‘I’m scared’: We asked Hoosiers to weigh in on Mike Pence

Indiana Governor Mike Pence has just become the Vice President-elect of the United States. Donald Trump’s controversial running-mate has received mixed reviews from the American public — while he has garnered the support of a large number of US citizens, there are many who hold issue with some of his more conservative political stances, like his outspokenness in relation to religious freedom, his opposition to homosexuality, and his staunch pro-life platform.

On the day after the election results were revealed, a variety of IU students, all native Hoosiers, gave their opinions on Pence’s ascent to VP.

Daniel Pearcy, senior, biology/psychology

My words on the subject aren’t even appropriate to say on the Tab.

Madeira Ferrario, junior, English

I’m freaking the fuck out. Or, in journalist-speak, I am very nervous, and I anticipate that the changes we see in the nation are going to reflect the changes that we saw in Indiana while he was governor. I don’t think, with his very conservative background and his very conservative and Christian mindset, that it’s going to necessarily be good for our nation and for bringing together the divide that was already created by that campaign.

And how, as a woman, do you feel specifically?

*leans in close to the recorder, whispering* Scared as fuck.

I am very nervous, because I don’t think that Pence worried or even considers us as people, and I don’t think he really considers us as something that’s worth his time to worry about when it comes to creating legislature or just general laws—I just don’t think he’ll be good for us.

Gaby Anderson, junior, apparel merchandising

I definitely don’t like it, as someone who is a minority [Gaby is Native American], and my sister’s gay—there’s no part of me that would ever think that someone like that is okay in office.

It makes lives for women and people of color and LGBT people—it’s gonna make it really tough do a lot of things, like getting birth control, family planning—basic human rights are just fucked.

Juli Hulsey, freshman, accounting

The country’s fucked. I feel like Mike Pence has hindered a lot of progress socially, and he will continue to do so and probably reverse a lot of progress that we’ve made as a nation. And I’m pissed off.

As a woman, I’m quite frightened, because men like him and Donald Trump are perpetuating rape culture and making it okay for guys to do whatever the fuck they want.

Brandon Armentrout, freshman, theatre

I’m kinda scared, not gonna lie. From what I’ve heard about him, I am going to be put through shock therapy until I’m straight, so I’m gonna go ahead and say no to him.

The general consensus? Not too thrilled.