November 8, 2024/Midnight
Erie, Pa.-– Gannon University is home to over 2,000 students at any given time of year. Within this student body, a variety of different people exist. We are united though our pursuit of education at Gannon University. However, our differences may lie in our ages, career choices, races, faiths, or a plethora of other things. In every aspect that we are different, there is one where we are similar. In Roundtable, we explore the similarities and differences in the thoughts and opinions of Gannon community members.
The week before an election can hold many different feelings and expectations for people. While many may see elections as a stressful event, some are still excited to see the results. Meanwhile, others just want the uncertainty to be over.
This week, two people were asked how they have been feeling about the election. Keith Sundberg, a professor in the theology department, gives his thoughts on the election. “I think I’m emotionally exhausted from the election. I found it painful to have our two candidates attacking each other, and to have the world watch. I’m very proud to be an American; I’m very proud to have our democratic system. I have only missed one voting opportunity in my whole life. I always practiced it.”
He adds that, “I don’t remember it being like this when I was young. Candidates would say what they were good at, and we would choose the person we agreed with. And now, we have two candidates who’ve attacked each other on a daily basis.”
Sundberg also states, “I’ve stopped discussing the politics with anybody, because I know that the day after tomorrow, we all have to be a community again, we all have to be a nation again. And I’m not sure how we’re going to mend some of the pain we’ve caused each other. It’s going to take a while.”
Madison Bass, a sophomore majoring in nursing, expresses her frustration. “I just think this election by far is the most stressful one that I’ve seen because before, obviously I couldn’t vote, but it wasn’t like, a close call, like how this one is. I’ve seen the stats while I’m at work and the patients watch the news, it’s like 51/49, or they’re like really close now, so I think it’s going to be a really tight ending. And I also feel like the arguments on both sides are very targeted.”
Bass also worries about voters who make their decisions based on a single issue, or voters who have not put in enough research into their decision.
Bass says, “For example, a lot of people that are voting for Kamala mainly bring up the fact that she’s trying to save women’s rights. Obviously, all the girls are going to want to vote for her. But do the girls know what she could do for the economy? I don’t know.”
She adds that, “People that don’t want people to vote for Trump say that he is trying to let the rich get richer. Are there other things that he’s doing? I really don’t know. But you won’t know unless you actually look into it.”
Bass also says, “People are picking one specific thing, and that could jeopardize the entire country…I just feel like it’s a very targeted election this year, more so running on emotion than what’s the future for our actual country.”
While elections are integral to the country and American values, it seems that for this election season, some are tired of the division and uncertainty.
