AnaElda Ramos | Managing Illustration Editor

You are beginning your college journey during a period marked by uncertainty, fear, anger, and a sense of helplessness — a reality shared by students who started in recent years amid events like the first election of President Donald Trump, the pandemic, and nationwide protests met with force on college campuses.

From a young age, our generation has witnessed many crises and corresponding social justice movements. You happen to be the class of students that are entering during the first year of the second Trump administration, when we are experiencing democratic backsliding, authoritarian policies, and violations of human rights and the rule of law. 

You, as an incoming first-year, are already entering a substantial transition period in your life by default. As you adjust to a new environment, find your new friends, clubs, activities, and area(s) of study, our country is experiencing an uncertain transition as well. This may feel overwhelming on top of the already stressful start of college, and you are valid for feeling whatever emotions may come with this transition.

Handling uncertainty

While these times are unprecedented in a lot of ways, students throughout history have attended university during political unrest and widespread injustices. Universities have been central places for social justice movements during these times, such as the Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement, and March for Our Lives (and WashU is no exception). Past generations have found ways to turn their anger and fear into political change, and we can, too. 

I could mention countless policies that affect all of us in various ways, such as the attacks on academic freedom, but it is important to acknowledge that some communities are being impacted more than others. Students facing the threat of deportation are experiencing an uncertainty that is far more personal and high stakes than that of the rest of us. As you consider how to cope with your own fear and how to act upon the injustices in our country, I urge you to also evaluate how your identity and potential privilege affect these decisions.

Avoiding politics altogether is impossible. People will likely start political conversations in and outside of classes. Instead of avoiding these conversations, I encourage you to take them as opportunities to express your concerns and relate to or learn from the people around you.

You may feel like you don’t know enough or have a handle on your thoughts about politics. That is okay. People may come into these conversations acting like they know everything, but I can assure you that they don’t — no one does. In these conversations, I encourage you to listen and learn — that’s what college is for. You can admit you don’t know something or how you feel about certain issues, and you can ask questions.

Navigating your uncertainty can actually be a way to improve your transition into college rather than making it harder. Conversations about your worries regarding college, as well as in the context of the state of the world, can build bonds and community.

Taking action

Things may feel uncertain and unstable, but you have control over what do with your time and energy. It is okay if you do not spend the first months of college going to protests, writing to your senators, or volunteering at nonprofits. Action is important, and there will be plenty more to do once you have settled into your college life. 

That being said, in times of uncertainty and fear, one of the best things you can do for yourself and your community is to take material action. You don’t have control over the state of our world, but there are material actions that you can take to counter the impacts of anti-democratic and unjust policies. Many of these actions can also bring you community, belonging, and solidarity as a first-year student and a person in the world. 

Stay informed: Reading the news and keeping up to date with current events is important, and I encourage everyone to do so. However, when you are already feeling a lot of feelings while adjusting to college, constantly staying engaged could take a toll on your mental health. Set boundaries for yourself; maybe you can catch up on the news twice a week or read two articles every other day. I recommend listening to podcasts that synthesize information for you. Some good ones are “Up First from NPR” and the New York Times’ “The Daily”.

Focus on issues that matter to you: There is so much wrong with our country right now, and many movements and causes need help. You cannot tackle everything. If you feel particularly passionate about certain issues, I’d focus on those. For example, immigrant rights, reproductive rights, or freedom of speech are great causes with many actionable places to start.

Consider changing your voter registration: In a red state, your actions are particularly important because our politicians largely support the Trump administration. If you are from a blue state, consider changing your voter registration to Missouri to make more of an impact with your vote. You can do this through washu.turbovote.org.

Join protests: There will likely be protests on campus, local, or national levels as the Trump presidency progresses. It is important to understand the potential risks of attending them before joining, but demonstrations can be one of the most impactful ways to make political change. People facing the threat of deportations or who are more likely to be targeted by police may not be able to join protests. If you are not in a more vulnerable group, I recommend thinking about using this privilege to take actions that others cannot.

Organize or join letter-writing and calling: Call your federal and local representatives in your home state and in Missouri, and express your feelings about politics right now. Identify issues you care most about, research what legislation is coming up, and express your opinions and what you want your representatives to do about it. This could be specific action items, like voting for or against a bill, or more general requests, like supporting a certain cause or issue, or, even more generally, countering the Trump administration. Even if you feel like you don’t have anything to say, people need to come out in numbers and motivate our representatives to take action.

Message the WashU administration: Our administration can make public messages and take notable actions as an institution regarding political issues, especially those that affect academic freedom and international students. If there is something that you want the administration to do, whether that be to make a statement, message congresspeople, or start a program or initiative, do not be afraid to message them. If you think an issue is important, I encourage you to tell other students to message the administration about it too.

If you have concerns about issues affecting students, you can contact Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students Rob Wild at [email protected]. If needed, he can also refer you to another appropriate contact.

Support local organizations: St. Louis is a very diverse and progressive city, especially because the greater St. Louis area has a historically large Black population, and many organizations are fighting the fight on a local, state, and national level. Organizations need all the help they can get right now, so their websites will indicate how to contribute, or you can call and ask.  Some good ones are ArchCity Defenders, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, ACLU of Missouri, Metro Trans Umbrella Group, Operation Food Search, Migrant and Immigrant Community Action Project, and Abortion Action Missouri. 

Join WashU clubs and organizations: WashU has so many student-run organizations regarding various topics and issues. Go to the club fair (this is a must-do for first-years anyway), and check Wugo to see what clubs may interest you. This will help bring you community and belonging as a first-year student, and connect you to already organized activities and initiatives.

Submit opinion pieces: Admittedly, this is a little bit of self-promo, but submitting opinion pieces is a great way to inform the WashU community about your perspective and feelings on an issue. Your voice matters, and people are listening. We receive messages from students, alumni, and other community members about the opinion articles we publish all the time. Message [email protected] with any ideas.

Everyone is feeling some level of uncertainty right now, and as a first-year, these feelings are compounded with the myriad of emotions that come with entering university. It’s okay to take time for yourself and take a break from the chaos of the world. At the same time, having political conversations and taking action is crucial, and can forge a community during your first year, and at a time when we need it more than ever.