By Alondra Valdez, Staff Reporter
Members of the Dominguez Hills campus community have mixed emotions about the re-election of Donald Trump. Some Toros are concerned about what a second Trump administration could mean for the future of American democracy, while others are fearful of what the president-elect has said he’d do once he returns to the White House on Jan. 20.
Junior psychology student Leslie Moreno cried when she learned Trump had defeated Vice President Kamala Harris on Nov. 5. She told The Bulletin that Trump will cause further divisions in the U.S. “As a queer woman of color, I think my community will be greatly affected by Donald Trump’s presidency.”
Senior biology student Giovanni Gonzalez was more concerned with the outcomes of the state ballot propositions, and wasn’t happy about either candidate but voted for what he called the “lesser evil.” Gonzalez said he knew he would be disappointed by the result of the presidential election, ultimately. “Only time will tell what decisions pass.”
Andrew Fairclough, also a senior biology student, chose not to cast a ballot because the results would be “frightening” for his community regardless of who won. He said another Trump administration would put scientific progress, women’s rights, and education at risk. “It will be a worrisome few years.”
Adjunct communications professor Marina Litvinsky said she fears Trump’s victory will give his supporters license to be hateful and violent toward traditionally marginalized communities. “I am scared that abortion access for even more women will be taken away…I am scared that people’s families will be deported.”
City of Carson resident Valerie Cortes is also concerned about discrimination toward marginalized groups. Although Trump’s promise to end birthright citizenship would likely be tied up in court, Cortes said she feels uncertain about the next few years. “I’m concerned that racism might become more open and widespread than it already is.”
Evelyn, a first-year criminal justice student who wanted to be identified by her first name, couldn’t believe people voted for Trump after everything he said leading up to the election. “That just shows that you’re racist. Trump has so many things he wants to do to people of color, and people still voted for that.”
Scarlet, a junior chemistry student, also preferred to be identified by her first name. Democrats were all over the place, she said, whereas Trump’s politics hadn’t changed much from his first term in office. “It’s almost like in 2016, when he said he was going to do mass deportations, that’s one of the worries I have.”
First-year public health student Martin Aguilar had a “gut feeling” that Trump would win, and is now terrified of what his administration will do over the next four years. He said Trump’s proposals would impact how he pays for school, how he lives, and who he could marry.
“I’m scared. As a queer, Latino, working-class citizen, I feel like my rights are at stake in every sense of the phrase.”
