“Devastating was the best word to describe it,” said Canadian sophomore Layla Pottinger. Pottinger, like many other international students, feels immense dread and concern for what their future in the United States, and at Howard, might look like for the next four years.

“As I saw the numbers coming in (from the election), I was in a state of shock,” said Pottinger. She recounts watching the election back home in Canada, and as she saw the reality of another Trump Presidency settle in, she immediately started to fret for her return to the States. 

Many Black students throughout the country feel targeted with the reelection of President elect Donald Trump.“I don’t know what all his plans are, which is even more scary,” said junior David Ukadike from Lagos, Nigeria. Ukadike worries that his time at Howard may be disrupted due to the policies Trump has threatened to put in place.

“It’s worrying because he’s so radical and thoughtless,” Ukadike added. Although he described the feeling of finding out the results of the election as more “surreal” than devastating, he is sure that he will feel the effects of the presidency quite soon, along with other students.

“Even leaving my front door is something to be weary of,” confesses Pottinger. She believes her intersectionality- being Black and a woman- makes her especially vulnerable. The sophomore constantly emphasized that she, like many other students in her situation, are unsure of what to really expect. From hearing horror stories from peers to reading sensationalized articles, the visions of violence that could face them have them and their families weary about what’s to come during their stay at the Mecca.

One difference between the reactions of international students and domestic ones lies in the concerns regarding financial assistance. Trump and other Republicans have stated their wishes to get rid of the Department of Education. With this action, government educational assistance such as FAFSA and federal Pell Grants may no longer exist, causing many US-based students to worry. Not international students though, who already struggle to receive government funding. 

“International students don’t receive any funding from the government here actually,” said Pottinger. Their funding may come from other sources, but at least this is not a major concern for them at the moment. Only time will tell though as Trump promises to crack down on higher education, federal funding programs, and immigration into the nation.

Overall, the future is uncertain for both international and domestic students. Many students at Howard, both domestic and international, have concerns regarding their safety as the country showcases its priorities. For international students, their immediate future feels a bit more hazy as the unclear policies promised on the Trump campaign trail slowly come into view.