Young Donald Trump supporters do exist at New York University (NYU), but they’re so fearful of the hostile environment at the liberal university that many won’t reveal their identities.
Washington Square News, the independent newspaper for NYU, recently spoke with students who support Trump, but who also say that they’re afraid to share their views, whether on campus or online.
The piece is titled “The Quiet Life of NYU’s Trump Supporters,” and while many do “turn a blind eye” and “keep quiet,” reactions from others aren’t so quiet. Junior Dylan Perera shared an experience he had when someone found out he liked Trump:
Another supporter, freshman Daniel Hyun, who gets looks for his “Make America Great Again” hat, knows other Trump supporters on campus, but suspects it’s because of such incidents they’re not so organized.
The students who support Trump felt that it was hypocritical for the student body to be so hostile toward Trump supporters. Jillian Spataro, a junior, says those on campus “claim they’re inclusive, but up to a point.”
Perera noted that while students “preach tolerance and open-mindedness… when someone comes that goes against against their viewpoint, they automatically disregard all of that open-mindedness and tolerance.” He thinks “it hurts the dialogue.”
Those few students are the brave ones. The New York Post also spoke with Perera, but other students they spoke with remained anonymous. One shared feeling ostracized from his roommates, as well as being outed by his professor for his political views, despite asking him not to discuss them.
Another student noted how she stays away from public events that may reveal her beliefs. Facebook debates also “can get hostile.” Students “usually throw around words like ‘racist’ or ‘bigot’ about Trump and then call the students trying to defend him ‘delusional.'”
Others in the media haven’t been too kind to these pro-Trump students either. Gothamist wrote an anti-Trump piece titled “NYU Students Supporting Trump Are Afraid To Come Out Of The Drumpf Closet” and Salon published “NYU student on “Fox & Friends” pleads for Donald Trump to save him from campus liberals.”
