Students share their experiences sporting pro-Trump gear on campus
There is a new fashion trend spreading this season at Saint Joseph’s University that you will not find on the runway: freedom of political expression.
Students at St. Joe’s are making it clear which candidate has their support come Nov. 8 by wearing their votes. Some supporters of the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, are sporting hats that say, “Make America Great Again,” and pins that read, “Build a Wall.”
Claudia Wert, ’17, wears a “Lock her up” t-shirt on the weekends and accessorizes with a matching pin in outward support for Trump. The registered Republican also owns over 30 Trump flyers that she hands out in her neighborhood in another public show of support.
At her home in Berks County, Pa., her political affiliation is not only accepted, but celebrated. Wert’s form of political expression, however, is not always on St. Joe’s best-dressed list.
In class, Wert says she receives glares for the Trump pin secured to the pocket of her backpack and has been the recipient of offensive gestures when she wears her t-shirt.
Facial expressions and middle fingers aside, the College Republicans member believes it is her civic duty to exercise her First Amendment rights.
“People are afraid to talk about politics, [let alone] wear it,” Wert said.
According to Wert, the fear of putting political beliefs on display has to do with the lack of an open forum for discussion, debate, and expression.
“I believe that it’s important to openly express my vote because we live in such a politically correct culture where the truth and our opinions are suppressed,” Wert said. “We are not free to talk about what makes us great. We are so focused on apologizing, we could lose what America is all about.”
Wert said that she wants Trump supporters to know that they are not alone in their political affiliation, and hopes that openness in supporting a candidate will pave the way to having productive discussions about politics.
“If more students had an open mind and welcomed political discussions without name-calling or conflicts, debates could be led to highlight hot button issues circling the candidates this election,” Wert said.
Marissa Karomfily, ’17, wears her support just as Wert does, though she stills feels the pressure that political correctness has on freedom of expression.
“It makes me less inclined to want to share my own opinion, because I’m not looking to argue,” Karomfily said. “I’m not looking to convince someone that they’re wrong, and I’m not looking for someone to go and try to change my opinion, either.”
The pressure to defend her choice of candidate to her peers is exhausting, according to Karomfily.
“I feel like, generally speaking, if you identify as conservative, you’re more likely to be judged for it,” she said.
Despite the reactions that some may have to her visible support for Trump, Karomfily still sees the value in openly expressing her political views. Registered as an Independent, Karomfily believes in the power of her vote and The First Amendment right.
“I think it’s my obligation as a U.S. citizen to exercise my First Amendment right,” she said. “This is my opportunity to make my opinions heard, and it’s [wrong] to not take advantage of my right to vote or to discredit the millions of people it took to get to this point.”
At times, when it grows tiring to have to explain their visible support for Trump, Wert and Karomfily are sure of one fact: Sometimes, fashion speaks louder than words.
