Sunday, October 30, 2016, Donald Trump held a rally at the University of Northern Colorado. This university is a primarily white institution where students of color try their best to make it their home away from home for a brighter future. Before I describe my experience at this event, I want to make it clear that I understand that Trump and any candidate have the right to speak at a public university.
Students were posting pictures and videos of the event with the hashtag #Notmycampus. First of all, the student body was asked to take a climate survey a couple weeks before the rally. The survey was supposed to get a feel on student perception of the campus and their safety. However, the events that took place October 30th made a lot of students, especially those of color not feel safe. A candidate who has repeatedly insulted minorities was brought to our campus weeks after taking a survey on campus safety. How can students feel safe when a candidate who has spoken so negatively about their character because of the color of their skin feel safe. Or a candidate who mocked a person who was a handicap? Not only has Trump said very hateful things but he has encouraged the hate to continue with his supporters.
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Not only that, but the fact that an event that would obviously make students feel unsafe on campus can take place weeks after taking a survey tells us as students that we do not matter to the president and administration of our university. We pay a lot of money to attend an institution that says they care about our safety yet puts us in an unsafe situation. A situation that inevitably would bring hate and violence. Unfortunately now we have to see people around campus who were yelling very hateful comments to us.
Now, I want to describe my experience at this event. I exercised my first amendment right and took part in the protest. The protest was peaceful where we made posters without insults or profanity and chanted. Across from us were a few Donald Trump supporters who made comments such as "Go back to Mexico," "Mexico will pay for the wall," and " ****** illegals." This makes students of color feel unwelcome and targeted. Definitely not what I consider a safe environment.
At the end of the rally, things got out of hand because Trump supporters and protesters were face-to-face. There was yelling and name calling from both sides. Both sides got so frustrated and intense that I am glad a fight did not break out. However, what got to me was a Trump supporter that was about 25 years old. He approached me and 3 other friends and said, "I have a question for y'all? Because I don't want to pay for y'alls tuition." We responded with "We work for our tuition," and "Scholarships that we earn." To me, I felt like he was looking down on us simply because we are Mexican. He was also being stereotypical and assuming we ask for a handout to get us through school.
The events that took place on October 30th gave us as students mixed emotions. Here we are spending time and money at an institution that does not care about our safety and well-being. October 30, 2016, is the day I and many of my peers were not proud to be UNC bears. October 30 we felt like all the institution cares about is our money and not the educating and growth of our community. #notmycampus
Check out more millenial reactions to the Trump campaign here:
