a sorority here, Kappa Kappa Gamma. I rushed my freshman year and I basically just wanted to join one to make more friends, especially since I’m from out of state. I thought it’d be a good way to find friends quickly and girls who have similar interests of me. And my sophomore and junior year, I was elected to be treasurer, which I didn’t really know if I should do it just because it seems like a big role to fulfill with school and socializing and everything, but it ended up being one of the best experience, I’d say, of my college career just because I was able to meet so many new girls within Kappa and get to know them better because I would say there are some girls who I’m friends with, but through exec, we were able to become better friends. And I just got to do more, opportunities and be more involved. And it really was one of the best things I could have done.
EW: That sounds awesome, and I feel like treasurer would kind of go along with your business degree.
BW: Especially yes, I… it’s a good resume filler.
EW: Okay so let’s get into this election. Being a college student, what is the election culture like on your campus?
BW: On my campus, I’d say it’s very spread out. I’d say, one we’re in the south, so a lot of times there’s more Republican views, but then also, since we are on a college campus, there are a lot of liberals as well.
EW: Mhm.
BW: And while I’d say, I wasn’t in college yet for the last president election, but I would just assume that this year it’s even, it’s a bigger conversation I’d say. I feel like there’s just more on the line, and I feel like I see more things on campus about the election. And then even just my friends and people talking about it seems more to be a prevalent thing.
EW: Mhm. Then going off of that, within your group of friends, how do you guys view politics? Is it something that you guys discuss?
BW: With my friends from home, I’d say a lot of them voice their opinions very publicly. They’re not scared to talk to anyone about it, especially since one of my friend’s moms is our state representative back in Illinois.
EW: Oh, that’s really cool.
BW: Yeah, especially since they have to get voted in every two years, it seems like she is always campaigning and talking about it. So, it’s a, I’d say for my friends back home, we talk about politics a lot. And just because a lot of us have the same views, so it’s easy to talk about. But then my friends, my friends here at school, I’d say we don’t talk about it as much. One, I just think we’re not as involved in it I’d say like I will talk about it, but I don’t really, I’m not really into politics that much, so I’m not really the one to bring it up. And a lot of my friends here, I’d say we have more diverse views, so with some of my friends and we might disagree with each other. And so, I just would rather not talk about it with them than get into a disagreement or ending in a fight.
EW: Okay, I respect that. How will you be participating in the election this year?
BW: I recently became a South Carolina resident, so I will be voting here this year and I’m planning to vote in person on November 3rd.
EW: Okay, have you ever participated in an election before?
BW: I was not able to vote in the last presidential election because I wasn’t old enough yet, but I did vote in the midterms in 2018 in Illinois. But I was here in Columbia for college, so I did a mail-in ballot.
EW: Okay, what issues are the most important to you during this election?
BW: I’d say the biggest issue for me would just be basic human rights, human rights in terms of healthcare. One with the being able to be on your parent’s health insurance up to twenty-six and kind of Planned Parenthood and abortions. And then also, I think a big one is the coronavirus and the pandemic. I think just how will… like the next president, deal with it and try to fix it and especially with a vaccine coming up soon. I believe strongly in science. So, I want the president to believe in science as well. So, I think that…
EW: Understandable.
BW: That’s a big thing. Yeah. (laughter) So I think that those are probably my two biggest points or issues that I’m looking for.
EW: Okay, so then based off of those issues and what’s important to you, who will you be voting for on November 3rd?
BW: I will be voting for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
EW: Okay, so what would you consider your political ideology to be?
BW: I would say that I’m more on the independent side or kind of in-between. When I was younger, I’d say I used to be a Republican, one just because that’s what my parents are. But as I’ve gotten older and been able to research it myself, I’d say I’ve kind of changed my views and now leaning more towards the Democratic side. But I also still do believe in some Republican views, so I’d say I’m more in the middle.
EW: Okay, so you talked about how you used to be a Republican because that’s what your parents were, and I feel like nowadays that is how it is for a lot of kids. So, talk to me kind of about your parents and what their political beliefs are. Did they ever push those on to you or kind of let you form opinions of your own?
BW: So, both my parents are Republican. They grew up Republican. And I’d say myself growing up, they never pushed anything onto me. It was always I wanted to know their opinion. So, I’d ask my dad what he thought and what not. And, I would agree, and like everything he said was rational and like, okay, yeah, that makes sense. Like, I agree. And also, when I was younger, I feel like I didn’t really understand a lot of the issues. So, it was easier one just to agree with him, especially when I couldn’t actually vote yet. Especially since my dad is big into the economy and stock, like that’s what he used to work in, so he strongly believes in like the free market and deregulation. But then my mom, on the other hand, she would say she’s Republican, but she really isn’t invested in politics like he is. So, a lot of times she just kind of votes based off of whatever my dad says. But still growing up, they always told us, like, you can believe what you want to believe. Now, since this is the first time that I can vote, I’d say I have talked to my dad about it, and there are a few things I’d say that we have different views on, but he’s never been mean to me or said like, I’m wrong to believe in those things.
EW: Well, that’s awesome that he lets you form your own opinion.
BW: Is it. (laughter)
EW: So, what were your thoughts on the first presidential debate that took place on September 29th?
BW: Overall, I thought it went really poorly. I think one, there is just… Everyone was so excited for this election and when it actually started, no one could actually get out anything they were saying or actually form ideas and speak their views on the issue. Everyone was interrupting each other, especially Trump interrupting Biden. He literally could not get out anything he was saying, and Trump just kept saying, like, you’re wrong or no, that’s not true, or they just random things like that, which, sure, he can believe that, but I still think a debate is having opposite views, so I think he should be able to speak what he thinks. And I just don’t think anyone was able to get out of it, what they wanted to and kind of share what their beliefs are. And I think one of the biggest takeaways for me was when Trump did not condemn the white supremacy groups, which to me means that he does support them and I know after it said he just means for them to take a step back and let law enforcement do their work, but I truly don’t believe that’s what he meant. I think if he, and I think he had the stage to say it and he didn’t, which to me just means that he does support them and I think that this goes against the Black Lives Matter movement right now, which is so prevalent in our country and just kind of just shows a big portion of our country that our own president is supporting this one group that does not support black lives and people of different races and whatnot, which I just think nowadays is so wrong.
EW: Yeah, I read a lot of things after the debate, just kind of criticizing him for that. So why do you think it’s important to vote in local, national, and state elections?
BW: I think, one, it’s important to vote in general, even if you don’t think your voice matters, it does, every vote counts. And I think a lot of people just think like, oh, it doesn’t matter to vote in the presidential election because, like, my one vote doesn’t matter. But when you vote in the presidential election, you are on the ballot, has the local and state elections on it as well, too. And those things do have a more direct impact on you. So I think that everyone should vote, so that’s like, yes, you might not agree with it, but you might as well try your best to have a say in it and try to get someone into office who you think will do the best work for you and what you believe in.
EW: Yeah. So, how do you think COVID19 will affect this upcoming election?
BW: I think it’s going to impact it greatly. One reason just it’s a big issue right now between the two parties and kind of how we should handle it, especially with the vaccine. And just recently, with Trump getting COVID and going to the hospital just for precautionary measures when there are tons of people who, one, don’t have health insurance so they can’t go to the hospital for precautionary measures, like, I do understand he’s the president so it’s different, but it’s still he’s just an American like everyone else is and just with him downplaying the whole pandemic and not wearing a mask, I don’t think he understands how big of an impact he has on everyone.
EW: Yeah.
BW: And if people do see him wearing a mask and then they’re going to be like, “oh, okay, maybe I should be wearing one, too.” I think it would be better if we were more cautious and tried harder in the beginning so that, yes, it might be worse in the beginning but by the end, it won’t be. But I think with how he’s been treating it, we’re just prolonging it and making it worse. And then also just with voting, I saw there’s going to be a record amount of mail-in ballots this year since a lot of people don’t want to go in person to vote. So, one, a big thing is with the mailing, if people’s ballots are going to get lost or whatnot and a lot of states don’t allow them to count mail-in ballots until the day of the election. So that’s going to take a long time, longer than it usually does. So, a big thing is that we might not actually know the results of the election the night it happens. It might take a few days, I thought, even a week or two, depending on the numbers. If people turn them in early enough.
EW: That’s crazy.
BW: Which I think will cause a lot of frenzy. Someone might think they won when really they didn’t and I think with that, it’s just going to kind of make it all crazier and worse, I think personally.
EW: Yeah, so going off that mailing in ballots, what are your thoughts on the Supreme Court reinstating the witness requirement for South Carolina absentee ballots?
BW: I think it’s smart. I know that some people think it’s too much, especially with corona going on they shouldn’t have someone so close to them or touching their ballot, all that kind of stuff. But I think, really, it’s just a witness can be anyone from a family member, friend, coworker so I personally don’t think it’s that big a deal. I do think it’s smart because it makes it more legit, especially with this, there’s people that think there might be an issue with stuffing the ballot or mail-in ballots with fake ballots and whatnot. So, I think overall, I think it is a smart law just because these are different times, so we need more regulation of it.
EW: Yeah, that would make sense. So, what are your thoughts on the recent opening for a Supreme Court seat?
BW: Well, when I heard the news of RBG’s death, I immediately thought right away how this is going to be a political issue now with it being an election year. I think she was a great role model for little girls and women to look up to and with all her work in women’s rights and basic human rights. So I think that with Trump thinking that he should be allowed to vote in a new justice and especially his pick, Amy Coney Barrett, she’s more on the Republican conservative side, so I think she will she will turn the court to be more conservative than liberal now. So, they’re going to kind of not destroy, but kind of rework all of what RBG did. Especially with abortion and a big thing is that the Roe versus Wade might end up back in the Supreme Court and if it does, with Amy Coney Barrett in it, that will give them, the conservatives, a bigger chance for going against it and making abortion a lot harder for a lot of people to get. And also, just with the 2016 election, Obama was not allowed to vote in a new justice because it was an election year, so I think that Trump should not be allowed to either. But of course, he’s saying these are different circumstances when it really isn’t. And since people are voting right now, they should be allowed to vote who should be able to pick the justice, and if people really want Trump, then he can vote in Amy and he can wait. But I think that they should wait to see actually what the people think.
EW: With that opening, I feel like it does make the election this year so much more important because whoever he does nominate will remain, obviously, in that seat for the rest of their life so it will have a lasting effect. But so, I guess going off of that and like the importance of the election this year and how important it is to get out there for people to vote, do you have any advice for college students on how they can get their peers more involved in the election and get them out to vote?
BW: Yeah, I think something easy is just to kind of start a conversation with your friends, family, really anyone, just one to hear people’s opinions and just to kind of see what people are thinking. But then also I think you need to do your own research and have your own opinions and not just go off of what you see or what someone else tells you. I just think if we start the conversation, it will get more people talking and looking at it for themselves. And I think this kind of era with social media being a big thing, especially college students, it’s so easy to post on your story on Instagram, an article or anything just even voicing your opinion, but one, if you even if you posted it, just one person sees it and reads it and they’re like, “oh wow, this kind of does change my opinion” that just shows you had an effect on someone that you didn’t even think you could. Which I think is a big thing especially with us being so young, we don’t really know exactly what we think or what we want. So, kind of getting other opinions of peers our age is something nice to see.
EW: Yeah. Well, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today and giving me the insight of a college student in the 2020 election.
BW: Of course, it was great to talk to you.
EW: (laughter) All right, well, I hope you have a great rest of your day.
BW: Thank you, you too.
EW: (laughter) Bye.
BW: Bye.