Americans have been buzzing about the outcome of the election since President Obama was re-elected.
The majority of the talk has been focused on foreign and national affairs, but students, faculty and staff members also have weighed in on how they think President Obama’s next term will affect life on campus.
One of the major themes regarding the effect of the re-election on campus was that many thought that it would not actually change anything. This is due to the political party split in Congress.
Financial Aid Advisor Amy Kessinger believes that the divided House and Senate may prevent progress.
“Things are probably going to be about the same that they have been,” Kessinger said. “President Obama may not be able to pass all of the things he wants to pass because they may not get through the Senate and the House.”
Religion Professor Richard Menninger and Adawe Advisor Amber Reagan-Kendrick both hold similar views.
“I don’t think (the election) will impact life in general, because basically any laws come out of Congress and if you’ve got Democrats in Senate and Republicans in the House, you have a stand-off,” Menninger said.
Reagan-Kendrick took note of the difficulty that the president will face trying to pass laws with a divided Congress.
“I hope that, if anything, there will be bipartisan collaboration,” she said of Congress.
Others noted that the Obama administration has a stance on higher education that could be beneficial to students. Reagan-Kendrick noted that President Obama has fought for education for first generation students and students who cannot afford college.
“He believes that everyone who wants to go to college should be given that opportunity,” she said.
Senior Becky Campbell explained that she thinks the current administration is more sympathetic to the financial needs of college students.
“I think if the Republicans had been elected, we would have lost a lot of federal aid for higher education,” she said.
Senior Cody Knapik thinks that having President Obama in office for another four years will help with college finances.
“Part of Obamacare is our student loan package,” Knapik said. “We have loans because Obamacare is going to stay. You can also stay on your parents’ insurance until you’re 26. Other than that, it won’t really change anything.”
Kessinger confirmed that the financial aid aspect of college life will stay the same or be given more money, though it is too early to tell exactly what will happen.
“Obama has stated that he is very much in favor of keeping the Pell Grant Program and expanding it, if the budget will allow,” she said.
Senior David Marshall predicts students’ response to the federal financial aid programs in a different way.
“I do think that people are going to become more conscious of the money they are putting into their education and start moving away from private schools,” Marshall said. “I personally cannot afford paying the rates we have here as I do not get much help from the government or financial aid and student loan rates from private banks are high, especially if you cannot afford to pay them off while going to school.”
Marshall also believes that the outcome of the election may have a negative impact on the social aspect of student life.
“I can’t help but be a little worried that this election will only further the political divide that seems to be infecting so many different communities nationwide,” Marshall said. “I believe that if we were to understand that differences are not detrimental to a society, maybe we can take the time to actually love our neighbors and serve one another instead of constantly fighting. Instead of waiting to see change, we can be the change ourselves and inspire rather than tear down.”