In the wake of any presidential election, emotions can be high on college campuses, where students tend to have elevated levels of political engagement. In an election where Donald Trump, a highly polarizing figure, beat Kamala Harris, who could have been the first woman of color as president, students at Boston College are particularly emotional.
Many students interviewed were concerned with Trump’s track record, thinking he is unfit for president. “Just the thought of a man with Donald Trump’s history being an eligible presidential candidate was disappointing,” said one student. “The reality of his second term in office being upon us is frightening.”
Another voter stated she was “profoundly confused that this is the person half of our population has chosen to lead our country, disappointed we’re going to go another 4 years without a female president, [and] fearful on behalf of the women and immigrants whose rights are now at risk.”
One disappointed voter expressed his concerns about the role of bias in this election: “I think this election proved the double standard put against Harris from the beginning of her campaign. Her biggest criticism was not being specific enough about her policies, yet Trump said he only had ‘concepts of a plan’ on national television. I wonder what the backlash would have been if she said that.”
Overall, liberals were very disappointed with these results, citing various concerns with the election and with Trump. However, many conservatives had negative reactions to the election as well. One conservative student said, “As a Trump voter, I am encouraged that he won the election. But I feel hate from all sides, even from people who are close to me. I shrink away from every political conversation on campus because I know exactly how it’s going to go.”
Depending on the composition of the group, political conversations can be dominated by liberals. So, even though Trump voters outnumbered Harris voters nationally, their thoughts can sometimes be disregarded on campus.
Another conservative voter shared his concerns beyond just campus sentiments: “As a conservative after the election, I feel disheartened; it seems like a loss either way. The campus atmosphere is tense, and people seem ready to explode at any moment. I don’t see a real winner in this election, especially not for women. It’s a troubling time in politics, and I worry about what lies ahead.”
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