By Jared Crain, Campus Carrier Deputy News Editor

Leslie Marchese | CAMPUS CARRIER

Kelsey Hufstetler of Rome offers support and love to members of the community on election night.

Eyes were fixated on the screen during an election watch party hosted by the Young Democrats in McAllister Auditorium on Tuesday Night.  Sophomores Avery James and Victoria Mashburn expressed anxiety about the presidential candidates, similar to that we’ve seen and heard for months from individuals and the media.

“Looks like things are going pretty red, and that’s a bit unsettling,” James said on Tuesday night.  “I do feel like Trump is going to win, but either way it will honestly be tough to swallow.”

Yesterday morning, Americans across the nation learned that Republican candidate Donald Trump won the election for President of the United States, receiving 279 electoral votes to Hillary Clinton’s 228. 

Many students and faculty expressed shock and dismay at receiving the news.

“I’m feeling kind of scared,” sophomore Evan Davis said. “I consider a lot of his policies unconstitutional, and I truly hope we can find some unity in the next few years and make the best of it.”

Dana Professor in Government Peter Lawler stated that Trump’s expressed rashness is unfit for office.

“He tends to cut to the chase without studying, which is a good quality for a businessman but a terrible quality for the president,” Lawler said. 

Sophomore Gracelyn Jones believes that many of the people who voted for Trump were fearful, and the country’s failure to elect Clinton demonstrated the underlying misogyny, racism and bigotry in our society.  Despite such feelings, Jones was still glad to play a part in the election.

“As a first-time voter, it felt good to have my voice heard in such a controversial election,” Jones said.  “Even though my vote didn’t come to fruition, I still appreciated the opportunity to make my opinion known to my representative.”

The Berry campus was not all gloom and perplexity, however, as other students felt that the election turned out the way it should have and are excited to see how Trump will lead the nation.  Following the election yesterday, sophomore Trevor Doyle carried a Trump/Pence campaign sign around campus to show his support for the new President Elect.

“A week ago, I wouldn’t have thought Trump would win, but it was a hard fought campaign and I think it went very well,” Doyle said.  “I think he could get the economy going and sort out foreign affairs issues, and I’d consider that a successful presidency.”

Others received the news of Trump’s victory with more bewilderment than disapproval or pleasure.  Sophomore Drew Eichholtz could not find the words to express his amazement at the results.

“I was very surprised to see that Trump swept it like that, and I am thoroughly interested to see what happens,” Eichholtz said.

Professor of Government John Hickman also voiced a sense of uncertainty regarding the future of the nation with Trump’s government.  Hickman expressed his doubt that Trump will be able to govern after arousing a lot of resentment against minorities and elites.

“I don’t know what to anticipate, because I think we don’t know enough about who this guy really is,” Hickman said.  “I don’t think we know what he believes in.”

Lawler agreed that a man like Trump is difficult to read as a person, much less as a leader.

“The sad thing is when Trump voters look at him they don’t see the real guy who’s there,” he said.  “He’s the buffoon who got taken seriously.”

Lawler compared electing Trump to playing Russian roulette. 

“There’s a small chance it’ll be fine, that his campaign was all an act and he’s fairly sensible,” he said.  “Domestically I don’t think there’s much to worry about, but for foreign policy, worry.”

Despite the victory being unexpected to most, Lawler stated that it should not have been as surprising as it was.  He explained that the main enthusiasm in the country had centered around the more outspoken candidates like Trump and Senator Bernie Sanders.  More Bernie supporters than anticipated ended up voting for Trump instead of Hillary.

Hickman acknowledged that Trump’s win was as much his charisma as it was Clinton’s lack thereof.  A lot of the public has been in the mood for big change, as advocated by Trump and Sanders.

“I think Hillary made textbook decisions in her campaign that in the end were not good enough against Trump,” Hickman said.  “I think one of her fundamental errors was in not selecting Bernie Sanders for her V.P. running mate.”

Lawler interpreted the chaotic spectrum of emotions garnered toward Trump’s unexpected victory as a result of the future president’s wily campaign strategy.  He explained that over the last two weeks, Trump campaigned in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, swing states that were expected to lean blue.

“It turns out that it was exactly the right strategy,” Lawler said.