Students’ Presidential Concerns Center on Immigration, Electoral College and Social Issues

HARLEM, N.Y.

Some students on The City College of New York (CCNY) campus agree that this election is crucial, and that their voices matter. Miguel Arias, a senior majoring in political science, said, “We live in an interesting situation, both for the candidates who come from unprecedented situations and us making a decision.”

Students seem to focus primarily on immigration, social issues, and the political system. Many feel anxious about the candidates ability to address these challenges, and some worry about the state of democracy in the U.S. “It’s not just about who wins, but how they win,” said Arias, pointing out concerns about the fairness of the Electoral College system and the potential for dissatisfaction no matter the result. 

Another student, Erick Martinez, a senior majoring in business administration, pointed out the division in the country about immigration policies. He said, “We are divided. We could have created a housing program throughout the country, and the rising immigration issue in New York City now could have been avoided,” he said.

Social issues worry students. “It’s all about money,” Hailey Miranda said. She laments the way politicians seem to prioritize economic interests over human life and the social issues that affect them. She worries about the future of women’s rights, “What troubles me is no matter who wins, I feel like my identity as a woman and a Latina is going to be tarnished. So at this point, it’s just about picking the better negative.”

But students also think that young voters don’t have enough information and aren’t politically literate. “Classes should definitely be teaching about both parties—the good things and the bad things they do—just so we can be aware,” Miranda said. 

Social media plays a significant role in shaping students’ opinions. Miranda admits that her perspective often shifts depending on the videos she sees online. “One video I’ll watch them bashing Trump. And then in the next video I’ll see them bashing Kamala. So I am seeing the bad side of both sides and don’t really know what to believe or what to support.” Miranda said.

She finds that Instagram and TikTok influence her views about both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. She mentioned that Project 2025 swayed her. The set of proposals for a second Trump administration written by Trump’s conservative allies was discussed in one of her classes. But  social media still impacts her opinion heavily. “For me, the most important thing is electing a leader who will protect the rights of our communities. At this point, it feels like I’m picking the better negative,” she said.