As the upcoming presidential election, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5, looms upon us, the voters of America will have to make a decision on who to replace Joe Biden: his Vice President Kamala Harris or his predecessor Donald Trump.

Many across the country are excited for change, as Biden’s approval ratings have been at all time lows. Some have also worried, since both Harris and Trump are viewed as extremists of their respective sides and, some would argue, legally and morally corrupt candidates.

Students of Salisbury University, though they may seem politically uninterested, are still looking forward to trying to help make the ultimate decision: choosing the next “leader of the free world.”

Students are likely going to be casting a vote for the first time in their life, and though extreme polarization is running rampant in America, SU students both left and right seem unimpressed with what the candidates have to offer.

Ivy, a SU freshman majoring in Nursing, says she is “not exactly thrilled” with either option.

“But you gotta do what you gotta do,” she said. “Trump thrives a bit more on controversy… right now is not the time that we need that.

“I’m going to be honest I’m not a huge fan of Kamala Harris [either] but she’s a bit more predictable, so that’s just my stance.”

When it comes to politics, apathy and division are major topics on the minds of college students.

“My friends are a bit divided so we avoid talking about politics,” she explains, “I personally feel like if you don’t vote you don’t you shouldn’t get to complain about whatever happens.”

Chris, a freshman majoring in Biology, is on the fence when it comes to politics.

“People are making arguments on the moral character of Trump and Harris, both their character kind of seems bad… I don’t really know which one I would vote for.”

If pushed to choose a tiebreaker, the only positive he saw was with Trump.

“Probably just Trump, only because we’re familiar with his presidency so we know what we’re going to get.”

Despite this, he still reiterates the importance of finding the right candidate.

“Every vote matters, so I think my vote does matter… [if] something happens as a result and you complain about it when it didn’t go the way you wanted to, you can’t really complain if you didn’t vote,” he said.

“[After the election] there might be some protest about it, but I don’t think anything big is going to come off of it– at the end of the day, both candidates will promise to do things and most likely don’t follow through.”

Ethan Couch, a freshman majoring in Biology and Environmental Science, is “excited to help the future of america,” but lamented, “I wouldn’t say we have two of the best candidates ever.”

Couch sees himself as more right leaning and supports a few of Trump’s thoughts on the economy and the border. However, he criticized much of his behavior and unwillingness to compromise.

“I don’t like how he voices himself, he’s very boisterous,” Couch said. “He’s very right leaning, and it’s like only what he says is what matters, I don’t really like that.”

Alicia, majoring in International Business and Spanish as a freshman, supports Kamala Harris.

“I definitely would lean more towards Kamala, I don’t know much but I would just say that I feel like I’m the type of person who likes new ideas,” she said. “We’ve already had Trump in office and we know what his ideas are about.”

On the possibility of another term of Trump, she worries matters would only worsen.

“He made our country go into a recession, that was because of his policies, and we’re still in that kind of predicament so I think it can only get worse from there if we don’t have someone that’s new,” she said.

Mariam, a senior who identified as left-leaning, has a negative outlook on both Trump and Harris, mostly due to their positions on the war in the Gaza strip.

“They are both very determined to keep giving money to Israel even as Israel has now been invading Lebanon and they have a history of killing so many innocent people, and it’s being brushed under the rug,” she said.

“The reason why I care so much about Palestine is because I know people who are telling me, ‘my family just got killed, my cousins, my siblings,’ and for that to be painted as, ‘it’s right, and they’re all terrorists, they all deserve to die,’ this is racism,” she said.

Mariam has decided to vote for green party candidate Jill Stein.
“I do think that you have to be consistent [with] your own voice and [Stein] supports Palestine and she’s committed to a ceasefire for true peace, and that’s what I want to see, I want to see peace in the middle east, and I think that everyone’s lives matter.”

As the election draws near, many fear that the halls of justice are painted green: just money talking. But students are still hopeful that their voice and vote may be heard and that we can all change for the better.

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By LUCAS BRUNO

Staffer

Featured image courtesy of Lucas Bruno