Students celebrate President Obama’s election at Bates College in 2012.
Twelve alumni were asked how their campuses are responding to the presidential election. Check back tomorrow to read about Julia Owaidat, Jenny Kerbs, and Brad Petchauer, all ’16, and Jaspreet Gill, ’15.
George Cvetich, ‘15, Santa Clara University
“(Santa Clara is) extremely polarized and based around three statements: a) Hillary is a liar, b) Only an idiot would vote for Trump or c) I can’t trust either of them.
“This election has forced people to vote out of fear against what they do not want rather than voting for what they want.
“(I’ve) seen and been in many arguments.
“Most professors tend to stay away from sharing their point of view or learning the view of others as, with such high tension, it may cause bias. Even in my political science class, where the election has been extremely relevant, we don’t talk much about preferences. Teachers that do speak out about the election are usually liberal-minded (but) keep their piece on Trump to themselves as not to offend voters. Mostly teachers just ask us to help and support our fellow students in (and) out of the classroom.
“There have been recent things on campus where two kids violated a series of posters representing 43 lost and presumed dead Mexican students.
“Shortly after that, two students were caught on camera drawing a swastika and writing the word “fag” in the elevator.
“Community support by campus faculty and students has been pushed to the forefront in recent weeks.
“Honestly, I haven’t seen much change (with the election approaching). I think any growth in fear (for the election) has become inward anxiety at this point.”
Jag Lally, ‘16, Bates College (Lewiston, Maine)
“The election has been a fairly heated discussion amongst the people of Lewiston and the students at Bates, due to the fact that Bates is a mostly liberal school and Lewiston is fairly conservative. Most students are for Hillary, but there (are) a few that support Trump as well. It’s not all Democrat or all Republican but mostly Democrat.”
Adam Ketchum, ‘16, University of Portland (Portland, Oregon)
“It’s been kind of normal here. We had booths to help people register to vote and viewing parties for all the debates, but other than that, we haven’t done anything too special.
“People here are passionate about it, but I don’t think I have met many people anywhere who aren’t in the slightest passionate about the results of the election. We don’t have any polls, but given that Portland is extremely liberal, I have a feeling most are voting for Hillary.
“(We don’t have) student debates, but my history professor comments about some of the crazy stuff that’s been happening, and in my public-speaking class we analyze their speeches from debates and talk about (them).”
Amelia Fineberg, ‘16, Global Edge at University of California, Berkeley (London, England)
“Everyone is just laughing at the U.S. pretty much. I met a British guy who’s our age, and he doesn’t like Hillary, but he thinks Trump is hilarious.
“I’m mostly hanging out with only Berkeley students and I don’t think any of them are voting for Trump. A couple are voting for third parties, though.
“A lot of my classmates were very confused about the mail-in ballots, like how to request them and stuff. I sent mine in weeks ago. I’ve already cast my vote. I’m just waiting for the rest of the U.S. to get their (stuff) together and dump Trump!”
—By Sonja Hansen
