Political climate at UCLA during the 2016 election

This post was updated Nov. 3 at 11:45 p.m.

The 2016 presidential election has been filled with a few recurring themes, namely Trump’s blustery campaign rhetoric and Clinton’s alleged email controversy. At UCLA, student political groups on both sides have found it difficult to settle on a particular candidate. Daily Bruin reporter Denise Lin spoke to Bruin Republicans and Bruins for Hillary to survey student reaction and opinion to the upcoming election.

SCRIPT:

LIN: The 2016 presidential election has been filled with unexpected moments. From ones such as…

TRUMP: I moved on her actually. You know, she was down on Palm Beach. I moved on her, and I failed. I’ll admit it. I did try and [bleep] her. She was married.

LIN: To this …

HENRY: The criminal investigation of Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, is back on.

LIN: This election has made it harder for some Bruins to make a decision on candidates.

RHIM: Yeah, it’s been unusual. It’s…been difficult at times.

LIN: That was fourth-year political science major Alex Rhim, former president of Bruin Republicans. Although we were unable to speak to the new president in time, Rhim and the current president state that the club still does not endorse Donald Trump officially.

RHIM: Some of our members from the beginning strongly supported the Republican nominee, some were strongly opposed and now because he is the nominee (they) support him somewhat reluctantly.

LIN: Although students have disagreed on Trump, Rhim says that it hasn’t caused too much tension within the club.

RHIM: I think it’s been productive, even though we disagree it’s respectful, we get along. A lot of the time we’re friends more than just colleagues. 11:50 We are a place for intellectual discussion; we can talk to each other without fear of any kind of – we can go there and express our opinions honestly

LIN: Outside of UCLA, though, things have been less friendly.

TRUMP: The safest place in the world to be is at a Trump rally.

TRUMP SUPPORTER: Build a wall! Build a wall! Fuck those dirty beaners. Build a wall!

LIN: Jessica Chase, third-year political science major and president of Bruins for Hillary, has been able to gain traction for the Clinton campaign by focusing on Trump’s diversion from normal Republican ideals.

CHASE: When we make calls to swing states, we don’t talk about the Republican party being negative, we talk about this new alt right that Secretary Clinton has talked about, because it is different, it’s not standard Republican values. And I think a lot of Republicans know that.

LIN: Chase started the club after working for the Clinton campaign in the summer. Many students were divided during the primaries. However, many came together for the general election.

CHASE: It definitely felt like something that didn’t exist before; there haven’t been as many opportunities to work for Hillary on campus since there was so much support for Bernie in the primary.

LIN: She and VP for outreach Danny Zander are confident that they have strong support, including from former Bernie supporters. Zander, who’s a second-year economics major, previously worked for Bruins for Bernie but now supports Clinton.

ZANDER: In terms of the politically active students, Bernie or Bust is mostly dead. Bruins for Bernie has become a new club, and when I talk to them, they’re all enthusiastic in voting for her, and some are even interested in working for her and coming to Nevada. Me included, we’re all united with Hillary.

LIN: Students are united on all fronts for the Clinton campaign.

CHASE: And we have former Bernie supporters actively phone-banking for Hillary, and that includes talking to voters who are undecided and convincing them. The Hillary campaign tagline is stronger together, and she has one of the most progressive campaign platforms in years, and people have seen that as a sign that she’s going to take the energy Bernie created and bring it into the White House.

LIN: Chase explains that Trump’s comments have galvanized the Clinton campaign.

CHASE: I think it’s very motivating – I think that there are many positive characteristics that motivate us to support Clinton, but when we do see her opponent making these remarks and having these attitudes that are so divisive, with so much misogyny, it motivates people to get out to our events, and to take positive action.

LIN: With 10,000 people registered to vote by BruinsVote!, students have a chance to make their voice heard loud and clear. Rhim encourages students to voice their opinions.

RHIM: It’s good to see we have a solid body of students who care about issues enough that they think about and make statements about their ideas. If they have a belief that they think is a minority belief, there are areas on campus where they can talk to people who share their ideals.

LIN: And this is the time for students to make themselves heard. More than ever before, the U.S. is looking at two frontrunners for the election who are completely and dramatically split – on women’s rights, on the economy, on immigration and many other issues. Younger students, even freshmen, are getting involved.

CHASE: I think there’s a huge energy from people who didn’t see this as important until they got to a election that’s so crucial and so important for our country.

LIN: Aside from the presidential candidates, there are so many other reasons to vote. Rhim, who’s undecided on the presidential ticket, knows that students have a lot of things at stake.

RHIM: They know this election is not just about Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton, they know there’s ballot measures on the ticket, there’s local congressmen, state assembly, state senate, all of these things, and at least one of those things are important.

LIN: For students who are tired of this drawn-out election, the outgoing president has just one thing to say.

OBAMA: Don’t boo, vote!

LIN: For Daily Bruin Radio, this is Denise Lin.