After Tuesday’s state and national election, Boston University students expressed mixed opinions on the future of the nation.
Some students said they were relieved Gov. Deval Patrick was re-elected in Massachusetts.
“I’m not surprised,” said College of Communication senior Amanda Parker. “Things are too bad here for Patrick not to be re-elected.”
“Charlie Baker would have been terrible for this state,” added College of Arts and Sciences junior Leslie Guthrie. “We are leading the nation in environmental efforts and to elect a governor that is even skeptical of global warming’s reality would have been nonsensical.”
However, Guthrie expressed deep concern over the national results.
“I’m scared,” she said. “Hardly anything was done when the Democrats had a majority. Every progressive effort &- health care, gay marriage, reaction to the BP oil spill &- was tirelessly slow. How can anything be done when the two sides are so polarized and seem to be fighting each other to the bone over nearly everything?”
CAS junior Lillian Bicchieri also said she was saddened by the country’s political polarization, as reflected by students’ attitudes.
“More than the results themselves, I was struck by the anger on all sides,” she said. “I saw so many angry Facebook statuses. . . the country is so starkly divided, and that disappoints me more than the results.”
Others, such as College of General Studies sophomore Irina Gulbrandsen, from Sweeden, said they were pleased with the national results.
“I’m an international student so I didn’t vote, but I’m happy about the results because I agree with the Republicans,” she said. ” I live in a country where Democratic decisions are implemented and they cause a lot of problems. This will force Obama to take into consideration Republican views.”
CAS sophomore Mary Chase said she cast her vote despite knowing it likely wouldn’t make a difference in any political races.
“I’m from Tennessee which is a very conservative state and I don’t vote that way, but I voted anyway simply to exercise my right to do it, even if it won’t really impact anything,” she said.
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