Although only a week has passed since President Donald Trump officially began his second term, he has already signed numerous executive orders. Some of those include revoking birthright citizenship, putting an end to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at the federal level and changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to “the Gulf of America”.
“Everything just seems to be full of surprises,” said 37-year-old Jalicia Maeweather, when asked about Trump re-naming the gulf. “I think it’s pointless.”
Maeweather is not alone in her distaste for the changes Trump has initiated since being in office.
Students at Grand Rapids Community College have expressed an array of emotions since Trump was sworn in, including 18-year-old Jolissa Rucker, who said she is frustrated with the returning president.
“I really feel like everything is going downhill, and there’s nothing we can do about it,” she said.
Deborah Ortiz, a political science major, agrees.
“(I’m feeling) a lot of emotions, I feel like there’s already so many things going on and it’s just going downhill,” Ortiz said.
Another worry crossing students’ minds is Trump’s plan regarding mass deportation. Grand Rapids native Shaelee Monterrosl brings up the sadness she feels as a result of this.
“It’s really sad… I have a few family members that just came and I’m getting scared for them,” Monterrosl said.
GRCC President Charles Lepper declined an interview with the Collegiate regarding how the inauguration will affect protocol at the college.
Despite the anxious feelings a few students seem to have as a result of Trump returning to the White House, Heather Richards, Political Science professor at GRCC, urges students to keep the U.S. Constitution in the back of their minds.
“We are run by institutions and we are run by our U.S. Constitution, executive orders are nowhere in the Constitution,” she said. “The President doesn’t have an articulated right to issue executive orders… Executive orders cannot conflict or contradict federal law or the U.S. Constitution.”
Along with that, Trump’s attempts to end birthright citizenship are currently being blocked by the U.S. District Court Judge, John Coughenour.
The executive order regarding the revoking of DEI at the federal level has been especially criticized by students.
Cianna Massey, 19, said she does not agree, saying “I think that’s wrong of him to do that.”
Additionally, Cameron Hallenstein, 22, said he is “in the middle” of agreeing and disagreeing with this policy.
“I don’t know how I feel about that one, but I don’t know if I would say I would have made that decision myself,” he said.
When asked what this could mean for GRCC and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion here, Richards assures readers the college has their backs.
“I just want students to know that we are here for them and we will fight for them and alongside them and with them to protect their rights, but also recognize that these changes are made by a president who is duly elected by American society, American citizens,” Richards said.
Along with that, she encourages students to refrain from getting “caught up” in what is being said on social media. She recommends educating oneself on the executive orders and visiting news sources to articulate a better understanding of what is happening, to “eliminate some panic.”
Collegiate reporters Grace Howard and Mackenzie Davis contributed to this report.
