While some 黑料吃瓜网 residents said Wednesday that they are upset about the results of the presidential election, others said they are optimistic about former President Donald Trump鈥檚 return to office.
Trump was declared the winner of the election early Wednesday morning. Trump鈥檚 victory in Wisconsin put him over the threshold of 270 electoral votes he needed to beat Vice President Kamala Harris.
The mood on Central鈥檚 campus Wednesday was at times somber and at times, angry while some happy Trump supporters were evident.
Shortly after noon, a young man was wearing a red tie and a 鈥淢ake America Great Again鈥� hat in the Elihu Burritt Library at Central. As he headed into an elevator, a woman stuck up her middle finger in his direction. He didn鈥檛 notice the gesture.
Gavriella Hernandez, a Central student from East Hartford, said she was not surprised by the outcome.
鈥淎merica typically regresses instead of progresses,鈥� said Hernandez, who added that immigration was an important issue to her. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to vote for the candidate that wants to do mass deportations.鈥�
Another Central student said she was shocked that Harris lost to Trump.
鈥淚 definitely wasn鈥檛 expecting it at all,鈥� Emily Fagan from Plainville said. 鈥淚t definitely made me feel a little bit nervous, but it is what it is.鈥�
But Brian Garrow, a Somers resident and Central student, said he is looking forward to the next four years.
鈥淧ersonally, I鈥檓 pretty happy with it,鈥� Garrow said. 鈥淚 grew up in a pretty conservative town, so that鈥檚 always how I鈥檝e voted.鈥�
Some on campus, including Tyrek Marquez, a Central student from New Britain, said that voters are not educated enough.
鈥淭he frustrating part is that people who aren鈥檛 informed get to be a part of the decision process when they don鈥檛 even understand what they are voting for,鈥� Marquez said.
Ciara Gregory, a Central graduate student from New Britain, said too many voters were blind to Trump鈥檚 flaws.
鈥淚 cried when I woke up this morning,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he people backing him only see what they want. They don鈥檛 care about what he鈥檚 done.鈥�
Another Central student from New Britain, Ethan Roy, saw wider implications in Trump鈥檚 victory.
鈥淚 am saddened that the nature of freedom and the right to choose is in jeopardy,鈥� he said.
The election results made Thalia Singh, a Central student from New Britain, realize that her view of politics is somewhat isolated.
鈥淢y belief system is a small bubble because residing in New Britain, people think the same as me,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淏ut in a broader perspective, the history of racism and similar, it is jarring.鈥�
Miguel Pagan, a Central student from New Britain, said he woke up Wednesday morning and looked at his phone hoping that Harris had won. Still, he added, 鈥淚鈥檓 tempted to see how he does and we need to back him. He can always be mad at something, but as long as they do the work, you can鈥檛 hate that.鈥�
Beyond the campus, 黑料吃瓜网 residents had a range of reactions to Trump鈥檚 election. Joseph Matis of New Britain said Harris faced sexism among some voters.
鈥淎merica is more sexist than it is racist,鈥� Matis said. 鈥淏ased on the election results not only for Kamala Harris, but Hillary Clinton as well, shows we probably have to wait another 50 years before a woman is president.鈥�
Matis added that Trump鈥檚 return to the White House will likely benefit wealthy Americans.
鈥淗e鈥檚 definitely going to keep making more money for people who already have crazy amounts of money,鈥� Matis said.
Clare Bransfield, a Guilford resident, said that she was stunned by Trump鈥檚 victory.
鈥淭he results are not what I was looking for, and I am so shocked this is the opinion of so many people,鈥� Bransfield said. 鈥淚 thought the country was ready and excited for our first woman president.鈥�
Luke Hauser of Orange had a more muted response.
鈥淚 was indifferent,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 did not want either candidate, honestly. Let鈥檚 see what this man can do for our country again.鈥�
But Tyler McLain of Bethany, who attends Castleton University in Vermont, said he was pleased that Trump won.
鈥淚 felt relieved this morning that a strong leader is in control,鈥� McLain said. 鈥淎ffordable housing for me coming out of college is something I want to see in the future.鈥�
Deanna Prescott is a journalism student at Central 黑料吃瓜网 State University. Central 黑料吃瓜网 State University journalism students Ben Daddio, Chike Onyiuke, Jahshua Hardy-Everett, Eary Banushi and Elijah Hernandez contributed to this story.
This story is republished via , a service of the 黑料吃瓜网 Student Journalism Collaborative, an organization sponsored by journalism departments at college and university campuses across the state.
