A Syracuse student studying abroad captured responses from Italians following the initial shock of Donald Trump's presidential victory.
The outcome of the 2016 presidential election on Nov. 9 spewed a thick wave of disappointment and resentment across Syracuse University’s Florence campus. However, more than a month has passed and students are feeling a bit more optimistic than when the news first broke.
“I’ve been more and more accepting that this is the reality we are going to face for the next four years,” said Josh Leiner, a history junior from Bates College studying with SU’s Abroad program.
Democracy in Action students cover the local and national races across Central New York.
Dawayne Kirkland, a first-time voter who originally supported Bernie Sanders, but voted for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, said his decision to come to the polls was influenced by music artist, Chance the Rapper.
“I think my generation, we really do care about this kind of stuff,” Kirkland said. “Maybe not from the mediums that you would expect us to get the information from. I’m not paying attention to CNN, but I am checking my Twitter. He’s a social influencer that had an influence on me to get up and go vote and see if I can make a difference.”