Though the presidential election doesn’t occur until November 8, 2016, it is important for students to be aware of the political dynamics already in motion. Early proceedings by no means guarantee or predict any official candidates or future policies. However, they are worth observing for their displays of possibilities and issues that should be considered. One of the more concerning aspects at play right now is that of Donald Trump’s campaign and the support displayed for his polarizing statements. Students should not take his campaign seriously for various reasons, including his lack of informed arguments, his ability to brush off important issues and, therefore, his blatant disregard for the future of higher education and its’ students.
Though there are 15 total Republican candidates at this point, Trump unfortunately outshines them all in both media presence and at the polls. Any student who visits news sites or social media has seen Trump’s presence and extreme commentary. He has been on the top of the leader board for a few months despite severe and discriminatory comments about racial minorities, women and immigration policies. Even though experts and citizens alike agree that his performances at recent Republican debates have been extremely weak, he is still consistently ahead of other candidates such as Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina (though this gap seems to be closing slightly according to recent polls).
Trump’s success so far should be substantiated by solidified arguments and personal stands on issues that voters care about; however, any outline of his views is weak and limited. In visiting Trump’s official website, very little information can be obtained. The site presents his background as a successful businessman and popular public figure, as well as his stance on gun control and immigration, but the information ends there. College students especially, many of whom are first-time voters, should be able to easily access a candidate’s arguments and propositions on a multitude of important issues such as the economy, climate change, women’s rights, international policy, income inequality, education student loan debt (to name a few). If Trump were a serious and devoted politician, he would have thorough and apparent arguments on these various issues. This leads to a serious question: is Trump a serious candidate, honestly concerned about the future of our country, or simply a notable public figure causing a ruckus in the political sphere?
Though it is difficult to find merit in Trump’s campaign, it can be said that his extreme views can help define where voters may politically agree or disagree on certain ideas. In multiple DU classes full of critically thinking students, there seems to be resounding disagreement and unsettled chuckles surrounding Trump’s views when his statements were mentioned. There might be support for Trump from somewhere on campus, however the typical mood on campus when Trump’s name is mentioned feels disapproving and somewhat concerned for the future if he continues to be a leading Republican candidate. If students in higher education had to choose a Presidential candidate to support at this point in time, support would not, and should not, weigh in Trump’s favor. His campaign relies more heavily on his offensive persona and past successes than on conviction for change or concern for the future of the country. Therefore, Trump is not deserving of support from students looking to support a serious presidential candidate.
