The 2012 Presidential Election is right around the corner and excitement has filled the DVC campus.
English Professor Glenn Willis understands the importance of this election and the current state of America.  In his book, “Dear America: Do You Hear What I Hear?”, Dr. Willis asks first time voters to listen.  “It’s good to listen to your parents, but you’re going to have to make your own decision.  Listen, read, ask questions and then make your decision.”

The book, which is required reading in Dr. Willis’ critical thinking class is not an academic book, as the author himself stresses.  Instead, this book serves as Dr. Willis’ way to combat the “racism and hatred” that he has seen everywhere from his television to his own classroom in regards to this election.

Dr. Willis, a graduate of Rutgers University, served in the United States Air Force and has been a teacher at DVC since 1998.  Dr. Willis does not consider himself a Republican or a Democrat, but instead an independent and states that he has voted for candidates from both parties.  In his book, he outlines a political landscape that depresses him.

He fears a nation that will be separated.  “It feels like we are going back 180 degrees,” Willis says, offering the fact that “Last year over 1100 laws were passed against women in red states.”  In the presidential campaign of Mitt Romney, Willis sees someone who will raise tuition and make it harder for Americans to get an education.  As a wounded veteran, Willis draws a pension every month, and he questions Romney’s 47% remarks, “I was wounded in the Air Force, so am I on welfare? No.”  If Romney is elected, Dr. Willis says he will publish a book entitled “Buyer’s Remorse”.

“Now, I’m not gonna say Obama’s the black Jesus because no he’s not,” Willis muses, “You want miracles, you pray to God.”  However, he defends the president.  He believes that Obama will lead America away from the hatred and racism that is detailed in his book.
He sees racism and division, but he also sees hope.  “I believe in this country,” he says, “In 50 years, it’ll be a whole new ball game.  There may not be hope for my generation or the next generation, but there is hope.”

Dr. Willis will be publishing a Science Fiction novel entitled “Terror in Oaktown” in early 2013.