On Nov. 4, the Student Voting Task had their last event to encourage students to exercise their right to vote. The SHUVOTES Celebration happened in the University Center lobby. The event had students and staff members engaging in a positive atmosphere preceding the election.

According to Diversity and Inclusion graduate assistant Alonna Tipton, the celebration was about “getting students involved and having them excited about voting on Nov. 8.”

Also, there were wristbands being handed out to the Siena community. Tipton said that some of the professors canceled classes so students could dedicate that time to voting.

On Nov. 8, Donald Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States of America.

On the morning after, Nov. 9, different reactions were seen throughout the Siena Heights campus, including sadness and anger. The professors of the Art Department gathered students from their classes and went for what they called a “love parade” to spread positive and encouraging words to different classrooms around campus.

Assistant Professor of Art Erin Zerbe said “if you woke up today feeling sadness, or if you woke up today feeling scared, or unsure, or if you woke up today feeling triumphed, … whatever it may have been, as long as you remember that community starts at the bottom, that we have an opportunity to affect change and everyone in this room is capable of leading and capable of compassion, that matters much more than anything else.”

Siena Heights University still holds its mission of being an “environment which respects the dignity of all.”