On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Donald Trump won the presidential election and secured himself another four years in the Oval Office. Many voters express remorse and regret after seeing what Trump has implemented.
One such voter, TikTok user Mayra Aluna, is becoming popular for expressing regret. “God Protect Us Please” is but one of the phrases she uses in her videos about the election. She is among the many that fear for the future under the Trump Administration.
Naturally, the election results became the catalyst for social movements and activism of minorities nationally — as well as garnering support globally. Recently in Dallas, Texas, hundreds of people rallied and protested against new immigration policies set in motion by the Trump Administration.
Even some celebrities have taken a stand. Grammy Winner Lucy Dacus, for example, stated that she will donate to transgender individuals seeking gender-affirming medical procedures.
Regardless of support, many university students across the nation are still grappling with the effect of the power exchange post-inauguration, including the effect it has had on grants, loans, humanities classes and more. One particularly affected group nationally and on-campus is the queer community.
Made up of many identities, the queer community is facing scrutiny in the form of live statements, legislation and media. In his inaugural address, Trump states, “This week, I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.” This statement pushes the agenda to deprive many United States citizens of their rights by getting rid of gender affirming care, the ability to change gender markers on legal documents, dismantling Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and more.
This spells trouble for many — if not most — Americans, including students. Due to legal changes in the educational board and government loans and grants nationwide, many will struggle completing or starting an educational venture.
On campus following the election, there were some support groups, including a “Post-election Check-in” hosted by Meagan Holleman at the Friends Center on Wednesday, Nov. 6, as mentioned in the Guilford College CAPE newsletter. This was an attempt to aid those who were dealing with the effects the election results had on them.
In addition to support groups, there was also a community meeting in the Moon Room of Dana Auditorium. Led by a Guilford College alum, students gathered for a period of worship and discussion focused on the rights of people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
When interviewed, students were happy to give feedback on campus safety, changes and necessary action.
One such student, Paxton Crockett states that, on a scale of one to ten, they rate their safety as a nine, indicating that they feel “pretty safe being themself.” As for actions the campus could take, they state that helping organize protests that students could attend post-elections would add on to initiatives the school could take to support students that are part of marginalized groups.
Another Guilford student, Madi Higgins also ranked their safety on campus as a nine. They are “pretty impressed considering North Carolina is fairly conservative.” They also believe that Guilford did well when encouraging students to register and vote. According to Higgins, Guilford went “far out of their way” to provide transport to and from the nearest polling station.
There are other initiatives the school and students take to aid marginalized students, having clubs and gatherings such as the Pride Club, the Black Student Union, Chavurah and more. Guilford also holds events such as Lavender Graduation, where queer students are recognized for their academic excellence.
Despite the changing political climate, it is safe to say that Guilford College is one of the safest campuses in the state for the queer community. Through it — through us — the Quaker tradition of acceptance, friendship and inclusion lives on.