Students bracing for political tension during Thanksgiving break 

Students are, by and large, excited to return home to spend time with family during Thanksgiving break next week. Despite the anticipation, the election results have raised tensions and called attention to political differences this holiday season. 

Vic Mistretta, a junior neuroscience major, has mixed feelings about going home to see their family this year. Mistretta said they voted for Harris earlier this November, but most of their family supports Trump. 

“There’s just going to be a lot of politics this year,” Mistretta said. “Since I’m the only queer person in my family, there’s a lot of tension. They don’t really understand that [Trump]’s harmful to people like me.” 

For Mistretta, it’s hard to separate political views with attacks on their identity — “It’s personal.”

“A lot of people like to say it’s not but it is,” Mistretta said. “I’ll have to keep my mouth shut while I’m home, but that’s only for a few days, so I’ll survive.”

Some students value keeping the peace rather than engaging with family members they disagree with politically. Lily Hofmeister, an undecided first-year student, disagrees with her grandparents but tries to keep the peace at family gatherings.

“My grandparents are very hardcore one side, and normally I’d just let them say whatever they want, unfortunately,” Hofmeister said. “I’d just not say anything afterward and just try to avoid it.” 

Though she is willing to have political conversations, Hofmeister thinks the Thanksgiving holiday with family is not the ideal time. 

”There are some people who I’m open to talking about politics with, but my grandparents aren’t like that,” Hofmeister said. ”I think it definitely depends on who you’re with to decide how you want to deal with the situation.”

Despite feeling differently than parts of her family on certain political issues, Alethia Gajula, a first-year business major, said she still values her relationships with them. Gajula plans to return home and have a “pretty traditional” Thanksgiving meal with her family. 

“No matter who you voted for, you should be able to share your opinion, but at the same time understand that relationships go above that,” Gajula said. “If you love each other unconditionally, then I think you can overcome those challenges.”

Family and personal relationships are important to hold onto regardless of political differences for Gajula. 

“Despite whatever side you voted for, everyone’s going through a bit of a time right now,” Gajula said. “It’s important to stay in the present and focus on what we have, whether that be family, friends or a relationship.” 

Political differences with more distant relatives “may be more of an issue” for Hannah O’Dywer, a junior molecular biology major. O’Dwyer holds “pretty similar beliefs” with her close family, though. 

Although political beliefs are very important, O’Dwyer does not believe that disagreeing should make or break a family relationship.

“I don’t think your beliefs should be something that completely defines your relationships,” O’Dywer said. “There’s definitely some deal breakers, but that’s not the issue in my case.”

Luke Daniel, a senior data science major, said he voted for Harris, as did the rest of his family.

“I’m looking forward to having a bit of a break from work,” Daniel said. “My whole family voted for Kamala too.”

International students shared their concerns about immigration-related politics. Wen Li Zhang, a senior data science major, is an international student from China who said these politics are a large concern over the holidays.

“We mostly care about the policy for international students to stay in the U.S. and work after graduating,” Zhang said. “[Trump] might make the visa shorter than it was before for people who want to stay and work.”

Keller Ulrich, an undeclared first-year student, turned 18 two days after the election, but would have voted for Harris if he could. Ulrich isn’t worried about going home to visit his family over Thanksgiving break because they share similar political beliefs to him. 

“I’m a big women’s rights supporter,” Ulrich said. “That doesn’t [complicate my relationship] with most of my family, though.”