By Riley Blankenship

We are nine months into President Donald Trump’s second term; the national mood remains uneasy. From a continuing government shutdown to a growing deep divide between parties, many Americans are saying they are struggling to even stay optimistic – and students at Greensboro College are feeling that uncertainty as well.

As of Oct. 6, the federal government remains shut down after lawmakers failed to pass a funding bill earlier this month. The shutdown left hundreds of thousands of employees out of a job or even working without pay, and some programs tied to education, health care, and nutrition assistance face delays that could last a while. For college students, however, it is another reminder of just how unpredictable our political climate has become.

Across GC’s campus, students describe a mix of disengagement, anxiety, and fatigue when it comes to national politics. The Collegian had the opportunity to speak with students who said conversations about current events are often very heavy.

“When speaking to my professors or peers about politics, the overall tone of the conversation has not once been positive,” said Lane Bumgarner, a junior majoring in Psychology and English, when asked how she would describe the current overall mood she is seeing right now on campus when it comes to politics. “I have seen mixed reactions – anger, fear, or sorrow being the most common. I have not had the chance to speak with anyone who has hope for the next few years. There is a lot of anxiety surrounding that reality.”

Bumgarner added that this administration feels very different from Trump’s first term, noting what she sees as a decline in his communication and leadership.

“I believe he is no longer mentally fit to be president,” she said. “The things he says are outlandish and do not make sense. His health is clearly declining, but the cult he has built is in blatant denial.”

“I feel as if it is decent,” said freshman Jada Scott about the mood on campus, who thought the political atmosphere on campus itself feels calm but distant. “There is no hesitation or anything. Everyone is kind of different with their politics.”

Scott also is under the impression that many students here at GC, as well as other colleges, are choosing to tune out national news altogether.

“I feel a lot of us are tuning it out for sure,” she said.

However, Scott did state the uncertainty surrounding the government’s direction still feels personal, especially when it comes to education and financial aid.

“I am really worried about my education and my future,” Scott said. “I just came out of high school, so I feel bad for students now with FAFSA.”

For students like Bumgarner, the issue extends beyond finances. She said the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and cuts to the Department of Education could make higher education less accessible.

“I believe the most important issues concerning college students are social equity and keeping our federal loans safe,” Bumgarner said. “There is a reason the Department of Education is being defunded and the approval of private education is rising. They understand knowledge is power, and that is a threat to their sovereignty.”

Bumgarner said protecting the progress made by previous generations of students is crucial.

“The generations before us worked hard to make education accessible and inclusive to all,” she said. “It is now our fight to keep it that way.”

From first-year students worried about FAFSA to upperclassmen concerned about national unity, Greensboro College students are navigating their education during one of the most uncertain political moments in a long time. Whether the government shutdown ends tomorrow or continues for weeks, the tension it reflects is already being felt in classrooms along with conversations across campus.