The election ignited outrage, distress and overwhelming emotions for young voters across the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Students are uncertain about the future of social policies such as abortion rights, privacy and immigration, but one thing remains certain: our country has never been more polarized and students on campus may not feel it.
Many who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris found themselves completely shocked by the election's outcome, especially considering the support she garnered on campus. It may seem odd that students are so surprised by the outcome of an election that was always predicted to be razor-thin. It begs the question: are campuses glorified echo chambers?
As students were surrounded by Harris-Walz advocates, petitions and rallies from the nominee herself, they became entrenched in her campaign. Harris won an overwhelming 75% of Dane County but lost Wisconsin by 30,000 votes.
Many, myself included, were surprised by how far this outcome diverged from our campus experience. This shock is a result of campus echo chambers. On social media, in campus culture and through other forms of campaigning such as appearances on campus, students were caught up in a world where Harris’ victory seemed imminent. For many students, UW-Madison was their first exposure to life in a swing state — they were surprised to see it swing red after all the support Harris maintained throughout campus.
The consequences of a campus echo chamber go beyond disappointment over election results. Selectively consuming media and information will only further us from understanding the political climate, which is necessary to address before the next election. If made more aware, we will have the power to be more dynamic citizens.
Despite these overwhelming reactions, UW-Madison students have been resilient, opening up in different atmospheres and speaking out about their feelings. Tuesday night, the History Department hosted an open table conversation for undergraduate students to share their feelings regarding the election. Additionally, numerous people including students and celebrities took to social media to express their disappointment over the election results and call out the nation for supporting the economy over women’s autonomy and other social issues.
Many feel like their apprehensions were ignored by a country they thought was progressing. In the wake of such disappointment, resources such as open table discussions and an opportunity to share personal feelings about the election would greatly benefit the mental burden some students are struggling with. As Harris said, “sometimes the fight takes a while.” This includes breaking out of our echo chambers which are keeping us blissfully unaware of the political realities we must confront. If we don’t, we’ll be left reeling from every unexpected outcome.
Safa is a freshman studying journalism and economics. Do you agree that UW-Madison is an echo chamber? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
