Student Reaction: Apathy, Gloating

Tuesday, for the first time in 40 years, the Republicans took over control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

And most Harvard students don't really seem to care that much. In interviews yesterday, several asked, "There was an election?"

Undergraduates said they hadn't really paid attention to most races. Most simply laughed and shurgged in response to questions.

"We have a high government official named New?" Rachel M. Kadel '98 said. "I'm incensed!"

But for campus partisans, the reaction was a bit different. On a campus some say is dominated by liberals Republicans finally got an excuse to gloat.

"It's a sign Clinton's on the way out in '96," said James M. Dickerson '98, "I feel confident the new batch of Republicans can do what they should. Put me down as 'R-dash-Kentucky.'"

And Harvard Republican Club President Bradford P. Campbell '95 said the club is offering "free membership to any student Democrat who would care to join us in light of the election results."

"A number have seen the error of their ways," he said.

The outcome of the Massachusetts Senate race, in which Republican W. Mitt Romney was handily defeated, meant "losing the battle but winning the war," Campbell said. "Even though Senator [Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56] won, it's for nothing. This will end all of Clinton's plans for continued socialization of the country."

Accordingly, Democrats were forlorn.

"The Democrats got whipped in Tennessee," said Brad H. Cohen'98. "My governor, both my senators and my congressman all lost. After 16 years, my senator [Jim Sasser] got booted out by a prick from Nashville."

Harvard-Radcliffe College Democrats President Maggie L. Carter '96 tried to temper her party's losses with some gracious bipartisanship.

"The long-term effects depend on how the next two years go," she said. If Republicans put aside partisan beliefs, and don't "try to tear up Clinton," it could be "bad for the Democratic party in the long term, [because it would] show Republicans can handle the majority. But it would have a good impact on the country."

But she was not optimistic. She said she expects "two years of gridlock."

Many students agreed yesterday that the only winner Tuesday was political stagnation.

"I think it's awful," said John H. Grenzke '98. "It'll lead to far more gridlock with Clinton. The Republicans just aren't used to having power in the House."

Several students said the elections were a sign the Clinton presidency is in trouble.

"It's pathetic--the same thing Bush and Congress had before," said Evan S. Ong '95. "Clinton's name might as well be Bush by now.

"The long-term effects depend on how the next two years go," she said. If Republicans put aside partisan beliefs, and don't "try to tear up Clinton," it could be "bad for the Democratic party in the long term, [because it would] show Republicans can handle the majority. But it would have a good impact on the country."

But she was not optimistic. She said she expects "two years of gridlock."

Many students agreed yesterday that the only winner Tuesday was political stagnation.

"I think it's awful," said John H. Grenzke '98. "It'll lead to far more gridlock with Clinton. The Republicans just aren't used to having power in the House."

Several students said the elections were a sign the Clinton presidency is in trouble.

"It's pathetic--the same thing Bush and Congress had before," said Evan S. Ong '95. "Clinton's name might as well be Bush by now.