Amidst Rising COVID-19 Threat on Campuses, Wisconsin Students Blast Trump for Failed Coronavirus Response

(WISCONSIN) — President of the Wisconsin College Democrats Cecelia McDermott and Chair of College Democrats of Wisconsin Lutheran College Brady Coulthard called out Donald Trump for the impact his failed coronavirus response has had on their education and job prospects. By failing to listen to science and contain the virus, Trump and the Republicans’ chaotic response has upended life for students, educators, and families across Wisconsin, and has disrupted the job prospects for recent graduates. The Trump administration has proven to be so divisive and toxic that Mike Pence was disinvited from visiting Wisconsin Lutheran College at the urging of students, faculty, and alumni. Trump’s failed administration has left Wisconsin to fend for itself as COVID-19 cases rise on college campuses. The students and alumni spoke to the fact that the country desperately needs to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to get the economy country back on track.

Watch the full event here or read excerpts of what the speakers said below.

Cecelia McDermott: “Everything that is supposed to be normal about the fall semester has changed because the Trump administration has failed in their response to the coronavirus pandemic for months. We look forward to Badger football every year, to seeing our friends again, to student organizations meeting again, but none of that is possible… What worries me more than anything is the uncertainty of where we will be in a few months. Cases are starting to pop up, and unfortunately it will only get worse under Trump’s weak and divisive leadership. The onus should not be on college students to solve this crisis on their own campus, it should be on the president to address the pandemic that is facing, and killing, thousands of americans. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have a clear and effective plan to address the pandemic, and things won’t get back to normal until we have their strong leadership in the White House. Tomorrow, our school should be getting ready for an exciting game at Camp Randall, joining our friends and neighbors in cheering on the Badgers. I want to go to a game again, I want to be able to hang out with my friends again, and I want to attend classes and go to the library like normal again, but none of that can happen until we elect Biden and Harris this November.”

Brady Coulthard: “The Trump administration’s failure to respond to COVID-19 has completely upended the college experience and led to financial uncertainty going into the job market. Trump has failed America’s educational institutions over the last four years, and now, when the country is in crisis and we need leadership most, he has failed to rise to the moment, and instead resorts to sowing hate and division to distract from what he has failed to do. Now, while working hard to get through college, the job market is plummeting and it’s unknown whether myself or my colleagues will be able to hold onto or get jobs after graduating in the next few years… We need strong leadership in the White House. Leadership that has a plan for the pandemic and has a plan to address the deep roots of systemic racism. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the leaders we need so that we can all get back to school and have the opportunity to give back to our communities. Following Joe Biden’s visit to Kenosha yesterday, it is clear that he is ready to listen and has a plan to bring Wisconsin together, unlike Trump and Pence who are focused on dividing, not uniting.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.