The United States is increasingly becoming more divided as the primaries continue to move forward during this presidential election cycle. Americans have been very vocal about which candidate they will support and Brooklyn College is no different from the rest of the nation. In fact, ask anyone on campus about their political affiliations, values, or views and they immediately take to their battle stations. The political climate in the school dubbed "The poor man’s Harvard" is a wild and contentious one.

In New York City, the college has even played a role in the campaign of one presidential candidate. Bernie Sanders has had two campaign ads shot at the school he once called his own. One ad that was shot featured Spike Lee and Rosario Dawson in the college’s gymnasium, along with several other celebrities and a number of the college’s students. The other ad featured Sanders himself walking around the east quad of the campus with Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo, in which Bernie spoke with the "Avengers" star about his modest Brooklyn upbringing and his political achievements. Sanders attended Brooklyn College for a year from 1959 to 1960 before transferring to the University of Chicago where he graduated from in 1974.

Sanders appears to be the political favorite of many students on campus. The fact that he attended the college and was born and raised in Kings county is an added plus for “Berners.”

“I’m pulling for Bernie all the way,” Elma Feratović said. “He's a genuine person who has been working his entire life for justice and equality in favor of the oppressed,” she said. She believes Bernie will solve the issues by cleansing the system of corruption within the public and private sector to even out the standards of living in an effort to rebuild the middle class.

While most liberal supporters are willing to vote for Sanders’ Democratic rival,Hillary Clinton-- should she win the party’s nomination--many attest that they believe she is a liar who constantly flip-flops and changes her views in an effort to win support and gain votes. Often her political history is brought in to question when students cite contributions made to her by the finance and energy industry.

Despite efforts she has made in the past as a New York State Senator and U.S. Secretary of State to devote herself to working, middle-class families, the sentiment is that Clinton is not a sincere candidate. Even her recent joke with New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio, was chided as an inappropriate racist joke that carries stereotypical undertones.

Some have expressed absolute distaste for the former first lady. “I want Bernie to win because she's a corporate (Expletive) quote me on that” Brian Yoruk,, a Brooklyn College Student, said.

On campus, Clinton does have a decent amount of support for the most part and that’s without factoring in the “Berners” who would consider voting for her should she win the primaries. Most notable of those supporters is Tim Donnelly, the Brooklyn College CLAS President. Donnelly, who is throwing his support behind Clinton, feels her experience and political contributions makes her more qualified than all of the other candidates. “I am supporting Hillary,” Donnelly said. “But I do not dislike Bernie. I just think Hillary is the better choice at the moment.”

Donnelly believes that Clinton will further the progress of the current administration. “Hillary will continue the work Obama has in each area,” he said.

He asserts that she will be essential to selecting the right Supreme Court nominee when voted into office. “She will appoint a liberal Supreme Court Justice as Obama and Bill Clinton did,” he said. “All 4 of which have been consistent defenders of liberal values.” Donnelly added, “She will also work on expanding the Affordable Care Act.”

Donnelly is registered with the Democratic Party and will be supporting other democratic candidates up for re-election. ”Establishment isn't a bad word though we treat it as such,” Donnelly said. “Obviously the establishment can be used for wrong, but what establishment really means in politics is experienced and connected.”

While he shares the same concerns as fellow students regarding issues such as economics and health care he is also concerned about getting money out of politics. “I feel controlled special interest groups like Citizens United is a huge issue we have in the election process,” Donnelly Said.

While Clinton and Sanders supporters maybe indifferent about their candidate selections they do seem to have a lot in common. Issues that matter to most to the liberal leaning students are those such as education, healthcare, income inequality along with the expenses of living, tuition and civil rights.

Another idea they all seem to agree on is that Republican candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are not what the country needs right now. The consensus among both candidates’ supporters is that both of GOP front-runners lack any realistic solutions. They also believe neither of them have the people’s interests at heart. In fact, as if all were in collusion, they have collectively insisted that both care more for the interest of their rich and powerful donors, despite the fact that Trump has mostly utilized his own money for his campaign.

While many students on the campus do support Sanders and Clinton not every student shares the same sentiment. “I’m voting for Donald Trump this election year” said Paul Neyman. “His openness, strong skills of empathy -not necessarily sympathy, intellectual empathy- mainly populist policy positions.”

He believes Trump’s strength is what most detest about the New York billionaire. “By being a brash (Expletive) he makes it acceptable to say and discuss anything openly, even if it is wrong.“ Neyman said. While Neyman does support a republican and likens their style of running the government, he remains adamant that he is not registered with the party. “I don’t identify with any party because party affiliation implies dogmatism. “ he said.

While many students seemed to have picked Sanders, Clinton, or Trump, some were undecided or just not intrigued with the selection.

“I will not vote for anyone because none of the candidates meet the qualities I would expect of a leader,” Said Jairo Orejuela, a Brooklyn College student. “I feel like they all lack leadership.”

Orejuela is disappointed with the current selection of candidates but does have a potential nominee in mind. “If I could I would write in for James Mattis, I love his sternness.” He said.

Mattis is a retired General of the United States Marines Corps. He is also a growing favorite among anti-Donald Trump Republicans, who are currently looking to the possibility of making him a top contender for the presidency, should there be a brokered convention at this years Republican National Convention. Currently Mattis is not running for president.

Interestingly, Orejuela does have a preference as to whom he would like to see take the Democratic primaries. “For the record I really want Bernie to win New York only because I really, dislike Hillary Clinton,” He said.

Orejuela, who currently serves as a reserve for the United States Marines, claims to have no political affiliations. “I currently don't identify with either party because I believe a lot has changed in terms of my point of view of the world and the goal of each party.”

Issues which concern those like Orejuela, are Public policy, economics, and foreign policy, more so for him because of his involvement in the military.

“The parties take advantage of the establishment and use it in their own interest rather for the interest of the people.”

In light of figuring out who identifies with a specific party, there seems to be a growing trend of unaffiliated individuals. When asked about their political views most identified with being either conservative or liberal. However, when asked about their political affiliations, most identified themselves as anti-establishment.

“I don’t identify with any party because party affiliation implies dogmatism,” Neyman declared.

While they claim to be anti-establishment, some have admitted to being registered as either Democrat or Republican for the sake of being able to vote for their favorite candidate. Feratović feels that the system its self needs to be reformed with regards to how voters are given options within the election. “I identify as an independent because although my views lean more liberal, I do not wholeheartedly like the Democrat party,” She confessed. “I am a registered democrat for voting purposes, but I am personally not a fan of the dual party system as well as the democrat party using pro-government ethical logic to mask their unethical transgressions”.

In the New York Times and various other exit polls, many of the country’s primaries have Millennials siding with Sanders at an average of 85%. While he dominates Clinton with the demographic, he is still leading behind the former Secretary of State in delegates. The problem is that on average Millennials seem to make up about 13-19% of the vote. They aren’t showing up to the primaries in droves to vote as they did when then Senator Obama was running against Clinton in 2008. A surge in Millennials showing up at the polls could give Sanders the surge he needs to catch up to Clinton. Millennials make up the 18-34 year old demographic of voters across the country.

The trend only seems to affirm some of the statistical research that has been done recently on how Millennials in general identify themselves with political party affiliations. In a 2014 Reason-Rupe survey 34% of Millennials surveyed identified as Independents. 11% identified as Independents leaning Democratic and 7% identified as Independent leaning Republicans. The remaining numbers stood at 32% identifying as Democrats while only 16% identified as Republicans.

On a Facebook group page titled, Debates and Controversies at Brooklyn College, a poll asked students whom they would be supporting for the Presidential election. With a sample size of 73 students a whooping 79% of them, 58 students, supported Bernie Sanders. Half of them would support Clinton should she win the nomination. Interestingly enough, Clinton won only 4%, 3 students, of the vote from students who out right supported her. She came in fourth place under Trump who received 9% of the vote, 7 students, coming in second place and Ted Cruz who received 7% of the votes, 5 students.

Most of the students on the campus were vocal about their distrust of politicians in government. While most have selected a candidate to support, it’s more about choosing which politician is less likely to be the worst rather than who would be the best for the role. Many have expressed disappointment in the current presidential administration and feel a vote for either candidate will result in the same dissatisfaction. Some intend on staying home come Election Day regardless of who wins the respective conventions in July.

While some see Brooklyn College as a widely liberal campus, it is one of the most diversified colleges in the City of New York. The school is made up of students who are of Black, White, Latino, Middle-Eastern, and Asian ethnicities. There are many who identify with practicing various religions on campus such as Muslims, Jewish, Christians and Buddhists. If the state of New York were to reflect how most of Brooklyn College is voting, then it’s safe to say Sanders would win the delegates going in to July’s Democratic National Convention.