Melissa Bergin-Stack, senior
“[I am] calling for a complete and total shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on.” — Donald Trump
“As much as we want to think of him as a legitimate leader, I think that statement in 2015 completely de-legitimized him as such. I don’t think he is prepared to accept the level of diversity we have here in the United States and the level of talent, particularly from Muslims and those who practice the Islamic faith. I think that he doesn’t fully understand the kinds of scrutiny they go through. They may, in fact, hate ISIS more than we do because ISIS is representing their religion in such a cruel and harsh way. Donald Trump doesn’t understand that Islam is a very peaceful religion. It just furthers his racist propaganda with is imperialistic and Westernized view of things.”
Kevin Velasquez and Soloman Hoban, freshmen
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending the best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems. They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime. They’re rapists and some, I assume, are good people.” —Donald Trump
“I think it’s dumb because he’s trying to make Mexico pay for [the wall],” freshman Kevin Velasquez said.
“Yeah, even if Mexico doesn’t want it, they’ll have to pay for it,” freshman Soloman Hoban said.
“It’s not [Mexico’s] fault,” Velasquez said. “We’re just coming over here to have a better life. We come over here for a better life, a better future.”
Anusha Gupta, freshman
“[Former President of Mexico Vicente Fox], get your money ready because you’re going to pay for the wall.” —Donald Trump
“I don’t necessarily think he can make another country pay for it, and I don’t know how he’s going to get this passed by Congress. Building a wall isn’t going to solve any problems. It’s just going to instigate people more.”
Treshawn Beverly, junior
[Referring to Chinese negotiators] “They don’t say, ‘Oh, hello, how’s the weather? It’s so beautiful outside. How are the Yankees doing? They’re wonderful. That’s great.’ They say, ‘We want deal!'” —Donald Trump
“The Chinese do help us out a lot as far as stuff that we have and use on a daily basis. The only reason I’m for Trump is because I’d rather have him over Hillary. I’d rather have someone who tells the truth and acts like a dictator than someone who lies about herself. At least we already know what Trump is about while we never knew what Hillary could’ve gotten away with if she were elected.”
Greta McNamee, freshman
“The person that came up with the expression ‘weaker sex’ was either very naive or had to be kidding. I have seen women manipulate men with just a twitch of their eye — or perhaps another body part.” —Donald Trump
“That’s a change from how he normally acts around women or talks about women. Normally, it’s in a very derogatory way and a very degrading manner. The laws that he promises to enact or overturn would go directly go against women, so that’s a surprise for me to hear.”
J.P. Schneider, senior
“I will build a great wall — and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me — and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern boarder, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.” — Donald Trump
“I don’t really agree with the quote. Some [Mexican immigrants] come over here and do good things, but I think what he said was mostly untrue. I guess I don’t completely agree with the quote, but I agree with some of it. Some of them are bad, so I do agree with some of Trump’s views.”