By Jennifer Ward, Arlenis Marmolejos and Natalie Tulloch
On Nov. 5, Purchase residents were able to cast their votes for the presidential election in the Red Room located in the Student Services building from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Students taking a deep breathe before entering the Student Services building to vote. (Photo by Natalie Tulloch)
Students, administration, faculty, staff and Broadview residents were given a chance to have their voices heard. With many students voting for the first time, or participating in their first presidential election, tensions are high on campus.
The Democratic nominee and current Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump are the leading candidates in the presidential election. Running in the Independent party is Cornel West, the Green party is Jill Stein and the Libertarian party Chase Oliver.
Jahmari Bradshaw, a junior communications major and first-time voter, admitted, “I didn’t care, and I still don’t.” He explained that he mainly felt pushed to vote but didn’t mind, as it allowed him to exercise his right.
Ari Laurie, a junior theatre and performance major, acknowledged the frustration many feel about voting noting how it may seem “really useless and pointless because the government can be so difficult, but it’s what we have right now.”
“Vote for people in your life who cannot vote,” Laurie said. “Use it in every way that you can to keep fighting towards what is the goal, which is the liberation of all people that are oppressed.”
Students waiting on line to vote inside the Student Services building. (Photo by Natalie Tulloch)
Katie Leighton, a junior psychology major and poll worker, assisted in signing off and processing ballots for approximately 530 voters on campus.
Leighton shared that helping in the polls was a “really good” experience, describing how “very positive and excited” people were to vote. She also mentioned that some individuals, although not registered locally, were still able to vote on campus.
“I believe everyone should vote,” Leighton said, “but if you genuinely have no clue on who you’re voting for and why you’re doing it then, it’s plain conformity and I don’t think you should be doing it.”
Students from left to right: Beatriz Ferron, Ellie McIntyre, Glo Jackson and Ari Laurie posing with their voting stickers. (Photo by Natalie Tulloch)
Ellie McIntyre, a senior theatre design and technology major, expressed gratitude in getting to vote and urged others to “remember it is a privilege to be able to vote.”
McIntyre encouraged people to conduct thorough research on candidates and “vote for what makes you happy and what is going to protect yourself and your loved ones.”
“All I can do is hold my breath and wait,” said Sammie Terpening, a junior creative writing major and Purchase Student Government Association (PSGA) senator who also urged people to vote.
“A lot of the issues at hand have a direct impact on my life as a queer woman, and it makes me upset to see that people are either voting in favor of my oppression or not voting at all out of anxiety,” said Terpening.
Wendy Morosoff (left) and Jessica Mazzia DeLong (right) posing with their voting stickers. (Photo by Natalie Tulloch)
The Associate Director of the Career Development Center, Jessica Mazzia DeLong, said “I am always anxious on election day, but I am going to stay in tune and hopeful.”
Caleb Fumusa, a freshman jazz saxophone major and first-time voter, said, “I’m very glad to do my part as a U.S. citizen.” He added, “I would be happy if Kamala won!”
Rayna Brown posing with her voting sticker. (Photo by Natalie Tulloch)
Rayna Brown, a senior theatre and performance major, casted her vote in her second presidential election, expressing that this election feels like “we’re trying to get democracy back together.”
“I support women,” Brown said when discussing the presidential candidates. “[Trump] is a felon—why is he still running?”
An alum from the class of 2020, Gus Kraatz, reflected on his freshman year in the fall of 2016 during the Clinton and Trump presidential election, describing election day as “tense.”
“A lot of professors canceled classes the morning the results were out,” Kraatz recalled. “Others insisted we come in and talk about the results.”
The emotional impact of the election was seen across campus. “There were people crying and effectively mourning with their friends on the mall and on the Great Lawn. There was a real sense of togetherness in the face of adversity,” Kraatz said.
Amy Leinwand (left) and Stanley Berman (right) posing with their voting stickers. (Photo by Natalie Tulloch)
“We’re really scared if Trump wins,” said Broadview residents, Stanley Berman and Amy Leinwand. They shared their concerns after voting on campus, expressing fears about the potential consequences of Trump’s re-election. “It’s going to be hard for people going forward because I think this country will be in total chaos—we’ll no longer be a democracy.”
Berman and Leinwand prioritized the future of democracy, women’s abortion rights, and global issues in their vote. They emphasized the importance of the United States, as a “superpower,” to address these challenges and end “all the horrors in the world right now.”
Erin Rosebar (left) and Krislyn Prince (right) posing with their voting stickers. (Photo by Natalie Tulloch)
Marihana Heloany Reis, a junior studying Latin American studies and political science, is an international student who can’t vote in the U.S., but still feels that the issues on the ballot will affect her. “I feel this is a very important election, and I have no say in it. I have been here for seven years, and every political change has affected me since day one, but I am not able to express my views through my vote—and I am not the only one,” she said.
When asked if voting was important, Bradshaw responded, “The way things are moving in this country, lowkey no.” He continued, “We’re screwed regardless of who wins—they’re not both good candidates.”
“It’s crucial to vote regardless of your stance or opinions,” said PSGA President Sophia Pallozzi. “We have the right to vote, and everyone should use it, whether it’s for major elections or local ones.”
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