Donald Trump: The enemy of the student?
The U.S presidential election is coming to a close, with the new leader of the free world preparing to take office. Whether it be Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump given the hot-seat on Tuesday, many in the U.K will be glad to see the back of the drama. Across the Atlantic, it’s a different story. For some the effects of the people’s decision will be lasting.
It’s easy to distance yourself from what’s at stake here. Like the 2.75 million Muslims living in the U.S, who are at risk of targeted hate crimes. Or the 157 million American females, whose lives could be governed by a man who has been recorded encouraging sexual harassment. However, Trump’s discriminatory behaviour has been well noted, I need not explore that any further. Instead I will consider the 20.5 million students, who, like myself, have made the decision to study at a higher level of education. They have enrolled at Universities across America in hope of developing themselves on a professional and personal level. Donald Trump is a threat to that process.
My words alone are, unfortunately, futile. That’s why I’ve been in touch with those who Trump’s shortfalls would directly affect if he came to power.
Peter Wilder
Meet Peter Wilder, a student at California Lutheran University who is due to graduate in 2018. I spoke to Peter about the plans Trump outlaid to cap the loan repayment plan at 12.5% of the borrowers’ income and the idea of ‘forgiving’ student debt in its entirety after 15 years of successful repayments. He was encouraged by the intentions of Trump’s proposals but was sceptical as to where the funding would come from.
Trumps proposal sounds cool but where is the money coming from to forgive student’s loan debt? There isn’t any stats or numbers to back this plan up as a viable option, it sounds like an empty promise.” — Peter Wilder
Peter was also concerned as to how Trump taking office would affect international students enrolling at American universities. He claimed that there is already negative emotion towards Trump among some of the immigrants already studying at California Lutheran University.
Yeah, I think Trump taking power would negatively affect international students. His hypnotically nationalistic rhetoric doesn’t ring well with immigrants here. I can’t imagine students coming to the states for school would be encouraged with him in power. — Peter Wilder
The thought that international students could be put off studying at American Universities in itself is heart-breaking. To think they could warned away or have their experience tainted by Trump alone is reason enough to oppose his campaign.
Harper
Meet Harper, he is a 20-year-old student at Georgia College & State University.
Harper revealed to me that he didn’t feel Trump taking power would affect his day-to-day life in any drastic way. He also noted that he feels equally negative about the prospect of Clinton becoming President.
When we discussed Trump’s plan to cap student repayments and write off debt, Harper revealed that he thinks that it’s positive, but like Peter he was unsure just how it would be funded.
As far as Trump’s plan just personally I believe it’s a good plan. However I’m more concerned that he hasn’t truly explained how he’s going to do this. — Harper
Again, similarly to Peter, Harper was expressed his concern at the potential ramifications Trump taking office could have for international students.
I am very concerned. There are quite a few international students at my Uni and I had several at my high school. — Harper
Peter and Harper are two students that are fortunate enough to study at University. For some, the financial burden it brings is an impossible hurdle to scale. My next interviewee has intentions of going to University, but has concerns about whether Trump would price students out of their studies.
Ryan Stuberg
Meet Ryan Stuberg, he isn’t currently at University but wishes to study Business management in the future.
Trump has made it clear that he will not follow suit in Hilary Clinton’s promise for free higher education. Clinton claims that by 2021 families with an income up to $125,000 (£100,000 approx.) will pay no tuition whatsoever. The Trump campaigns co-chairman Sam Clovis branded that plan “absurd on its surface” and revealed it was “unequivocally no” to debt-free tuition (as reported by qz). This is a concern for Ryan, who believes that tuition fees would only increase with Trump in power.
College would also get more expensive I believe so that would affect me eventually. — Ryan Stuberg
Ryan also revealed that he was worried about Trump’s stance on illegal immigrants. Revealing that if Trump was to force them out of America, it would hit close to home for him.
I’ve heard of Trump taking all the illegals out of America but not sure if true, but if it were my friend would have to leave. — Ryan Stuberg
Three American citizens reached out to me as I prepared to write this article, all of whom felt that Trump would have a negative affect on University life in the states. Consider the other hundreds of thousands who will share these views, all concerning for their futures. University should be one of the greatest experiences of your life. You are granted independence, the opportunity to live and work among your friends, you learn from some of the most inspiring people on the planet in stylish multi-million pound facilities.
Instead, some of their lives are riddled with uncertainty. International students may steer clear, consider the amount of relationships and great experiences that they will miss out on through fear.
The students are the future. They are the doctors that could one day save your life, or the scientists that could help us reach the furthest corners of space. They are far more valuable assets to America than Donald Trump.
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