Peyton Reich
Chicago residents vote at Fourth Presbyterian Church, an official polling center at 126 E. Chestnut St., on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
After Donald Trump was declared the winner in the presidential race early in the morning on Wednesday, Nov. 6, Columbia students returned to campus after having a day off with varying reactions.
Some students expressed anxiety about a second Trump presidency.
James Rabon, a junior creative writing major, said they froze when they woke up to see the news.
“It felt like I was still asleep, like what I was seeing wasn’t real. Our country has failed us,” Rabon said. “People were more comfortable voting for a radical dictator felon over a Black woman. I even considered dropping out for a second, in fear that everything I am working for will even be worth it after all of this.”
Trump is first convicted felon and second president to serve a nonconsecutive term after Grover Cleveland in 1885 and 1893.
Columbia students were given the day off from classes on Tuesday, Nov. 5 to vote and participate in Election Day activities. Rabon, who is an education minor, said they are worried about the future of education in the United States.
“If Trump does what he says he will, the Department of Education will cease to exist, meaning not only will I have a secured future, but the generations to come will be under Donald Trump’s education, one that’s meant to keep them stupid,” said Rabon.
Thomas Meehan, a senior public relations major, shared disappointment with the results after receiving the news from a friend.
“It was kind of discouraging, just because, especially the school that we go to, because it’s so everyone is pretty much voting for Kamala, and there’s really no one, or at least no opposing views that I know of here at the school,” Meehan said. “So you’re surrounded by all these people who are supporting one person, and so in your head, you almost kind of think, well, obviously that’s going to be the person who wins.”
Columbia Votes is holding a Registration Geniuses Conversation Circle on the first floor of the Student Center to help students process election results and provide peer support from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. starting today, Wednesday, Nov. 6 to Thursday, Nov. 14.
Copy edited by Trinity Balboa