Written by the Lake Forest College Journalism 120 Class
With the November election just days away, faculty members, staff, and students at Lake Forest College are casting their ballots for U.S. presidential candidates early, while others have yet to decide. Many students, part of nearly 41 million Gen Z voters eligible to vote in 2024, are voting for the first time—leaving experts to speculate whether they could swing the vote, one way or another.
JOUR 120: Introduction to Journalism students spoke to people on campus about who they were voting for—and why.
Careah Baitlon, a 19-year-old sophomore and self-design architecture major, is not voting.
“I feel like I don’t agree with either party,” Baitlon says. To vote, she would need “more appealing policies to the teenage eye.”
Lily Anderson, a 19-year-old freshman studying Business, is voting for Kamala Harris.
“She acted presidential in her debate,” Anderson says. “I love the opportunity economy for the middle class.”
Soe Leo, a 20-year-old senior, is voting for Kamala Harris.
“I just think a future with Donald Trump as our president is really scary to think about,” Leo says.
Vance Cooper a 19-year-old sophomore, supports Donald Trump.
“I like the team he has set up,” says Cooper. “For me, it was so the economy would be where I wanted it to be, from 2016-2019 before COVID. And another thing is, I live in Arizona, so the border crisis right now affects my family and my hometown.”
Jimmy Thedos, 83, a Parkhurst Dining employee, is voting for Donald Trump.
“He did a great job the last four years he was [president],” Thedos says.
Enamie Nyen, a 20-year-old junior, is voting for Harris.
“She literally has no hate,” Nyen says. “I agree with her stand on abortion immigration rights, first-time home buyers, [and to]keep funding schools.”
Brigid Barrette, 20-year-old junior, is voting for Kamala Harris.
“I would rather have a Democrat in office than a Republican,” Barrette says.
Valeria Welk, a 20-year-old junior, is voting for Kamala Harris.
“She is trying her best to work across partisan lines and appeals to all voters,” Welk says.
Lata Bhatta, a 19-year-old sophomore, is voting for Kamala Harris.
“I think she is much better than Trump,” said Bhatta. “I really like her professionalism when talking to press and how she can have a decent conversation with people.”
Sepehr Akbari, a 20-year-old sophomore, is voting for Donald Trump.
“I compared the two terms with economy and security,” said Akbari. “I think Trump has done a better job.”
Muris Hadzic, 38, associate professor of Finance, is an undecided voter.
“People are putting a lot of thought into what this election will bring,” Hadzic says, adding that he plans to do research over the weekend to cast an informed vote.
Rocio Blandon, 21-year-old junior from Nicaragua, is not eligible to vote. If she were, she would for Donald Trump.
“I would vote for Trump because I would get a green card,” Blandon says.
Michael Kasemervisz, 20-year-old sophomore, is voting for Donald Trump.
“I like the way he spends the government’s money, also his policies for women’s sports,” Kasemervizs says.
Jackilene Alvarez, a 19-year-old sophomore, is casting her vote for Kamala Harris.
“I am confident that blue is going to outweigh red this election,” Alvarez says.
Kalen Sirls, a 19-year-old freshman majoring in Communication, says he voted by absentee ballot for Kamala Harris.
“I voted for Kamala Harris because she is protecting women’s rights and healthcare, as well as her plan to distribute money to the lower and middle classes and tax the wealth,” says Sirls, adding that he doesn’t like Donald Trump’s stances on climate change.
Dayyan Fundi, a 20-year-old freshman, is not eligible to vote in the U.S. If he could, he says he would support Kamala Harris.
“As an international student, I have to consider how the president could affect me,” Fundi says. ” From what I’m hearing and seeing, I would want to see the changes Kamala Harris can bring.”
Seven Cook, a 19-year-old freshman, is voting for Kamala Harris.
“[I] agree a lot with what [Kamala] says,” says Cook, adding that he cares about what happens with reproductive rights for women.
