DAN ORZECHOWSKI
Staff Writer
The night after the election, students poured into the Williams Center to discuss the electoral results together at an organized, open meeting. For many, the presidential election caused distress and concern.
Voices were choppy, and tears were shed. Students often stumbled and paused as they spoke — a clear indication that students were stunned after Republican nominee Donald Trump was announced the next president of the country.
The talk was held to offer people, of all political affiliations, the chance to voice their opinions in a safe and open environment. Members of the Black Student Union, Pride Alliance, Fredonia Feminists, Writers’ Ring and Sigma Tau Delta felt the need to give students an opportunity to get personal thoughts off their chests.
Grief, anger and the need for unity were all expressed. Some students said they were so shaken up that they didn’t attend classes.
An outrage erupted toward the possibility for a reversal of several standing policies. Students were brought to believe that their human rights now have marginal meaning. They told each other how they’re afraid and uncomfortable in their own communities, especially now that Trump has won the election.
A member of the Black Student Union bitterly said that “the fact that I’m fighting the same fight that my grandparents fought is just sad.”
Another student said she could no longer consider herself an American.
Toward the end of the discussion, a student requested to hear viewpoints from anyone who had voted for Trump. Even though she assured that the room was a friendly and tolerant place, nothing was said in support of the president-elect.
Despite the silence, at least one Trump advocate was present. Isaiah Eisenhauer couldn’t relate to what the rest of the room had to say. Regardless, he remained silent during the discussion. “Everyone would’ve held resentment against me if I said anything,” he said. “I’ve been called a racist all day.”
Eisenhauer said that even though he was “shocked and excited” about the election results, he has kept to himself. “I thought people were wrong to assume people are racists just because of how they voted. The campus reacted exactly how I thought it would, and that’s my favorite part,” he said.
Embedded in the pool of students sat President Virginia Horvath and Vice President for Student Affairs Cedric Howard. Both of them issued emails to the campus community in response to the election.
In her email, Horvath called for students to be helpful to one another. She praised the ALL IN Challenge while saying “it was a successful event in deepening students’ connections to the political process.”
Horvath continued in her email by asking students to “keep the spirit of a safe and inclusive community and help everyone find a way to work and have a voice in the new direction of our country.”
Similarly, Howard’s email insisted that “this is a time for us to set an example of civility and compassion for others to observe.”
Horvath gave closing comments at Wednesday’s discussion. In a shaky voice, she told everyone to seek out the positive in the situation. In her remarks, Horvath refused to say Trump’s name.
In contrast to the rest of the room, Eisenhauer found this humorous. “I thought it was funny to see people crying over the election and how [Horvath] couldn’t say Trump’s name.”
If it hadn’t been for the group who reserved the room after the discussion, the talk would have gone beyond its scheduled time slot. An hour and a half wasn’t enough time for every student to share their thoughts.
When the time was up, students exited the room only to form more conversations right outside the doors.
For some, the 2016 presidential election results stirred a hornet’s nest. For others, the results led to a sigh of relief. Despite the unbalanced political participation, Wednesday’s discussion demonstrated a peaceful congregation.
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