On Wednesday night both the Black Student Union and African Student Organization held an open-discussion about the recent presidential election.

Inside the packed room of the Marano Campus Center students sat in chairs that were in a circle, while others stood. The two organizations established a one-mic rule to allow for each person to be heard.

Many students spoke about having Donald Trump as president and what his election as president means to them. A common theme throughout the discussion was the rhetoric Trump used during his campaign and how that personally affected them. Students cried while speaking about the hatred they now face as minorities in America. Others spoke about the atmosphere on campus and how it was like mourning. Some students opened their remarks with acknowledging that they had “heavy hearts” or that they were just really angry.

For Daniels the election brought about a whole different view of the world, but the meeting made her feel less alone in the world. She also spoke about the Black Lives Matter Movement and the how people talk about how they only protest when there is a death. Today she said she felt like it was a death that was going to produce change.

“This is like a death that’s [going to] be for four years, so I don’t think that it’s [going to] go away,” Daniels said. “I think because we are experiencing change and racism and you’re experiencing death first-hand, it’s [going to] get bigger.”

For Zachary Diamond the results of the election left him “disappointed, scared, anxious and nauseous. He said that this was a wake-up call for many, but that there is the silver-lining that this could create major change.

“It will mobilize people, it will motivate people to get involved in politics,” Diamond said. “Hopefully it will motivate people to get out and stand up for themselves and build power of the people, for the people.”

This was another common topic touched upon at the discussion. Many students spoke out saying that even though Trump was elected president they can still make change. One person even talked about how running from the problem would fix nothing, but that people talking about what is going and people taking action was what was going to inspire change.

President Deborah Stanley, who attended the meeting said she is still sorting out her thoughts about the election and the message of the election, acknowledging that she has been a longtime supporter of Hillary Clinton. She also said that it is upsetting to see the country split the way it is, but that the open discussion is trying to work within the system to make change.

“This is an amazing example of coming together and supporting each other and hearing each other understand that we need to vigilant, we need to be awake, but that we also need to discuss and to have a plan for the future and to move forward,” Stanley said.

Howard Gordon, the executive assistant to the president said during the discussion “there is nothing we can’t get through” and that it was students like the ones at the meeting that inspire him.