For many DCU students, the US presidential election is a novelty event. For American students, however, it is all too real. The College View interviewed two US students – Lauren Textor and Alex Alcala who shared their perspectives on the unique experience of watching a life-changing election from across the globe.
Election Night Plans
One major problem facing US students here wanting to engage with the election is the time difference.
Lauren intends to stay up late, “with a glass of wine”. She and others would preferably like to be with other Americans for the tense night with. Planning on keeping in contact with her family she added: “I think I will definitely call my sisters and talk about it with them. As for my parents, I’m probably gonna hear about it one way or another.”
For Alex, however, the idea of a long night tuned into CNN is less than appealing. “I won’t stay up. I’ll definitely have family and friends and group chats; we’ll debrief afterward.”
Watching From Afar
Both Lauren and Alex provided unique perspectives on watching the election unfold from DCU.
Lauren shared some of her anxieties: “I’m not going to be there in person to get the vibe of what it’s going to be like at the polls, and in some ways that kind of sucks…that I feel more detached from it” She feels the outcome will impact her regardless of where she is living.
She also admitted that she feels she doesn’t deserve to be as anxious about the outcome as her friends back home: “I can’t worry about this…because I am planning on staying here [in Ireland] for the long term.”
On a different note, Alex spoke of a sense of relief in being away from the intense campaigning: “You have Trump signs on people’s front yards, you have it outside of business, you have it on big banners; it’s just so in your face.”
Results Anxiety
This election has been characterised by high stakes. The potential of another looming Trump presidency and potential election interference allegations have led to rising anxiety levels.
Alex characterised the stakes differently however, “I think the big thing is we might have a woman president”. She was excited at the prospect of being at the heart of such a huge moment in U.S. politics. She highlighted how many people are excited to see a woman candidate.
As a Mexican immigrant, however, Alex is also hyper-aware of Trump’s values and how they affect both herself and those in her community.
She stressed that “being an immigrant in the US is very confusing, growing up you want to fit in” and that “hearing all the horrible things that were directly attacking Mexicans specifically, like all the lies and all the words, hearing that is just awful, and it’s worse when you’re already thinking you should be more white”.
The potential for aggressive values and further polarisation was something Lauren was also concerned about. She stressed that she was further concerned for the safety of her friends back home, many of whom are members of minority groups.
Lauren is also concerned for the safety of her own family. Her sister ,who is queer presenting, is still living in a conservative part of the US, “She’s always very much like, ‘I shouldn’t have to hide who I am’ and that’s true, but in rural Missouri, it’s dangerous if you don’t”. Lauren continued saying that either way it’s gonna be tense.
To Go Home or Not Go Home
For Alex and Lauren, the potential of another Trump presidency could have very real effects on whether they will return home or not. Neither stated it as a direct reason for the decision to return to the US or not but that it would play a key part.
Alex, who is already planning to move to New York, commented she feels safer living in blue states. She felt as though when you live in blue states there’s a sense that the law is still behind you.
Lauren feels different about the prospect of returning to the US, “I’m always uncomfortable in the US” she says. She feels this is particularly due to increased polarisation, saying that “everything kind of ties back to politics and so it’s not just from a policies standpoint – it’s the attitudes that people carry and the way that being so partisan and so polarised has made things unsafe.”
DCU’s US students make it clear that this election will not only be a deciding factor in their future but also the future of America.