California Baptist University

CBU students and faculty share their thoughts on election results O n Nov. 3, the people of America went to the polls to shape the nation’s future leadership. With the power to affect issues such as COV ID-19, the economy, the climate and immigration, many Americans felt a more urgent responsibility than ever to participate in the election process, resulting in the high est ever voter turnout. This urgency was felt by students like Sami Timblin, junior applied theology major, who voted for the first time in this election. “I think voting is our responsibility as citizens, and if we are able to vote we should use that for those who can’t. I also thought this year was special to vote because it was the 100th anniversary of (women’s suffrage).” And after days of counting, weeks of contentious lawsuits and several recounts, the results were solidified: Joseph R. Biden had won the presidency. For students like Jun Lee, senior criminal justice ma jor, this election gave many people to set aside divisions and come under a unifying figure. “With his promises of protecting the future by reversing Trump’s decisions on the Paris Climate Agree ment and DACA laws, I think many people see Biden’s presidency as a means to a peaceful end, something that has great potential yet seems impossible,” Lee says. According to Dr. Chase Porter, assistant professor of political science, this election didn’t reveal an over whelming liberal or conservative sentiment within the nation as much as it did “a deeply divided or a deeply moderate one.” “(The election) played out in seemingly mixed results — Democrats winning the presidency, but also holding on to a shrinking House majority, and very a narrow majority in the Senate,” Porter says. “The so called expected ‘blue wave’ did not materialize as it did in 2018, which I interpret as a sign that while a majority of voters rejected Trump, there isn’t a nationwide desire to move in a very progressive direction in terms of a national political agenda.”

Thoughts on Voting

If you could describe this election in three words?

“Thank you, next.”

Giovanna Dinata Senior marketing major

“Patience, patience, patience.”

Tia Jones Senior exercise science major

“Democracy isn’t deferred.”

Sami Timblin Junior applied theology major

“Lots of tension.”

Connor Ryan Freshman creative writing and journalism major

WORDS Lawrence Luck Eunice Hahn

ILLUSTRATION Hannah Lapos

77 Election