Students Weigh in on Upcoming Election: A Discussion From Both Sides of the Aisle
(Photo courtesy of Olivia Shirk)
Rachel Smith | News Editor
As November 5th approaches, most students on campus are faced with voting in their first Presidential election. The choice between current VP Kamala Harris (Dem) and former president Donald Trump (Rep) is easy for some.
However, many may feel daunted by the intensity of the decision and may not know who to vote for yet. I asked two politically motivated students to weigh in with their opinions on the election to help clear up some of the policies from both sides of the aisle. I sat down with both students separately to encourage their honest perspectives on the candidates and the policies they stand for. Junior student JK and senior LA gave thoughtful responses to help educate those on campus and reflect on the political climate on campus as a whole.
For JK, the issues that he felt were the most important in this election cycle were centered around immigration and border patrol, the economy, and abortion. He stated that immigration worried him the most, and in his opinion, Trump offered the best plan to handle issues centered around the southern border of the US.
LA presented a different argument on immigration, citing that a strict border wall would present bigger problems for the country as it would fail to keep people out as they would resort to more dangerous methods of entering the country.
Besides immigration, the most important aspect of the upcoming election is abortion and reproductive health care for all genders. LA stressed the importance of the issue of abortion as it impacts not only her life but those of her friends and family. LA brought up the controversial Project 2025, which is currently being pushed by right-wing conservatives. The project advocates for strict abortion laws, a rearrangement of power, and numerous other policies that present issues to Democrats.
JK and LA are voting out of state for this election using mail-in ballots. JK stated that he will be voting for Republican candidate Donald Trump as he tends to vote along party lines and agrees more with right-leaning policies. LA will be voting for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. She formulated her opinion by researching the candidates’ professional and legal records and platforms. She also thought it was important to research the donors of each campaign.
When discussing the political impacts on campus, JK did not think much would change for college students but more of the nation as a whole. He spoke on how we are still being impacted by decisions made in our childhood, and that this election will have impacts for years to come. LA expressed a level of concern for more extreme policies being passed that could possibly negate legislation like The Affordable Care Act. She is also concerned about the quality of life of college students economically as inflation has been steadily increasing with no minimum wage adjustments.
When it comes to collegiate students, LA is worried about the increasing financial disparities and how it could make college unaffordable for those with access to fewer resources. Both students agreed that The University of Dayton has a very divided political view. JK believes that this is due to a climate of hostility that has been developing on both sides of the political aisle. He believes that many people do not talk about politics due to this hostility or fear of negative repercussions. LA exhibited a different perspective as a senior at UD, she feels as if she is less connected to the campus as a whole, and only feels comfortable speaking to close friends about political issues.
It was mutually agreed that college students are now more politically engaged in comparison to previous election cycles. Both students cited different marketing campaigns that were specifically targeted at the younger generations such as the NFL Votes campaign as JK mentioned, and the use of TikTok to inspire Gen Z to register to vote. LA contributes a lot of the eagerness to vote to the fact that most students on campus were not old enough to vote in the last election. She is hopeful that the younger generation can generate tangible change in the political landscape of our country. JK confirms that students are eager to participate in the upcoming election and believes that social media has a lot to do with it too. This point is particularly prevalent as campaign programs such as Kamala HQ on TikTok and Trump making numerous appearances on podcasts were all done in an attempt to inspire the younger generation to vote.
Researching both candidates is a crucial part of the voting process. JK states that like a lot of our generation, he gets his information from social media. He clarified that he is diligent in fact-checking what he sees and tries his best to avoid confirmation bias. JK, aware of his own bias, goes out of his way to double-check claims that circle social media and encourages readers to do the same. LA takes the more traditional approach for her information, reading up on all the candidates (including third-party candidates as well). Candidate websites are a great source to further understand their platforms, but LA compared them to a social media account as they put forth their best self. From there she explores media sources that have a central affiliation, as she tries her best to avoid biases in her information. While she does encounter news on social media platforms, she thinks that it is unreliable and tries to avoid it. Both students stress the importance of fact-checking any information you see on the candidates since a lot of what people see on the internet is skewed or false.
Voting is an incredibly important part of having your voice heard as an individual. JK emphasized that we should all play our part and make sure that our voice is heard. Every vote matters and it is a crucial part of being American. LA considers it her “civil responsibility” as for her, it goes beyond duty. She played into the Dayton motto and further explained that voting is beneficial for the “common good”, and as active citizens, we should be doing our best to contribute. The students were particularly passionate when it came to the importance of the vote.
Each vote counts in an election as close as this one is, and we mustn’t waste our opportunity to help choose a candidate to lead our country.
Despite their opposing political views, both students hope that the student body turns out at the polls in a little over a week. Before you go to the polls, be sure to check your voter registration and educate yourself on the voting policies in the state you are from. I encourage you all to do your best to make sure your voice is heard on November 5th and vote.