The U.S. presidential election occurs every four years. That’s once in every students’ time at the school. For many people, Donald Trump’s reelection feels like a crucial turning point for the country. In light of the gravity of the election, the administration has not done enough to respond to the results.

The school works to incorporate the Principles of Open Discourse put forth by the University of Chicago, which “advocate for free, robust, and uninhibited debate among members of learning communities.” The school has put forth a lot of effort encouraging us to discuss issues “civilly” and engage in “responsible discourse;” however, we haven’t been provided with any models of experts actually discussing the issues themselves or space after the election to utilize these principles in conversations with each other and with faculty.

Something as simple as hosting a fishbowl conversation or an all-school meeting dedicated to the election results would be beneficial for the community. This would also allow for positive, civil open discourse, something Hotchkiss students can handle and have handled in the past.

Failing to address Trump’s victory does not mean that community members do not see significant implications to his reelection. We would like to share some submissions from a survey The Record sent out to the community asking “What are you currently thinking and feeling about the results of the election?”:

“I am sad and scared. I feel like I don’t know our country or its people anymore. I don’t know how to raise my daughter in a country that puts a man like Donald Trump in power. I really thought this would be the time when we’d finally see a woman in power.” -Anonymous Staff Member

“I’m glad it was resolved quickly and we didn’t have to wait several days or even weeks for the result, as we did in 2020 and 2000. The will of the American people was pretty clear. Now we must…keep our elected officials to what they have said they will do and make sure they stay within the law.” -Mr. Keith Moon

“I’m honestly quite disappointed. Trump’s harsh tariff policy will hurt the U.S. economy, according to countless expert economists. His deportation program will disrupt countless American lives. His reactionary rhetoric will continue to divide the nation. Ultimately though, we voted him in. This is who America wanted. This is who America gets.” -Alessandro Araujo ’26

“I feel incredibly disappointed in the state of our country. Neither Trump nor Harris should ever have been the candidates. We deserve better. I don’t necessarily think Harris was a great choice, but I did prefer her slightly due to differences in character between the candidates. However, I also think Trump’s extreme stance on immigration will be quite useful right now. Simultaneously, I am fearful of some of his other plans.” -Tate Collins ’27

“An NBC News national poll conducted in September 2024 found that 65% of registered voters believe the nation is on the wrong track, while only 28% think it’s headed in the right direction. The election results have played a crucial role in curbing the nation’s trajectory under radical left policies, thereby preserving American values and preventing further radicalization.” -Anonymous Faculty Member

“The amount of misinformation and foreign interference is horrifying. Harris was a moderate; what does it say that most of the country believed the lies about her ‘extremism?’ It’s sad that someone so abysmally unqualified could be voted for over someone so much more qualified, thanks to Americans’ racism, sexism, short-sightedness, and selfishness. I’m deeply worried about foreign relations, that Trump will acquiesce to Russia and China at every turn because he’s so easily manipulated. What a joke.” -Anonymous Faculty Member

“It was definitely not what I was hoping for. I believe that our country will regress in multiple ways, such as in terms of national debt and climate change policy. This said, I don’t think that many of the extremely radical positions that many people are worried about can pass into law, and America will not become as bad as many worry Trump will make it.” -Anonymous Lower Mid