SOFU: Impact on College Students

JAMIE DIEDRICH
PHOTOGRAPHER

GRACE MAIN
STAFF WRITER

03/16/2026

On Feb. 24, President Donald Trump delivered the State of the Union Address, an annual event where the president addresses the nation, talking about what the government is doing well, has accomplished in the past year, and goals for the nation in the next year. 

The address lasted one hour and 45 minutes, longer than any other address in U.S. history. In that time, Trump covered healthcare, immigration, Iran, inflation, tariffs and transgender rights, while honoring multiple military members and civilians with medals.  

Trump began the speech with “My fellow Americans, our nation is back. Bigger, better, richer, and stronger than ever before,” and continued with awarding two Medals of Honor, a Purple Heart, a Presidential Medal of Freedom and a Legion of Honor to service members and even the Team U.S. Men’s Hockey Goalie Connor Hellebuyck. 

“[One] takeaway was the amount of honors that President Trump gave, the few he gave to soldiers were particularly emotional,” said Sam Leppien (’26), a Political Science major. 

Within that, there were also many moments of clear political division between the Democrats and the Republicans present. This political polarization is seen across the country, even in Alma.  

“With the harsh political polarization now, I think the address didn’t necessarily try to close that gap. There were some rude comments towards the other party which doesn’t help the divide and if anything it makes it worse… [it] makes both sides not want to work together and encourages citizens to then make jabs at each other,” said Maddie Hicks (’29), a Political Science major and member of Alma’s Model UN team. 

Like in most State of the Union Addresses, the party of the president is likely to stand up and clap during parts of the speech where they agree, and the opposing party to stay sitting in disagreement. Trump acknowledged the Democrats sitting by saying “You should be ashamed of yourself,” marking a divide. 

“It made it easier for the public to see how divided we are and how much resentment there is to the opposing party,” said Ayden Hibdon (’26), a Political Science major. 

For graduating seniors, the State of the Union also brought up some anxieties about entering into the workforce and housing market. 

“Trumps focus on the Economy and the successes it’s had recently mattered a lot to me, however, I wish he touched on the housing crisis more. Housing matters a lot to me as I’m getting ready to graduate and move somewhere for work,” said Leppien. 

“While it [inflation] has very slightly gone down, as a college student currently, it will be much harder for me in the future to buy a house, car, etc. because of how expensive things have gotten. Even if inflation has gone down, the prices haven’t changed much, and will not only affect me, but many others in my generation as well,” said Hicks. 

There were eight House Representatives from Michigan present at the State of the Union as well as a U.S. Senator from Michigan, Elissa Slotkin. Additionally, Dr. Jeffrey Smith, local surgeon in Alma and Board Chairman of the Sierra Leone Footprints Orphanage (which has connections with Alma College through P-Global), was also in attendance at the Address, according to the Detroit Free Press. 

With the midterm elections coming up in November and many Alma students being able to vote, some for the first time, it is important to stay up to date with politics in the U.S. and what is affecting you and your future.