The CU student government arranged an evening of free pizza for students to educate themselves on the elections both on and off campus. During the event, students from the international and domestic community read articles from the New York Times and enjoyed fresh Cosmos.
International students commented on the U.S. election and compared them to elections in their home countries. Two German students noted the rise of racism and anti-refugee rhetoric in the campaigns of European far-right candidates and Trump. One of the German students, Jacob, noted that many of these campaigns in Europe only garner 15 percent in electoral support. While this may not give them power, it has forced their ideas into national spotlights.
Students from India voiced their concern with the lack of international students in the upcoming CUSG elections. Many asked the election commissioner, Aaron Chelser, about what the student government does to represent international students like themselves. In response, he noted Cody Jackson, the student government’s international liaison.
The international students also acknowledged Trump’s recent advisement targeting Indian American voters, and it became a laughing point. Trump used India’s current prime minister Narendra Modi’s slogan, “This time, a Modi government.”
Opting for a free meal, freshmen students expressed their excitement about voting for the first time. One student, having already dropped off his ballot for Trump described the feeling as, “It felt good…it made me feel old.”
The student also encouraged other students to vote saying, “You can’t complain about something if you don’t vote.”
“The president is the face of the country and I don’t want someone who is speaking out against minorities,” another freshman said about why he voted for Hillary Clinton.
Many students at the event expressed their concern over the so called scandals in both of the presidential campaigns, and they stated that different controversies led them to vote differently. One student said their vote for Trump was spurred by controversies within the Clinton campaign.
“I think Hillary Clinton is a criminal…the Clinton foundation was involved in selling 20 percent of the Unites States’ uranium to Russia,” he said.
The sale has become one of Trump’s major criticisms of Hillary’s tenure as secretary of state.
During a campaign event in late October Trump said, “Hillary Clinton gave them 20 percent of our uranium — gave Russia for a big payment.”
Although the state department was one of the agencies that approved the sale, the Clinton campaign and news sources have vehemently denied any pay to play politicking on her part.
Other students shared their support of Trump’s “speak your mind” attitude, noting that they believe Hillary does not seem as genuine as her Republican counterpart.
While the event was originally designed for promoting political conversation on the national level, many students came away with information on the student candidates, and a free meal of pizza.
Contact CU Independent News Staff Writer Jackson Barnett at jackson.barnett@colorado.edu.
