On Campus

With the election results fresh in everyone’s minds, campus cultural centers like the Women and Gender Resource Center are setting up spaces to allow students to de-stress after the election season.  

The WGRC set up an election fatigue safe space on Wednesday night, in which they had coloring sheets, a painting station, food and a movie playing in the hopes to give students time to de-stress from the past few weeks of hectic politics.

“I feel like self care is so important during these times. As students, we’ve been dealing with a lot of political stuff on campus and it can just be a lot to deal with,” said Lilly Arthur, a WGRC student staff member. “Having a space that we can relax and decompress in is super important because I feel like we can run ourselves ragged.”

The WGRC, which works to be a safe space for students at all times of the year, also provides a tranquility room for students to use. This room is a quiet and tucked-away spot available to anyone on weekdays from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

At Wednesday’s event, as a student broke down sobbing in the middle of the room, other students and WGRC staff were quick to console them, asking if they wanted to find a quiet space to process their emotions and if there was anything they needed to feel better.

“It’s a hard time in our country right now and I do feel like spaces like this are so important, it’s important to be in community with people. On such a big campus like this, it’s nice to be in smaller spaces with people who you know care for you,” Arthur said. 

Additionally, students who frequent the WGRC are taking advantage of its focus on election stress. 

“I usually come to hang out here between classes and work and stuff and I like the vibes here, they’re nice,” Tara Mitchell, a UA sophomore, said.“Being surrounded by people with the same mind, who’re all heartbroken by this situation is nice because at least you know that you’re not the only one feeling this.”

The UA has a designated website for students dealing with political stress which you can find at caps.arizona.edu/political-stress. 

Off Campus

On Nov. 4, before the presidential election had been called, The Outlaw Project gathered around a bonfire at their community house on Alturas Street. They ate tater tots, discussed Shirley Temple and watched “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”

“What, am I stuck in a time loop?” ask Rusty Ramirez, 32. “Is this happening again?”

The gathering was held by the Outlaw Project, a nonprofit organization that focuses on building tiny homes to provide rent-free housing for transgender People of Color. The organization posted an open invitation on its Instagram promising food, games and movies to help ease election anxieties. 

Because of fear caused by the election, Director of the Outlaw Project Monica Jones, 39, expressed worry that people would not show up. Three hours later around a dozen people had arrived. 

“When people are feeling depressed or feeling overwhelmed or even angry, we surround them with love and I want to keep that in Tucson,” said Jones.

None of the attendees were actively tracking the vote tally, but they were still worried about the results. Angel Kunzman Soto, 32, expressed gratitude towards Jones for providing a safe space and community in a heated political environment.

“I’m still sad, but I think it’s nice to be around other people and not ruminate alone in my room with my thoughts” Soto said. “For so many people it feels like life or death and it’s not, we’re all going to still be here tomorrow.”

Jones is a self described fighter. Regardless of the outcome, she promised to continue building The Outlaw Project as a safe place for Tucson’s LGBTQ+ and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities. 

“We’ve already dealt with Trump before, he’s no different than any other radical conservative president we had before,” Jones said. 

“You have to have your plan A, plan C, you’re always thinking of the future. I’m a Black trans-woman. Life is not checkers, it’s chess”

Soto and Ramirez intend to keep advocating for human rights long after the election is called. The partners are planning an event to raise money going to eSIMs for the Middle East on Dec. 14. at Saint Charles Tavern located at 1632 S 4th Ave, South Tucson, AZ.