There’s a small rural town in northern Illinois waging a battle to save something the residents care about. That something is their fiberglass cow.

For 25 years, this cow has stood at the five-corner intersection of the highway leading into Harvard—the small town in question.

When the Illinois Department of Transportation set out to improve the intersection and said the cow, Harmilda, would have to be moved, the residents did not stand for it.

Just as if Harmilda was a favorite tree in a person’s yard, or a cherished religious symbol, the people of Harvard did not want their cow to be disturbed. It had come to be the town’s prize symbol of its identity.

The entire town joined in the crusade, young and old alike, from all professions. Local farmers even brought in several real cows to show their protest.

IDOT law states that their officials must be in full agreement with the city officials before any improvements can be made keeping Harmilda in her favorite spot. This is effectively cancelling the project.

No, there is not a fiberglass cow anywhere in the fine city of DeKalb, and no such figure has found its place on NIU’s campus.

It is not so much the name of the town or the fact that the townspeople are trying to keep Harmilda the cow at the entrance to their city.

What is so striking in this incident is the dedication of the people of Harvard and the attention their plight has gathered. People from around the country have taken an interest in the fine cow and have stated their support to the townspeople of Harvard.

The lesson here is that people—ordinary citizens—have the power to make changes, or in this case to prevent changes from occurring.

This is a right given to each and every citizen living in the United States. And looking a bit closer to home, it is a right given to each and every student here at NIU.

There are things going on which seem to just slip by the average student.

If ever there is a cause a person believes in, one should fight for that cause. People should opt to make changes when something does not seem right.

It seems, at times, problems are too overwhelming, and people are too powerless. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Strength must be gathered, and power must be seized. If you don’t use the power you have, someone will be there to take advantage of the fact that you have chosen to to keep still.

Until the big, bad IDOT came along and tried to uproot Harmilda, Harvard was just a name on the map. It was a small rural town near the border of Wisconsin.

It was the people’s determination to fight for what they believe is right which brought the town attention and, more importantly, saved their cow.

If one person stands up and says there is something wrong, there is surely another person to listen and perhaps agree. When this happens, the possibility of more people listening and concern growing, changes can occur.

There is no community too small and no voice too quiet. People do matter.