Senior Owen Saiia is an urban planning major at UW-Milwaukee. He intends to start graduate school in the fall, and wants to pursue a career in construction management or as a real estate development planner. Owen expressed his thoughts on the new political administration and how it is affecting the lives of citizens in America.
Babatunde Otukoya: How are you feeling about the new political administration?
Owen Saiia: I guess the new political administration seems to be throwing a wrench into how the entire country and the rest of the world functions. Although we knew this was going to happen; personally I think it’s disturbing and worrying, especially being a student.
Babatunde Otukoya: Have any of these recent laws or changes affected you and your everyday life?
Owen Saiia: Fortunately no, It hasn’t affected me personally. But I for sure know it has affected many other people.
Babatunde Otukoya: If you don’t mind me asking who did you vote for in the past election?
Owen Saiia: I voted for Kamala Harris.
Babatunde Otukoya: Do you think that Kamala Harris could’ve instructed a lot of accurate decisions that would help the country move forward?
Owen Saiia: Yeah I think as a whole in terms of affecting every community, Kamala would’ve been a much better choice to impact every group of people in the country rather than a 1% target. So yeah I definitely think she would’ve been a better option for the country as a whole.
Babatunde Otukoya: What do you think is a good way for Democrats to respond to the new laws and executive orders under President Donald Trump’s administration?
Owen Saiia: First of all, they need to kind of work together as a group. Right now it seems to be a little dysfunctional. It seems to be divided, so uniting together under one front to stop whatever it may be. But I think there are plenty of ways, and I think they aren’t highlighting those things.
Babatunde Otukoya: Are you very confident that the Democrats will take more action against the Republicans?
Owen Saiia: Um no I guess I’m not very confident. I think they made a mistake running against Donald Trump and not pushing some of the infrastructure policy that Joe Biden pushed, which I believe is the best thing a president has done recently.
Babatunde Otukoya: What are your thoughts on President Trump cancelling DEI programs?
Owen Saiia: I honestly think it’s silly and it plays right into the culture war that they want to push.
Babatunde Otukoya: With you being a student, what are your thoughts about President Trump cancelling student funding?
Owen Saiia: It’s concerning because education is extremely important obviously, and I think a fair amount of his voters just suffer from a lack of education or information. Which leads them to following certain beliefs. It’s really just playing into his agenda of dismantling education which appeals to misinformed people.
Babatunde Otukoya: Is there anything that you would tell Democrats or anybody in the world who are frustrated or concerned about the changes in President Trump’s administration? What is some advice you would want to tell them?
Owen Saiia: We’re all Americans under one country. I just hope that all Americans, no matter if they are white, black, Democrat or Republican, can come together for the good of the people.