Marginalization and Fear? Concealed Carry and Campus Climate in the Trump Era

Abstract

Since the 2016 election of President Donald Trump, the country has experienced an increase in rhetorical and physical violence against marginalized groups. While the election served as a focusing event, these undercurrents have been present in the political climate for far longer, as people of color, immigrants, Muslims, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community well know. These tensions have not bypassed university campuses, which have become a focal point of conflict within the current political environment. The “Unite the Right” rally on August 11, 2017, at the University of Virginia campus, served as the prime example of contemporary white nationalism within the United States (Blake 2017). However, there have been other instances of racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia on college campuses throughout the country this past election season. Instances include a black baby doll hung by a noose in an elevator at Canisius College in Buffalo, graffiti featuring the words “#StopIslam” written in chalk in common areas at the University of Michigan, and swastikas drawn throughout a predominantly Jewish women’s dormitory at the New School in New York City (Buckley 2016; Knake 2016; Levine 2016). Rallies, references to lynching, and hate symbols are consistent reminders of the continued threat faced by marginalized groups when pursuing higher education. Alongside this increase in political tension,