After a contentious 2024 election cycle, the results came quickly on Nov. 6 when The Associated Press projected Donald Trump to win the presidential race with 295 electoral votes at 4:34 a.m. CST. President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance are set to begin their four years in the White House on behalf of the Republican party, beating Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the presidential and vice presidential candidates, respectively, for the Democratic party. Students across campus have been reacting to the results, but The Hustler’s Opinion staff weighed in on their surprises, expectations and anticipated effects to campus. 

What was your initial reaction to the results of the 2024 presidential election?

Alysia Shang, Staffer-in-training: Waking up on Nov. 6 to my roommates speaking to each other in alarmed whispers, I immediately knew who won. Discovering that Donald Trump was the projected presidential election winner had my heart sinking. My immediate thoughts were of what this meant for minority communities: people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals and more. Trump’s influence in the Supreme Court during his first term, resulting in the historic overturning of Roe v. Wade, makes me apprehensive about what a second term could mean for the rights of these marginalized communities. What does it mean that the majority signaled through their votes that they prioritize economic concerns over human rights? What does it mean that the fear-driven, alienating rhetoric of the Trump campaign is the one that wins? I belong to, and am surrounded by, so many wonderful people who are part of these disempowered groups, making politics feel intensely personal. While Kamala Harris and her campaign were not perfect, she represented hope for many Americans. Losing sight of that hope feels devastating.

Anisa Juma, Staffer-in-training: My initial reaction to the election results was disappointment, but I was not shocked by the outcome. The real shock was how Republicans secured a majority in the Senate and had gained at least three Senate seats at the time of publishing. This allows for Trump’s proposed policies to be passed with a greater level of ease. I expected Harris, the more competent, qualified choice, to win against Trump, the twice-impeached former president and felon. The results of this election and how Trump governs will soon shape the next four years, potentially allowing for a more conservative country to hold the global stage and for other nations to follow suit.

Sammy Panchal, Staffer-in-training: My immediate reaction was disappointment in the American people. Though I had understood for a while that Harris’s campaign had left many, if not most, Americans unsatisfied with the degree of change she was willing to create from the Biden era, I didn’t think this dissatisfaction was so great that a majority of voters would be alright with electing a convicted felon, a rampant sexist and a proud bigot of many of the ethnic groups whose members call Vanderbilt home.

Did the results surprise you? What might these election results tell us about our country, state and local communities?

Peyton Price, Staff Writer: I’ve noticed that many of my peers were shocked by the election results — not only Trump’s victory but especially his win in the popular vote. Although I was surprised by the margin of Trump’s victory, I can’t say I was entirely surprised that he won. The shocked reaction I’ve witnessed among students in person and on social media should highlight the bubble we live in on our college campus. There is evidence that Vanderbilt’s students and faculty lean more liberal than conservative, so it is easy to fall into the trap of believing this reflects the whole nation. If you found yourself taken aback by the results, I encourage you to take it as an opportunity to consider the alternate perspectives and values that motivated millions of voters.

Manushree Navaneethakrishnan, Staff Writer: I was not surprised by the election results. Regarding U.S. politics, I’ve learned that sometimes what ideology represents and how candidates interpret that ideology are very different. As a Tennessee native, I’m used to how conservative our state is and how it shows up red on the election map. Despite bipartisan support for various issues across Tennessee, voters remain firmly rooted in their support for the Republican party, regardless of the candidate. Even the idea of deterring Tennesseans from Republican support seems next to impossible as a local.

George Albu, Staff Writer: These results definitely surprised me. Conservative ideals are gaining steam in U.S. politics, causing a rise in the Republican party that allowed not only Trump but other Republican politicians to win their respective races. The race in Barrow County — my home district in Georgia — had unexpected results. For context, Barrow has consistently been a Republican-led district, but I had heard many voters advocating for gun reform after the incidents of Sept. 4, leading me to predict that there would be a major rise in support for Harris. Surprisingly, Trump still won with over 70% of the vote and won the entire swing state of Georgia in the national election, highlighting a potential conservative shift in my home state.

If you voted out of state, what did that experience look like for you? Was it easy or difficult to vote?

Claire Andrews, Staff Writer: I voted via absentee ballot in Dallas County, Texas. When I decided to request an absentee ballot, I remember that I had to log into a website and request that the absentee ballot request form be sent to Vanderbilt. Rather than being able to request it on the website I was selecting it from, the request form itself had to be physically mailed. Two weeks after submitting my request form, my absentee ballot finally arrived. Since I was prepared and requested the original form in early October, I was able to get my absentee ballot back in the mail before November even started. However, I found it frustrating that I couldn’t request my ballot online to speed up the process and use less paper. For people who were looking to vote in Dallas County, this additional process could have been the make-or-break for getting their ballot in on time. Though the process wasn’t necessarily challenging, there was an excess number of steps required to submit my ballot absentee-style. I also found that there were many confusing pamphlets of information regarding how to complete the ballot and send it back in. Generally, I felt the instructions and process to submit my ballot were overcomplicated as a means to prevent me from voting.

Barrie Barto, Editor-in-Chief: Having voted absentee in two presidential elections, I can confidently say that Missouri does not make the process easy. To vote absentee, almost every reason requires getting a notary stamp on your mail-in ballot before it can be counted. Registering for each election absentee and finding time and funds to notarize a ballot is a discouraging process. I believe voting should be made easier for all voters in the state, not more difficult, especially since Missouri has embraced accessible in-person early-voting policies. Traveling home to vote simply isn’t attainable as a college student, so a simple signature match or witness signature like other states should have suffice to make my vote count. 

Tasfia Alam, Managing Editor: I requested an absentee ballot to vote in Los Angeles County, California. I am grateful that my experience was more positive than that of some of my peers. California sends all registered voters a mail-in ballot to their registered address, so there is no hassle to request one. The only thing I had to do was change my address to the one on campus. The state also does not require a stamp to mail out the ballot, which I know is not the case for several states. I was very happy with my experience voting absentee this election, and I believe all states should make it as easy as California does to vote via mail, especially for college students. 

As a college student, what issues on the ballot meant the most to you?

Hailey Weiner, Staff Writer: As a woman, the most important issues were women’s access to medical services and the right to choose exactly what services we use. As someone on birth control that my parents’ employers fund, I am especially fearful of what will happen if Project 2025 goes into action, as a big push in the project is to ensure all birth control is paid for out-of-pocket. Though I believe my family could afford this, I know I am one of very few who can say this. As someone who also used birth control as a way of ensuring my mental health didn’t decline, I didn’t want others in this same situation to be left without the stability it can provide. Knowing how many of my friends are on birth control right now for varying reasons, some similar to mine, I am fearing for all of those I love.

Panchal: On the presidential ballot, I was incredibly concerned with how other countries viewed the U.S. perception of climate change. This seemed to be our last big chance to show the world that America knows that climate change is a high-stakes issue. Americans seem unable to put political differences aside domestically to pursue climate solutions and demonstrate that we are ready for global and international cooperation on new scales to save the planet and countless lives. Additionally, I am concerned about the growing prevalence of white Christian nationalism and its manifestations in the classroom and the courtroom. This was the American people’s chance to say no to some of the extreme conservative goals of the Republican party, whether it’s stripping women of their reproductive rights, forcing religious agendas in public schools or denying science in the name of faith. None of the issues that are important to me were even close to being resolved or improved on election day, and I have little faith that our executive branch will do much to help over the next four years.

Albu: One of the most important issues for me was gun reform. From my high school being the site of one of the worst mass shootings in Georgia history to being within Dr. Metzl’s Guns in America class — which educated me further on the intricacies of gun culture — the issue of how to handle firearms in the U.S. has become a hot button issue for me. Potential economic growth was another significant issue for me as a college student. Because I, along with many of my peers, will soon no longer be an undergraduate, it is important to me that the economy grows by 2028 to prevent me from struggling to start my career.

Did you learn anything about our campus community by participating in voting, conversation or debate?

Price: One of my favorite experiences as a first-year thus far was attending two of the debates between the Vanderbilt College Republicans and Vanderbilt College Democrats hosted by the Vanderbilt Political Review. These debates covered both Trump and Harris as candidates and their specific policy stances. I was incredibly impressed by the intellect and passion of the students debating, and I can certainly say I learned something new from both sides. The fact that students could debate about controversial topics while still being respectful was wonderful to see. After all, one of the best parts about being at a university is engaging in dialogue with those you agree with and disagree with. Sadly, that has become increasingly rare in our polarized nation. Ultimately, I am grateful to have had this positive experience at Vanderbilt amid one of the most divided election cycles.

Andrews: After voting and participating in political discourse on campus, I found a disconnect between how our student body treats each other academically versus politically. In academic and social settings, Vanderbilt students prioritize collaboration, supporting peers in their academic journeys instead of competing and knocking them down. With collaboration as a defining feature of our university, it surprised me to see the hatred and division I witnessed on social media platforms like Instagram and Fizz regarding the election. Though Vanderbilt students promote academic discourse and variability with valor, it felt like many of my peers weren’t willing to explore the facets of ideological diversity, regardless of party lines. As a caveat, I find it absolutely necessary for students and faculty to protect aspects of their identity that are now vulnerable as a result of the election. However, I simultaneously feel that social media platforms have created an echo chamber of division on campus that counters the culture Vanderbilt prides itself on the most.

Juma: The conversation surrounding the election was very divisive, and the intense emotions prevented people from seeing one another eye-to-eye. This resulted in an information echo chamber. It creates a bias that is not open-minded in hearing other perspectives. In my opinion, people who allow for an open discussion with others are the most justified in their attitudes toward others. The lack of confirming news found on social media with more legacy news sources creates concerning amounts of disinformation on campus. It is lazy and shows a lack of accountability to follow the crowd and vote the same as you always have without considering the changing contexts.

How do you suggest we, as a campus community, move forward past election season into the new year?

Kate Connell, Opinion Editor: Moving forward past election season and into the new year as a campus community requires intentional effort to foster unity, understanding and shared purpose. Whether you feel happy or disappointed with the results, we can nurture our own form of change by engaging with local government, encouraging self-care and building bridges through shared goals. While I acknowledge that this will take a mental and emotional toll on those who currently feel defeated, I hope students here at Vanderbilt can take these four years to build upon what we’ve learned during this election and take that into our lives after university. 

Albu: In all honesty, the best thing we can do is put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Whether we love or despise President-elect Trump, chances are that he will sit in the Oval Office on Jan. 21. Do not tear relationships apart purely due to this election. For many Democrats, this could be the time to reflect on what to do better in their candidate’s 2028 campaign. On the flip side, some Republicans should consider what they say to their Democratic friends. Just because their candidate won does not mean they should rub salt into the wounds of many who fear their livelihoods under Trump’s administration, whether or not those fears will develop into fruition. We are all human, and tearing each other apart over who we support will bring no good for either side during these next four years.

Panchal: As a campus community, I think it’s best that we continue to be ourselves. That will naturally push us over to the new year. Despite all of its flaws, Vanderbilt is an incredibly loving and supportive community; by default, we are united and see the good in each other. There’s common ground between the most different Vanderbilt students. As long as we stay true to our identity, a school home to diverse perspectives, we will get through any division this election may have created.