Amarillo College students express views, opinions on the Upcoming 2024 election

Photos by Igiranza Innocent and illustration by Valerie Salas

By Ashley Escobar
Editor-in-Chief

As the 2024 election season approaches, students at Amarillo College reflect on the significance of voting and the issues that matter most to them. 

Education major, Mary Stefanski said that with the upcoming election, it’s important that the candidates look to actively engage with the younger voters. “If candidates want to make sure they reach all age groups, they need to be engaging with younger adults via social media and maybe even going to big, well-known university campuses to engage with college students,” Stefanski said. 

With a diverse student population on campus, the most important topics students will focus their vote on vary. “I feel like the most important issues to voters in the upcoming elections are the economy, abortion rights and LGBTQ+ rights,” Syribouth said. 

The economic state is a concerning topic to many students. “A lot of Americans are struggling to afford things so I think people are going to vote according to who they believe will make the economy stable again,” Wilheim said. “Secondly, many Americans are being affected by the fentanyl epidemic, human trafficking, and violent crimes because of the open border. I think there is a silent majority of people who are desperate to get our border secure.”

Biology major, Sandrine Mariamu, said that as she heads to the polls, topics that affect her directly such as immigration and the military will be most important. “I am looking for someone for the military, someone who helps the military,” Mariamu said. “Someone who is not going to lead us into war, someone who is very much against war.”

Others such as Emily Reyes, a business major, said that it is essential to make informed decisions rather than relying solely on emotions while casting a vote.  “In conducting research, it becomes apparent that many news and media organizations prioritize their political leanings, often leaning towards leftist and wokeness,” Reyes said. “As a result, locating unbiased and factual sources proved to be quite challenging.”

Reyes says the topic of immigration is one that she believes has a big impact for the election to come.  “Immigration has reached unprecedented levels of concern, as illegals undermine our laws, disrespect our country, and take over jobs, housing, and financial resources that are rightfully earned by Americans,” Reyes said. “The issue of abortion remains a contentious subject; while I advocate for the sanctity of life, I acknowledge the complexity surrounding medical emergencies that may necessitate such procedures, making it a controversial matter. 

Students such as business major Hank Brown said he feels as though there has not been an election in years that has left a positive tone. He said that with all the negative and demeaning arguments, this year’s does not make the cut.

“However, I think that whoever wins this election, will leave their party members smiling,” Brown said. “If Trump wins, republicans from all over will be ecstatic to have their hero back in office. And on the other hand, democrats will rejoice over the fact that they have the first ever female president in office.”

Brandon Wise, business administration major, said he believes America needs someone who will re-establish a strong economy that will help Americans who look to earn the ‘American Dream,’ earn it. 

“The republican representative is struggling to not be involuntary and alive and the democrats keep calling him ‘literally Hitler’ even though they have no basis on which they frame such accusations,” Wise said. “But since over half of the population are sheep, they can’t see through the lies and are just trying to pit us against each other, like Machiavelli’s divide and rule theory.”

Ian Armstrong, business administration major said that the election campaigns so far should drive people, especially the younger generations to vote as we have a big effect on current and future elections. 

“There’s a very big split in the country right now and there will be lots of uproar no matter who wins,” Armstrong said. “I think they’ve had more of a negative impact because it’s just going to continue to drive the people apart.”

However, Wilheim said despite how torn apart the election seems, especially when only following mainstream media and the negative atmosphere she said it creates, she urges everyone to vote. 

“When I’ve talked to people who are not planning on voting in this election they say, ‘I’m too tired’,” Wilheim said. “And I honestly think that’s how many Americans feel- exhausted. Nevertheless, that makes it all the more important to vote. If we’re tired now and let our country go to ruins, we will be much worse than tired- we’ll be destroyed.”

Mariamu touches on the fact that as young people, they are the future of democracy and should not be overlooked in the election campaigns led by the candidates. “We are leading the next generation to come, so it’s important for them to engage us because we are tomorrow’s new America,” Mariamu said. 

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