President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 21 has already come with sweeping changes that affect people from all walks of life, especially students. 

While the executive orders and press releases issued by the Trump administration address a wide range of topics and policies, some have been more impactful to students than others.

“I feel like as a person of color, and a part of the queer community, it’s been really nerve-wracking,” said Rachel Lieu, a third-year interior design major at Oregon State University.

The day before his inauguration, Trump’s administration issued an executive order emphasizing biology as the basis of gender identification. This order has been seen by some groups as a direct contradiction to transgender identities. 

“A lot of my friends (who) are also minorities or are part of the LGBTQ+ community were pretty distraught,” Lieu said. “We’re just trying to look out for each other.”

On Jan. 29, the Trump administration issued executive orders that halted funding for certain federally-financed research.

Hazel Barret, a third-year biohealth sciences major at OSU, said the federal funding freeze order was frustrating.

“Overall, I’m frustrated and a little nervous for the future, but I’m hoping that the states push back,” Barret said.

As a federally-funded research university, laboratories and projects at OSU receive large chunks of money to do their work. Last year, OSU received $21 million from the National Institute of Health for research purposes. Without this, they must use private grants and fellowships, which can be few and far between. 

Federal grants not only fund research, but also programs for lower-income students to access higher education, such as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program or the Pell Grant. 

“(Trump is) trying to enact a lot of policies that are really bad for people with lower incomes,” said Calvin Joye, a first-year mechanical engineering major at OSU. 

Some students shared feeling disappointed about the results of the 2024 presidential election. 

“I was really heartbroken after the election in November and I feel like I just kinda lost faith,” said Alexandra Vannocken-Witmer, a second-year English major. 

Vannocken-Witmer expressed disappointment regarding the hand gesture made by Elon Musk during Trump’s inauguration, which many on social media interpreted as a Nazi salute.

Vannocken-Witmer added that she feels the country is going backwards.

“It’s honestly a scary situation, especially for women or minorities in this country,” Vannackon-Whitmer said.“It really feels like it’s not even 2025, it feels like we’ve been taken back several decades.”

“I honestly don’t imagine much will change, at least I hope not much will change because if there is change it’s gonna be for the worse,” said Jett Krieger, a fourth-year student majoring in human development and family sciences. 

In addition to the federal funds being put on freeze, Krieger expressed frustration with the increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

On Jan 20, Trump released an executive order that enforces immigration laws in order to “protect the American people against invasion.” 

“(This country is) built on immigrants, and there’s been no negative to having illegal immigrants here in the U.S., as far as I know,” Krieger said. “They’ve been hardworking, they’ve been contributing massively to the economy and it’s purely for racial reasons that they’re discriminated against.”

Carson Graham, a second-year biochemistry major said there is a general sense of dread after the presidential inauguration. 

“I feel so worried,” Graham said. 

Micah Carvalho-Mayers, a third-year marine studies major, spoke of the consequences that Trump’s policies could have on the environment. 

“Being an environmental science major and having that be a big part of my life, and knowing that Trump’s not necessarily the greatest supporter of … all the mitigations we’ve tried to put into (place) these last four years,” Carvalho-Mayers said.

“It’s a bit scary seeing our government sort of backsliding in terms of a slope towards a fascist government structure,” said Jack Lien, an industrial engineering graduate student. 

 “Apart from that, it’s still important to take every day as it is,” Lien said.