The day after the US election we asked students at George Brown College what they thought about Donald Trump being elected President of the United States.
Photo: Philip Iver / The Dialog
Andrea Weinrich, Jewellery essentials
“Short answer: I think we’re doomed. Long answer: I think that even if he doesn’t put through any of the essentially hate crime bills that he’s talking about and stuff like that, just by simply existing he’s putting a lot of people in danger. He’s made it okay to be racist, to be sexist, to be homophobic, because if the president does it, why can’t I? Hate won, essentially being an asshole is still better than being a woman.”
Photo: Malcolm Derikx / The Dialog
Bryan DePuy, Screenwriting and narrative design student and American citizen
“I’m sort of miserable and devastated. Both because I didn’t think this was going to happen, and I should have known this was going to happen. I know there are a lot of people that I respect and appreciate the commentary of predicting it may end up this way, and I think I kept clinging to the hope that it wouldn’t. Now I’m like, ‘This is really scary’.”
Photo: Philip Iver / The Dialog
Chris Stewart, Electronic pre-press, 1995 (alumnus)
“I think that he’s a demagogue, and I think that he essentially conned his way into the job. That being said, there were an awful lot of angry, upset people and they made their voices very clear. I think they’re tired of the status quo. I think they’re tired of the politics as usual, the crony politics that the corporatist state that the Democrats and Hillary represented to a population that has felt left behind in a lot of ways.”
Photo: Philip Iver / The Dialog
Rain Chan, Counselling fundamentals
“I am very, very worried about all the racialized people down in the states. If you look at the States, practically 100% of the racialized people in the States voted for Hillary. And majority of white folks, particularly white men, and a lot of white women voted for Donald Trump. So the message really is white supremacy on colonized land.”
Photo: Philip Iver / The Dialog
Calvin Swen, Civil engineering technology
Photo: Shaun Iyer / The Dialog
Ashley Mercer, Human resources management
“I think Trump is a pig and I think he’s a horrible choice. Honestly, I don’t think it could be worse.”
Photo: Philip Iver / The Dialog
Sherif Messiha, Mechanical engineering technology design
“Honestly, I think both options were bad. The worse option happened, but I’m a firm believer that everything needs to go bad before everything starts to rebuild itself and get better, and maybe that’s just the way the world works. I hope the message is that now people will realize, ‘Okay, there needs to be a sense of unity through this’, whether it’s the unity against Trump or the unity to get better, and maybe they’re both the same thing.”
Photo: Philip Iver / The Dialog
Ravjot Kaur, Wireless networking
“I think it’s not good for the future of United States, because he’s not eligible for the presidential post. I t seems he is just kind of joking or something every time we listen. So I don’t think he’s a good president.”
Photo: Philip Iver / The Dialog
Christ McLeod, Mechanical engineering technology design
“I’ve never voted in my life; I’m 23-years-old. Hillary Clinton was under investigation by the FBI, and obviously someone in that type of power, you shouldn’t even have a question about whether their morals are going to be positive towards the country. As for Donald Trump, I know that he may sound ignorant, and he may have no filter on his mouth, but in terms of his country, he does love his country and I’m sure that he’s going to do his best. In my most ignorant opinion, the message is that you have an ignorant, racist, sexist, homophobic, person who’s about to run a country.”
Photo: Shaun Iyer / The Dialog
Marianne Bisa, Special events management
“To be honest I’m scared not just for America but for the entire world. I feel like whatever happens with them will affect all of us.”
Photo: Philip Iver / The Dialog
Manny Apolinario, Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning technician
“Surprised, more than anything. I didn’t expect it, I thought it was kind of like a running joke at first. I really didn’t think he had a chance against Hillary, but I guess it surprised most of us. It’s definitely going to be a lot of change. Maybe not a lot of positive change, a lot of negative change, but I guess no one really can tell what’s going to happen in the future with regards to the relationship between our two countries.”
Photo: Shaun Iyer / The Dialog
Juanita Fragos, Parent of a student at George Brown College
“I’m very happy about it. I like Donald Trump and actually I am American. I was born in Pennsylvania and I was glad that the Republicans won Pennsylvania last night. I’m thrilled he’s won. I think he’s going to do a lot of positive things to help the country.”
Photo: Shaun Iyer / The Dialog
Karan Kumra, Strategic relationship marketing
“You had one job to do America. Just one job. Good job!”
