Afraid, uncertain and fired up: How UR students are feeling at the start of the Trump presidency

Since President Donald Trump’s first day in office, he has signed a slew of executive orders. While several students at UR support the new administration, others are angry as they struggle to understand how Trump’s executive orders will impact them. 

Junior Jasmine Khatcheressian, a transgender student, said that among queer student circles, the most overwhelming emotion is fear. 

“I am both terrified and heartbroken for the sheer number of people that will die because of this administration,” Khatcheressian said. “I feel confident that the hate that has been spewed will result in violence towards the trans community.” 

An executive order signed by Trump on his first day in office titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring the Biological Truth to the Federal Government” formally denies the existence of transgender identities in federal policy. Additional executive orders ban transgender student-athletes from participating in school sports and hospitals from providing gender-affirming care for youth under 19 years old. 

Khatcheressian said that youth gender-affirming care treatments require years of evaluation and recommendations from several medical professionals and the majority are reversible.

The Rainbow Youth Project, a crisis hotline for adolescents, has reported a 700% increase in calls since Donald Trump’s victory.  

Given the University of Richmond is a private institution, the impact of Trump’s executive orders remains uncertain. Regardless, Katcheressian wants a guarantee that UR will continue to protect vulnerable groups.  

“The university has an anti-discriminatory policy but it does not explicitly cover trans students. It’s better than some universities but it's nowhere near what I would describe as ideal protections,” said Khatcheressian. She is particularly concerned about UR conceding to Trump’s policies if federal funding is on the line. 

While the University of Richmond does not explicitly name transgender students in its nondiscrimination policy, 'gender identity' is a protected category, according to the UR discrimination and harassment policy:

“Sex Discrimination is discrimination in the University’s Education Program or Activity in the United States based on an individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, or pregnancy and related conditions.”

The LGBTQ+ coalition and other affinity groups are part of the Student Center for Equity and Inclusion (SCEI). The Department of Education published a memo that schools have until February 28th to end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. The effects remain uncertain as UR President Kevin Hallock said in the President's Forum that UR is still committed to the community. 

Some student groups not associated with the SCEI are struggling with Trump’s presidency regardless. Members of the University of Richmond chapter of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) are concerned by Trump’s repeal of racial equality initiatives and the implications for the campus environment. 

Senior Ryan Doherty is vice president of the UR chapter of the NAACP.

“There’s this element of disillusionment in the campus community right now,” Doherty said. “Especially because not a lot of people know what’s going to be happening and also because Trump won the popular vote… It seems like a lot of people are supporting this”

Trump won the plurality of the popular vote with 49.97% of the vote compared to former Vice President Harris's 48.36%. 

“I’m hoping this kind of bands the community more together,” sophomore and President of the NAACP Milan Jiggetts said. “Based off the policies the federal government has implemented, I hope it will bring individuals together in fighting against the actual issues.”  

Sophie Christianson, president of the UR College Democrats, believes that the policies of the Trump administration are going to disproportionately impact lower-income students. 

“I think a lot of people didn’t look past their wallet and it's going to come back to bite them,” Christianson said. Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada could have negative ramifications for the economies of all three countries, according to estimates by JP Morgan. 

“I feel for the people who are confused, whether it is their tuition or internships,” Christianson said.  

While some students are concerned about the incipient Trump administration, others are looking forward to him fulfilling his campaign promises to end waste and corruption in the United States government. 

“I'm most excited for President Trump to cut down on unnecessary government spending considering how much in debt our nation is,” said first-year Laura Tranquillo, who is secretary of the UR College Republicans. 

The United States is currently over 36 trillion dollars in debt. Inflation rose by about 20% during Joe Biden’s presidency and remained the top concern for voters during the election. Trump has vowed to end wasteful spending by appointing tech billionaire Elon Musk to head the Department of Government Efficiency.

Tranquillo believes that UR has a far more diverse political makeup than one would initially think. Students may be apprehensive about sharing their conservative beliefs considering the liberal lean of the student body, she said. 

“We are all individuals with our own opinions and experiences, and this diversity of thought should be celebrated in America, not hidden behind party lines,” Tranquillo said. 

Contact city and state editor Maria Byrnes at maria.byrnes@richmond.edu