By Raleigh Basinger
The election of Donald Trump has conjured mixed reactions from Americans. The Jambar talked to students at Youngstown State University about their thoughts about the election and how they think the country will move forward.
POSITIVE
Laurencia Canzonetta, president of College Conservatives, said she is very proud to have Trump as the president-elect and thinks that he will bring energy independence, law and order, border security and jobs to the American people.
“Trump will reduce business regulations and will lower both personal and corporate income tax. He will promote our energy sector,” Canzonetta said. “Russians want to work with us to end the war. He will stop Muslim refugees programs and increase border security to stop illegal immigration.”
Tommy Maciarello, an accounting student at YSU, said that he was very satisfied with the results of the election and is extremely optimistic about what a Trump-Pence presidency could bring.
“I believe people will be safer and our country will be much better off from an economic standpoint,” Maciarello said.
Canzonetta said that Trump did something revolutionary when he picked a woman, KellyAnne Conway, to help run his campaign.
“It’s the first time in the history of our country a woman ran a campaign and won. She broke the glass ceiling for women,” Canzonetta said. “She was picked for her talent. She is a great role model for young girls and women.”
A lot of people who aren’t happy about the new president-elect are protesting, and Maciarello thinks that the people doing that are fundamentally disrespecting America’s democratic process.
“I think it is disrespectful to America … and to those who fought for their right to vote and voice an opinion. In a race there is a winner and a loser and we must live with the results,” Maciarello said. “The election happened and Americans chose Trump fairly. People should unite and get behind him.”
Canzonetta said that those protesting need to stop what they’re doing and learn that not everybody wins all the time.
“…That’s not the real world. These student rioters are pampered by parents and brainwashed by the big liberal colleges which add fuel to the fire,” Canzonetta said. “It’s time for the nation to have national conversation about political correction and telling the truth.”
NEGATIVE
Dylan Edwards, president of College Democrats, said a Trump presidency will lead to destruction — citing Trump’s cabinet picks and his view of running the country like a business as the main reasons Trump’s America isn’t making anything “Great Again.”
“This unpredictability is dangerous to markets and it is even more dangerous to the fabric of an incredibly divided country,” Edwards said. “[He has] zero public sector experience, and the belief he can run the country like a business is arguably going to create severe funding cuts in programs Trump considers wasteful, like education.”
Christa Buckler, early childhood and special education student, said that it took her the entire week to turn her fear of a Trump presidency into hope. As an after-school teacher, she said she has seen this election adversely affect her young students already.
“I feared for our safety when it comes to national security and how this would affect our nation’s children,” Buckler said. “I’ve heard from many kids in minority groups about how terrified they are with the threat of deportation. No child should feel that they aren’t good enough to live in our country.”
Many Americans who oppose a Trump presidency have been protesting around different parts of the nation to the dismay of others.
Edwards said that protesting is a right and shouldn’t be looked past or dismissed as people not getting their way.
“I think the students in California and Nevada engaging in peaceful walkouts and protesters marching on Trump properties in New York City and Washington D.C. are showing a great deal of courage based on the threats from some Trump supporters against these groups whom are made of mostly marginalized people,” Edwards said. “However, the #notmypresident is not something I agree with because when he takes office he will be the president and his failure will result in irrevocable consequences for Millennials.”
Buckler said that in the end, it is always important for individuals to stand up for what they believe in.
“I’d much rather fight like hell for what I believe in than stand by and watch from the sidelines,” Buckler said. “I think a lot of activists feel the same way. When you see an injustice, you speak up.”