With federal programs for early childhood nutrition, furloughed government workers, a near total cessation of NASA’s work and a total estimated cost of $24 billion, the government shutdown has been a national embarrassment for many.
The real effects on a day-to-day level of the average American have varied. Some were lucky, and others not so much. The lives of Keene State College students have also been impacted to varying degrees.
Sophomore Remy Johnston barely felt it at all. “It didn’t affect me in any noticeable way besides always hearing about it on the news,” he said. But other students were not so lucky. Freshman Jessica Sullivan felt the effects in the classroom.
“In one of my classes, I’m doing a research paper and we couldn’t go on a government website which was frustrating,” Sullivan said.
Sophomore Paige Conroy agreed.
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“As students, we’ve lost access to educational tools—I’m planning on being a teacher and it makes you wonder about the future of our country and how these things could affect kids,” Conroy said.
Beyond the classroom the furlough of government workers has also hit students.
“I feel it’s really stupid because my dad works for the government. You [congressmen] get paid to do your job and the fact that you’re going to be like, ‘no I’m not going do my job’ and now other people can’t do their jobs because you’re being lazy and stubborn?” freshman Connor Havron questioned aloud.
Senior Stephen Day also expressed frustration. “I want to work for the National Park Service, so I hate whoever is shutting down what I want to do,” he said.
For a student planning on attending a school sponsored trip to Chile, Day faced some difficulty.
The shutdown also hindered Day’s passport renewal process. “I couldn’t get it renewed the entire time.”
Students were affected in terms of their political views as well. “I blame the stupid Republicans in Congress. How could they do that?” Day questioned.
Freshman Matthew Shamon said, “I was a little annoyed. It’s kind of shocking that Congress and the President let it get to that point, they both didn’t really hold up their parts. It was a total let down.”
This sense was echoed by Conroy. “It’s going to make me think twice the next time I vote,” she said.
The shutdown only reaffirmed Havron’s political beliefs. “I was a democrat before. I just feel it’s really stupid. The fact that it [the government] shut down and there’s no funding for veteran benefits and veterans allowed them to be senators, and the fact that they’re sitting on their ass even after benefiting from the sacrifice of veterans is ridiculous,” he said.
It has yet to be seen how the shutdown will impact upcoming congressional elections, but the ramifications could be long standing.
The Republican Party has seen an intense drop in popularity from the shutdown but some students think its politics in general.
“It’s these middle school tactics that have become part of the politics of today,” Day said.
Graham Rissell can be contacted at Graham.Rissell@gmail.com