Donald Trump is going to be president again. In our endorsement a couple weeks ago, we endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, but now we must all come to terms with the looming Trump administration.
Student reactions to the election were mixed — ranging from satisfaction to anger, sadness or betrayal — and many students found it hard to comprehend that their fellow students and Americans could have such diametrically opposing views. Despite this tension, we must all avoid being consumed by hatred and anger and channel our efforts into the pursuit of change.
For many students, this election cycle has seen much less visible political activity on campus. The College Republicans and Democrats did not have their traditional debate preceding the election, nor did they put out public statements of endorsement (they provided comments of endorsement to The News-Letter upon request). There were no Hopkins Students for Harris, unlike peer colleges like Yale, Cornell and Georgetown. Previously, during the 2020 election cycle, students formed Hopkins Students for Biden.
Yet, Sidechat — a somewhat toxic app used by students to share memes and gossip — finds itself continually entrenched in political activity, especially regarding the 2024 election. Divisive rhetoric has exploded on the app, with hate, anger and ad hominem attacks at those with opposing perspectives dominating productive conversation.
Constructive political discourse is sorely absent at Hopkins. We fully acknowledge that discourse is not going to fix or cure the ills of modern politics; it can often feel useless when two sides are fundamentally opposed far beyond simple policy disagreements. Even though the deep polarization in American politics cannot be fixed only by dialogue, we cannot turn away from people who think differently than us and silo ourselves in our comfortable echo chambers.
Rather than demonizing the other side or engaging in fruitless, unproductive Sidechat trolling, we need to focus on making an impact through activism and community engagement. We cannot let ideological differences and hate for the other side define us more than our own values and pursuits to effect change.
Those who are disappointed with the result should not assuage themselves that “it’s only four years” and tune out politically. Yes, Trump will not be President forever, but even when he is no longer in power, the impacts of his presidency and ideology will continue to influence our country’s future politics, such as through the cementation of a conservative Supreme Court for the foreseeable future. Right-wing extremists like Matt Gaetz are being elevated and normalized to the levels of cabinet positions instead of being shown the door.
Despite this, we must resist the urge to turn to nihilism and let our disillusionment translate into inaction. We cannot and should not disengage or look away from what is happening. Rather, those of us who are disappointed with the election results need to persevere.
You may not be able to stop changes at the national level, from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. getting a cabinet position to Trump’s reversal of Biden’s policies, but a Trump presidency cannot stop you from impacting the people directly in your community and engaging in activism that may one day have tangible national impacts. If anything, this election should serve as a reminder to strengthen your resolve and tirelessly pursue your goals in the face of an uncertain future. Regardless of your professional aspirations, there are and will be opportunities to effect change in your community and the world, even if a Trump term has made those possibilities more difficult.
If it seems like all hope is lost, then that only means that there is an opportunity for us to create it. Nothing is permanent, and while politics may seem hopeless at the moment, there will be moments for hope in the next four years and beyond.
Life did not end because of the 2024 election. Trump is in power once again: He can be a dictator on day one, defend violence against journalists and prosecute political opponents. Trump’s administration certainly will have negative impacts on countless marginalized groups, and we should not give him carte blanche to do so as our political dejection leads to dormancy. It is undoubtedly scary to imagine, but it is in these moments that we should not concede.
When history looks back on the second Trump term, will it be an era of massive democratic unfurling met with no resistance and public apathy, or will it be an era of activism, advocacy and continued commitment to our values? It’s up to us.
