Bears, VOTE!: Anxiously Awaiting the Outcome

On the evening of Nov. 5, tensions run high as students at the University of Northern Colorado prepare for the presidential verdict, a decision that will determine the course of the United States for the next four years.

Students gathered at the University Center, casting their votes for either Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump, with the majority voting for Harris.

With the threat of safety for themselves and loved ones, young people remain hopeful, valuing the ability to vote on campus.

For students of the LGBTQ+ community, voting for Harris was especially important to their efforts to secure their future.

“As a gay, trans person, I need basic human rights for myself and all of my friends,” said Ryver Adler, a first-year sports administration major. “I would feel a lot safer if Kamala was president. I would be a lot more nervous with a Trump presidency.”

Other students agreed with Adler’s stance, specifically regarding the need for safety for LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States.

“I feel like I’d at least retain some of my rights under a Kamala presidency,” said Dylan Ramirez, a third-year studio art major. “Seeing what Trump had for his 2025 project really unsettled me as an LGBT person and trans person.”

A common thread among students was the need for security in their identities, something they believe Harris will stand for. The current state of abortion rights in the United States has left many worried for the future of bodily autonomy.

For women voters, a Harris presidency is a must.

“I voted for Harris because I believe that she is more for human rights and Trump is more for the economy,” said Abby Root, a first-year special education major. “I would feel safer under a Kamala presidency, especially as a woman.”

Some students said they voted for Harris due to her forward thinking and ability to lead.

“I like her policies much more than the other side,” said Kyle Yoder, a third-year musical theatre major. “I just think that hers are more about lifting America forward into the future and having everybody be more equal. I feel like the other guy keeps us more in the past.”

While many voted for Harris, others were less enthused about either candidate, finding the two-party system to be lackluster.

“I voted third-party,” said Clare Bolon, a fourth-year anthropology major. “I can’t in good conscience vote for Democrat or Republican. I don’t trust them, and I’d rather vote out of my morals than out of fear. I voted based off of the person I most agreed with rather than having to choose between the lesser of two evils.”

Third-party voting remains unpopular given the power of both the Republican and Democratic parties.

“I feel like a vote for another president would kind of be a waste,” Ramirez said. “It’s really just a big, major two-party system.”

As election night goes on and the ballots are counted, Americans everywhere anxiously await the outcome of what could be one of the most important elections in U.S. history.

At the time of publication, Trump holds 51.2% of the votes, leading with 247 electoral votes while Harris has 214. 270 electoral votes are needed to secure the presidency.