“I remain in awe of the country I live in”: EU Reacts to Donald Trump’s Second Presidential Candidacy

On Nov. 6, Bluejays returned to Elmhurst University in the dawn of a new America. While nothing actually changed the morning following the election, the mood on campus surely had, as quiet fell over common areas and classrooms alike.

In the aftermath, Counseling Services offered walk-in hours, and the Office of Student Involvement hosted stress management events in the Founders Lounge in hopes of giving students a place to gather and disconnect from the news.

With no choice but to look forward into the coming months, Rev. Scott Matheney says it’s imperative that the University build a support system to help the EU community move forward in the wake of these results.

“There is a need to address what is looming — because there is no mystery, two months from now is January 20th,” said Matheney. “What are we doing to help get this community ready for the inauguration of President Trump?”

EU President Troy VanAken released a statement on Nov. 8 emphasizing the importance of unity on campus during these divisive times.

“While some on campus and off might be pleased with the results, others are feeling anxious and concerned,” began VanAken. “We’re not wavering in our commitment to do all we can—each one of us—to make Elmhurst a place of belonging and welcome. We are not going anywhere, and we are here for our students and each other.”

In an all-faculty meeting on Nov. 8, a resolution was proposed and overwhelmingly passed by EU faculty expressing their full and unwavering support for EU students and all facets of their diversity.

The resolution, penned by multiple staff members, read, “We, the faculty of Elmhurst University, support our students and staff and affirm their belonging to this institution regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, culture, language, dialect, accent, and/or ability status.”

“Overwhelmingly the faculty wants the students and the staff of Elmhurst to know that we are committed to your humanity,” said Dr. Russell Ford, who introduced the motion in the meeting.

Many Bluejays who spoke to The Leader did so in a state of grief, anger, and anxiety — raising fears and larger concerns about a second Donald Trump presidency.

Senior Josie Finney said she’s still in disbelief. “Part of me still can’t believe that so many people support a man who openly expels hate and bigotry,” she lamented. “I am witnessing a campaign, and a group of supporters fueled by nothing except the hatred of people who don’t look like them.”

Sophomore Julienne Villar said that as a woman of color, there aren’t words strong enough to describe how she’s feeling in light of a second Trump presidency.

“Worried seems like too weak of a word to describe this entire thing,” she began. “I’m panicked for the future. These next four years seem predictable, and yet so unknown.”

Senior Itzel Arenas said that she’s fearful, but also disappointed at the current state of affairs. “Let’s prepare to be the laughing stock of the world for the next four years.”

Some Bluejays aren’t nearly as worried and say they feel as though the results reflected the true ideals of the American people.

“We already know what they [Trump and Vance] are about,” said sophomore Eddie Franczak. “Kamala Harris had no policies, zero. Trump is going to drill, drill, drill, that wall is going to be down, we’re going to have better gas prices. When Trump promises something, he’s going to do it for you.”

Sophomore Sam Cotton said he doesn’t see any point in lamenting over the results.

“I feel like these were the results that the majority chose, and that’s how the Electoral College went,” said Cotton. “That’s something we have to live with.”

While students across campus processed their feelings about these results in different ways, online, Bluejays on both sides of the political spectrum are participating in what one anonymous student on the platform referred to as a “second Civil War.”

“Liberals promote the most hate I’ve ever seen and Yik Yak has shown that,” said one anonymous student on the platform.

“If you didn’t vote, I don’t want to hear your opinion,” said another, “you either aren’t a citizen or didn’t exercise your right of the 26th amendment so stop complaining about democracy.”

Others posted about their concerns regarding a range of issues from abortion rights to immigration and foreign policy, and were met with pushback from those on opposite sides. This heated political discussion quickly devolved into insults and thinly veiled threats, but the online negativity wasn’t just limited to campus.

“Scrolling through TikTok on Tuesday night was a fucking nightmare,” said Villar about how online platforms have exacerbated the grim reality of the election results. “There was just streams of young women realizing we were losing our rights as humans in front of our eyes. That we will never really be seen as equal.”

Defamatory posts also began to spread on campus Snapchat stories regarding comments about Vice President Harris’ race, and President-elect Trump’s plan to “eradicate” transgender individuals. Students were quick to counter these posts, focusing on spreading love and positivity for those in marginalized communities who may have read them.

It’s this love and positivity that Bluejays anticipate will prevail in the end, hoping it will be enough to carry them through the next four years.

“I can’t help but feel a little bit of hope,” Arenas mused. “Hope that this will propel our goals and reinforce our will to fight against our discriminatory government, fight for Palestine, Congo, Sudan, and others, fight for our right to healthcare and fight to protect our world and future.”

She continued with her dreams for the future, saying, “We can be mad and sad and blame this and that, but once that man is inaugurated I would hope we can remember that we’re all against the same thing, and regroup and support each other.”

Finney said that she too is trying to maintain a positive mindset, but is not quite there yet.

“While I do plan on moving forward, and recognize that all we have is hope that this will end someday, I remain in awe of the country I live in, and not in a good way,” concluded Finney.

Matheney believes that the campus needs to be having open discussions about the issues following Trump’s re-election and said that he’s concerned about the rise in antisemitism, islamophobia, racism, and homophobia already visible in the nation.

“I will be asking regularly, ‘How is your soul?’ ‘How are you taking care of yourself and your soul as this is ramping up?’” said Matheney of his attempts to check in with the campus community in the coming months. “I’ve already talked to students and faculty when I’ve asked that, and they’ve said, ‘It’s bleeding, Scott.’”

Despite this shared pain, Matheney said that it’s important for the entire campus community to stay engaged as history repeats itself.

“There’s faculty, staff, trustees, and the student body, and all of us are caught in this moment. We’re not divorced from the world, the world is right here inside us,” stressed Matheney. “How are you learning, taking care of yourselves and each other, building a community, and building a movement?”

Dr. Ford wants students to know that EU’s faculty is here to support them through whatever comes next.

“You might be feeling afraid right now and if you’re feeling afraid, the motion affirms that the overwhelming majority of EU faculty want to be your allies,” emphasized Ford. “We are a safe place for you to turn to.”