We asked Buffs: what will you do if Trump wins?

We are narrowing in on a day many have been waiting for. This year and a half long campaign is finally coming to an exhausting end. However, we shouldn’t celebrate too quickly. The divisive politics in the US will probably continue. It is true, on the bright side, that victory for either candidate will make history, although in different ways.

Today on CU’s campus everyone is trying to get in their ballots last minute. Some are helping with the effort, and some are abstaining from voting. Either way, we asked some CU students what they have to say about a potential Trump presidency.

 

Austin, Senior, Political Science

Austin, who works for the Colorado Democratic Party, remains optimistic no matter what the outcome, and is focused on healing the nation again because it has been a “tough and divisive election for everyone.” He pointed out that “one of the best things about the US is that when we have an election everyone accepts that that is the outcome. One of the scariest things for me is that Trump has been saying if he loses he is not going to accept it. That is a big deal, especially as a student of Political Science who believes in our government and our system. We have a lot of good Democrats and Republicans that work in Congress.  He is not going to get is way with all those destructive things he has been proposing. No matter who wins it will be about coming back together and realizing we are all in this together.”

Leah, Senior, English

For Leah, if Trump wins today, “it would be very scary. That’s why I’ve decided I am going to do something about it. I will probably start online activism before anything, because I have to finish school. Mike Pence is more dangerous than Donald Trump, in my opinion, because he is evil and competent whereas Trump is evil and incompetent. First things first, I’ll become an internet troll and make sure we get Tim Kaine to be the vice president because I know there are routes to do that.” She hopes this is not the case however, because she doesn’t “want to have to prepare” for a Trump presidency.

Karen, Senior, International Affairs and Political Science

What will Karen do? “Hope for the best!” she said. “I’ll definitely do something because I can’t do nothing knowing what Trumps believe in and who I am, it doesn’t work.”

Jay, Junior, Economics, exchange student from Singapore

“I would be very sad for America and disappointed. It is sad that people don’t see the person Trump really is. Because they don’t see this, they are willing to elect him.”

Wes, Senior, Psychology

“Fuck the system” was his initial reaction. “The system we ascribe to is one that creates division and what I seek is unity.” If Trump wins, Wes will continue to live his life the same way he has been living it. “I’m going to spread as much peace, love, and harmony as I can.” He doesn’t believe any candidate we are presented with today can bring that, and therefore he did not vote this year in protest.

Emily, Senior, International Affairs

“I’d be really disappointed and embarrassed for our country, but I don’t think I would take to the streets because I think that would be undermining the very democracy we’ve been talking about protecting, because he would be freely and fairly elected. I would try to find a way to try and feel unified with the rest of the country, even if we can’t bridge all the divides, and donate a lot to the lobbying causes that I really care about.”

 

Niko, Sage and Neema are employees of the democratic party and were up early in the cold helping people vote. Sage was yelling “breaking news” until she got peoples attention, and following that up with “climate change is real.”

Niko, CU Boulder Class of 2016, Economics and Political Science

“I would try to work for a progressive think tank to make sure people are educated and know how destructive some conservative policies are”

Sage, Sophomore, Physics

Sage is dedicated to politics. She took the semester off to work for the Clinton Campaign. “I would move back to Philadelphia, where I am from, go to school and do activist work. I would want to be with my family and my community and try to strengthen that, because I feel my community will get hit hard by a Trump presidency.”

Neema, graduate of University of California Irvine, Political Science

“I would hold him accountable in terms of his duties as the executive of our country. There is a very clearly stated role he must play. I will make sure he maintains our democratic institutions, and if not, act against him in terms of organizing and mobilizing people, and making sure democracy is preserved.”