Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board.

Gender diversity is so important and because the Oval Office and Colorado State University’s Office of the President have only been occupied by men for the entirety of U.S. history, we are ready for some diversity to be employed.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County, emphasizes the importance of gender diversity because of female’s minority status as well as differing strengths.

Women in leadership roles might scare some men, but that mindset is simply sexist and unfounded. Around 60 percent of Donald Trump’s voters said they did not want to see a female U.S. president in their lifetime.

People should absolutely vote for who they think is the most qualified candidate, and the Presidential Search Committee should find the most qualified candidates. It is very probable that the most qualified candidate is a woman, especially considering that women are more educated than men, according to the Census Bureau, because women have higher rates of education attainment.

Not wanting a woman as president, simply because they’re a woman, not only means you’re sexist, but you would also be missing out on beneficial knowledge that you would otherwise not have access to.

Putting women in leadership roles will help everybody, because they would bring a new perspective and diversity. Also, there are women who have the merit and deserve the chance.

After our midterm elections, with so many firsts for women in politics, we should look towards the upcoming presidential election in two years and think of when the first woman president of the U.S. should be elected. There have now been five women who have declared their intentions to run.

Democrats Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar became the first Muslim women elected to congress. Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest woman elected to congress.

Kamala Harris formally launched her campaign for presidency at a rally in Oakland, California. Elizabeth Warren, the senator for Massachusetts, has also thrown her hat into the ring. Tulsi Gabbard, Congresswoman from Hawaii, announced her run for presidency Jan. 12.

At our own university, there are powerful women who have their own opinions about women in politics. Most notably is Karrin Vasby Anderson, Ph.D.

Dr. Anderson has recently published her book, “Woman President; Confronting Postfeminist Political Culture.”

In an interview with The Collegian, Anderson said, “The problem is that we have a culture which is inhospitable to women candidates. That the culture is what needs to change, not the candidates.”

 “The problem is that we have a culture which is inhospitable to women candidates. That the culture is what needs to change, not the candidates.” – Karrin Vasby Anderson

Anderson also said, “You can’t say that a woman will lead differently than a man, period. But you can say that half of the country’s population is not eligible to be elected, so we are missing so many perspectives. If we don’t allow women to be elected we are cutting off half of the available talent in the country.”

This trend of our political culture becoming more hospitable to women should not stop at the midterm elections but extend to the presidential election and CSU’s presidential search.

Individuals with minority status inherently improve any organization by introducing new perspectives that have been historically overlooked in the past.

Kamala Harris is the first African-American and the first woman to serve as California’s Attorney General and could potentially be the first woman and African-American woman to be the president of the U.S.

Tulsi Gabbard is also the first Hindu person, let alone Hindu woman, to even run for president in this country.

Also, Warren is an established politician and senator, so there are already women with the merit to be our president. 

We should urge ourselves to change how we think of women in leadership roles, on all levels. As Anderson says, change the culture not the candidates and be more open to having a woman as president.

Rory Plunkett can be reached at letters@collegian.com or on Twitter @jericho.wav.