Hampton University is allowing students to ‘express reflections’ and ‘share sentiments’ following the presidential election during a forum. This is a part of Hampton’s effort to help students move forward post-election season.
Many people on campus felt the atmospheric weight of post-election blues following Tuesday’s historical decision. Students are buzzing with questions about what a future at HU will look like under newly elected president Donald Trump.
In the wake of Vice President Kamala Harris’ unsuccessful campaign against President-elect Donald Trump, Hampton President Darrell K. Williams announced a forum would be held on Nov. 7. The purpose of the event was to serve as a safe space for the HU community to participate in open, constructive, progressive dialogue.
The forum was closed off to outside media and featured a panel consisting of Newport News Mayor Philip Jones, Student Counseling Center Director Dr. Kristie Norwood, professors Robert Watson and Devika Koppikar, and the university’s NAACP chapter president Jihan Moore. WTKR anchor and reporter Jessica Larché also facilitated the discussion.
Watson took pride in how HBCU students handled the uncertainty of the election and saw it as an opportunity for everyone to rise together.
“This election will be a bitter taste for a lot of people for a while,” said Watson, an endowed professor. “But, we have to get back to work; we don't have time to have a long pity party, and that has been the strength of us as a people.”
HU students, who went to the voting polls in droves and took full advantage of same-day registration at Phoebus High School, voiced many questions and comments throughout the discussion. An array of concerns arose, from the state of the democratic party and healthcare to HBCU funding and national-level resource accessibility and HU’s near future.
Mayor Jones, who additionally serves as Hampton’s Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning, believed that America’s current state reflects that which Dr. Martin Luther King wrote about in his book entitled Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? After observing HU’s voter turnout, he is faithful that all will be well and is confident the community will show up.
“I believe that we're going to be ultimately,” he said to the students, “We’re going to be okay because of you.”
Moore, a graduating senior and the lone student on the panel first felt that the results were a huge setback in the progress Black America had fought for. Though much of the United States is pointing fingers, the student leader noted that “you can’t persuade through shame.”
Now she is feeling excited and taking the election results as a chance to grow and sinpire others.
The forum lasted an hour and ensured students could acknowledge their emotions by teaching individuals to give themselves grace for how they feel. The heartfelt conversation prompted Provost Betty Stewart to proclaim Hampton University’s resilience and that “the strength of a democracy does not rest in one person, but rests in our collective ideas, thoughts, and actions”
As a former U.S. Army general, President Williams ended the forum by asking students to maintain their patriotism and use the election results as a call to action. Whilst acknowledging student hurt, he reminded students of their ancestors and how they fought for rights, liberty, justice, and democracy under much more dire circumstances.
Many students left feeling hopeful, with Dr. William’s promise that “Hampton will remain Hampton.”
Comments