Institutional distrust among the American government
Feature photo courtesy of Chris Robert on Unsplash.
Riley Belle Kinard, Visual Arts Editor
With the 2024 election right around the corner, we asked students around campus if they trusted the government and the news.
Dylan Gunton, junior Christian studies major, said, “It depends. I trust parts of it, but mainly I don’t. I know I can’t trust them with everything.”
Samantha Meyeres, sophomore digital media major, said, “As a structure yes, but as far as the media and politicians, I don’t trust that.”
Cameron Hollingsworth, sophomore business major said, “No, I don’t trust the government. I feel like everyone in politics and government want to pick out where they went wrong and mistakes, but they don’t want to take matters into their own hands.”
Avery Carter, senior marketing major, said, “I am in the middle; not yes and not no. The media influences my perception of the government and things in the news get more exposure than others. I like the way it was set up to be, not the people in it.”
William Harper, freshman digital media major, said, “I don’t trust the government because there are so many different things the CIA has done that the people don’t know of until years or even decades later. For example, the Havana Syndrome.”
Brenna Miller, junior business management major, said, “No, I don’t trust the government. There are too many secrets and things they don’t tell you about.”
Aubrey Merryman, sophomore accounting major, said, “I do not trust the government because some of the regulations for decision making are skewed and the information about the actions of the government are hidden and unclear.”
Brenden Tigert, senior business management major, said, “No, I don’t trust the government because I do not trust human nature. When given that kind of power, no matter Republican or Democrat, they will become corrupt in some form or fashion.”
Robbie Pucetas, freshman digital media major, said, “I do trust the ideology of the government. But I don’t trust a lot of the secrets that should be public knowledge. I believe that all the news is very fable to make people scared.”
Mary Ramsey, sophomore criminal justice major, said, “I don’t trust the government because there are secrets that they keep from us like Area 51. If there was nothing to hide, they would allow us to see it. I also don’t trust everything that is on the news.”
