Editor’s note: As one of the most contentious American presidential elections in history comes to an end tonight, we asked our staff members to give us their thoughts:

Hannah Xu at 10:17 p.m.

A closing statement on behalf of The Gazette:

Tonight, Donald Trump could very well be declared the next President of the United States.

Regardless of who wins, here is what we keep in mind: we are all one. We are all one people. We are all one nation. We are all one species.

In truth, we have more in common with one another than we think. Our biggest common denominator: we are all concerned about the future of this country.

If there is one thing to take away from this election, it is that politics is not our defining factor. Do not let political viewpoints divide you from those you care about, or even from those you don’t know. Respect everyone, if only for being a person.

Now that the election is over, we must relearn how to be united after a time of such polarization.

Surina Khurana at 10:01 p.m.

Connor, life won’t dramatically change for you and me, I agree. But, if policies and mindsets like banning Muslims from entering our country are accepted, I think life will change for many. Some may laugh and say something like that would never happen because it’s unconstitutional and goes against the founding principles of our nation, but the mindset and perspective still exists. If the president is okay openly discriminating against Muslims, what’s stopping anyone from discriminating against Indians, Hispanics and any other minority group? Having mindsets like that can indeed change daily life for a percentage of the population.

Will Anderson at 9:55 p.m

Trump may very well become the president of the country that allowed him, and many others, to become a successful multi-billionaire. Ironically, he wants to take that opportunity away from certain people, Muslims, Mexicans etc. as if he forgets his ancestors were immigrants themselves.

Carissa Lewis at 9:44 p.m.

I don’t think I got a migraine before this election started, but now it seems like I am getting headaches all the time. And it is not just the extensive duration of the election. It is all the prejudiced remarks, rude interruptions, and sheer defilement of anything that can be called reputable in human nature.

Sabina Mahavni at 9:40 p.m.

I just want to wake up from this nightmare already. I can’t believe it has come this far. I remember when Trump first made those comments on Mexican immigrants, and I thought that was the end of the line for him. Yet, we have reached the point where he could be our next president. Have we lost all sense of decency and morality? This is a man who has repeatedly made sexist, racist and extremely misogynistic comments- not to mention his horrific mocking of a disabled news reporter. How low is too low? I just don’t know anymore.

I constantly find myself blaming Trump supporters, but, in reality, I wish I had done more for Hillary. So many of my close friends made calls on behalf of her campaign, encouraging those in swing states who could vote to support Clinton. I couldn’t have voted, but I can’t help feeling like I could have done more. But it’s not over yet guys… Miracles can happen!

Connor Hinson at 9:39 p.m.

The world has not ended. You will wake up tomorrow unchanged. Regardless of your race, gender, sexuality: your life will be no different. And that might be the most upsetting part of this entire election.

Surina Khurana at 9:30 p.m.

Trump winning the presidency is the “hugest” ego boost, if I were to use Donald’s vocabulary.

Will Anderson at 9:28 p.m.

A Trump win is a better comeback story than the Boston Red Sox defeating the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS. Hillary Clinton being the heavily favored and despised New York Yankees.

Cole Kahmann at 9:26 p.m.

While we can attack Trump and his supporters for what he believes in, if he wins I feel like our democracy is protected. Despite what everyone has told the public, the people want Trump. I’m proud that people thought on their own and didn’t let others’ opinions dictate what the entire country’s majority wanted.

Will Anderson at 9:20 p.m.

Dow Jones now down 800 points according to CNN. Over a 100 point drop in under an hour.

Hannah Xu at 9:19

This past week, I have had the (dis)pleasure of writing an article regarding the Trump Effect, or the supposed increase in bullying among children as a result of Trump’s very public (a little too public) opinion regarding immigrants and women. Through writing this article, I’ve come to many realizations.

The truth is, the increase in bullying isn’t a result in Trump. None of the aggressive, inappropriate, racist, sexist behavior we’ve witnessed these past few months is a result of Trump. If anything, Trump is a result of us.

Trump is a result of our underlying hatred towards the African American community. Trump is a result of our xenophobia and unwillingness to step into the shoes of those moving to America. Trump is the result our inability to see a woman in a position of power.

Maybe Trump is right. We’re losing our country.

It’s not great right now.

But then, maybe it never was.

Anjali Shrivastava at 9:12 p.m.

Today I swore for the first time in front of my mom. And she wasn’t mad. In fact, she chuckled. But that smile was quickly wiped off when we realized what we were laughing about.

Carissa Lewis at 9:10 p.m.

The campaigns have been going on for so long, I have a hard time remembering what life was like before the election period.

Anjali Shrivastava at 9:05 p.m.

I literally just opened up the immigration website to Canada, and it’s crashed. Just thought I would point that out.

Will Anderson at 9:03 p.m.

A Trump win will be an incredibly hard reality for many to accept, especially for all of those who wrote him off months ago.

Carissa Lewis at 8:59 p.m. 

Right now Californians are voting to maintain the death penalty. I know I am in the minority here, but this is almost as frustrating to me as the possibility of Trump becoming president. Capital punishment is often considered justice for those innocents who were slain, but is murdering a murder really the way our society wants to run itself? I don’t see much justice in that. “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”

Surina Khurana at 8:59 p.m.

I’m disappointed. Does this election really reflect who we are as a nation?

Carissa Lewis at 8:56 p.m.

“Going down in history” is generally considered an honor, but this election is not a historical event I want to be a part of.

Will Anderson at 8:55 p.m.

What kind of impact will this election have on future presidents campaigning tactics? Trump’s blatantly straightforward approach is so different from what we usually see.   

Will Anderson at 8:50 p.m.

Evan McMullin has an incredible impact on the outcome of Utah.

Anjali Shrivastava at 8:45 p.m.

Let’s say Trump is elected. And then he’s impeached or assassinated. Then we’re stuck with Pence, an absolutely sick human being who supports conversion therapy. CONVERSION THERAPY. The thing that will be looked upon by future generations as an absolute disgrace to our country, as slavery is now. Please, please, please don’t let this happen, America.

Will Anderson at 8:41 p.m.

In response to Carissa, I think that those voters/votes are rarely “for Trump” but more against Hillary.

Anjali Shrivastava at 8:41 p.m.

People are clearly angry at the establishment. So much so that they’re willing to vote for an openly racist, sexist, xenophobic and generally despised human being. The country does not like career politicians – and what did the DNC do? They handed the nomination to the person who is perhaps the very personification of “establishment.” I’m wondering now how Bernie Sanders would have fared if he was the Democratic nominee.

Katie Cologna at 8:37 p.m.

It’s hard for me to have sympathy on our country right now. We are the ones who vote. We are the ones who put ourselves in this position. This doesn’t mean that I’m not scared for our country right now. I am.

Our country has already become this divided in the past year. It makes me anxious to think of how much our country can be botched in the next four years, when it has already changed so much in the last year.

Whichever candidate wins, I think it’s safe to say that America will not be in good hands.

Carissa Lewis at 8:35 p.m.

A year ago, I thought Trump had a slim chance of winning the primary, but I thought there was no possible way he could win the general election. Maybe living in California has influenced my perception of how people think, but this is insane. Could so many people really be voting for Trump after all his commentary and remarks? I have no idea what to predict anymore.

Connor Hinson at 8:32 p.m.

I’m currently at a loss for words. I’m not angry at this election, nor disappointed with those who voted for Trump, because they did so for what they felt were righteous reasons. I honestly have just lost all hope that we are a country built on morality. Sexism is alive. Racism is alive. Homophobia is alive. Clearly the battles we have won for social progress (a.k.a real equality) are ingenuine. I’m not going to continue to pontificate on our failures as a nation, but I will leave with a very telling quote by Frederick Douglass: “Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.”

Will Anderson at 8:30 p.m.

Note the impact economically. Dow Jones futures down 684 points.

Carissa Lewis at 8:28 p.m.

As despised as both these candidates are, I am more curious to see how the aftermath of the election will play out. The media has placed so much emphasis on the candidates, as expected, but the real concern is what happens in the public. No matter who it is, the president is going to be perceived as corrupt by a significant portion of the population. I don’t need to hear more reasons why he or she is a terrible fit for the presidency. What I care about is how the public’s attitudes and mannerisms will change. After the winner is announced, will people accept the result or become increasingly polarized? Will the social climate adopt a tone of prejudice? Will females be inspired to attain high-ranking positions, or will they be discouraged from ambition out of fear that they will be looked upon with disdain?

Will Anderson at 8:23 p.m.

Everyone thought the sky was falling in 2008. I don’t love Trump, but if he wins I don’t see him making as extreme of a political impact as some might believe. It is the moral side of me that is uneasy with both Trump and Hillary. Maybe our country is not ready to elect a woman, and that saddens me, but that reluctance may result in Trump’s election.

Anjali Shrivastava at 8:22 p.m.

Trump is a moron. He has the vocabulary of a fifth grader, and has made so many blunders that our nation just seems to “forget.” He is held to a ridiculous standard – does anyone remember when he mistakenly called 9/11 “7/11”? Never forget indeed. Can you imagine if Clinton had made such a mistake? We would still be talking about it.

The people who claim to be patriots and support Trump are joking themselves – Trump is completely antithetical to everything America stands for. He has no respect for religious diversity – or any diversity, as a matter of fact – and has made outrageous statements that make me believe he is putting our democracy in jeopardy. He has said that Putin is a strong leader, that Kim Jong Un is a “boss” and Saddam Hussein “killed terrorists good.” You know why these leaders are “strong”? It’s because they’re not afraid to kill people who are in opposition to them.

Trump has promised that he’ll jail Hillary Clinton if elected. That he will be “tougher” on the press. During rallies, he encouraged his supporters to be violent with naysayers and said he would pay their fees if arrested. Imagine what someone like that could do if granted the power of pardoning.

Surina Khurana at 8:17 p.m.

I’m scared. I think everyone counted their chickens before they hatched. About two weeks ago, so many people were saying there was a good chance the House, Senate and President would be in Democratic control. Right now, it looks like it could be the other way, completely.

Hannah Xu at 8:14 p.m.

Who should be winning is the election is no question. Clinton has had 30 years of experience as a politician, has travelled to over a hundred countries and has met with dozens of world leaders. The thing that screwed her over was her emails. But this is what I don’t understand: how can someone look at her emails and say “I hate her.”?

Clinton has done what every other politician has done. Every politician has had something suspicious and/or untrustworthy hidden up their sleeve. The difference is that Clinton did a terrible job of hiding it.

And I understand that people are tired of politicians. I am too. But if we are going to replace Washington insiders with somebody, I want it to be with someone who at least understands politics and American democracy.

To say that that person is Trump is an insult to everything we stand for.

Katie Cologna at 8:07 p.m.

In the last few weeks it has been evident that Hillary Clinton has the best chance of being the next President of the United States, but as this night carries on, it seems like Trump may have a legitimate chance at winning this election. I think the people of this country, including me, have had a good amount of time to come to terms with the fact that Clinton will be our next president, but now that the votes are inching closer and closer, it is throwing me a curve-ball.

It took me a few weeks to accept the idea of Clinton being president, and now I only have a few hours to welcome the concept of Trump as president.  

Will Anderson at 8:04 p.m.

Hillary wins California, who knew?

Will Anderson at 7:38 p.m.

As hesitant as I am to say this Trump has a very legitimate shot at winning as of now. Worth noting that Hillary is still the favorite to take the popular vote as Trump has only a 2 point lead currently and major Democratic areas like California are yet to have finished voting.

Katie Cologna at 7:01 p.m.

This is the first election I have ever been interested in and old enough to fully comprehend.  Unfortunately, I am saddened by what has happened during this campaign season and the divisive impact it has had on this country. The people of our country had 21 candidates to choose from and yet we nominated two of the most despised candidates in American history who have been characterized as a “liar” and “racist.”  Instead of a presidential race, it has been more like a Broadway comedy production between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Up until the last few days, people have used this situation as a laughing stock filled with memes, tweets and Snapchats mocking the election, but now, with the election upon us, many are coming back to reality.

Within the next few hours we will have a new President of the United States and unfortunately either candidate will further divide the people in this country rather than unify the people of America.

Hannah Xu at 6:36 p.m.

When I was in eighth grade, I was called a Communist. I can see the connection – I’m Chinese. The strange thing is is that I had shown no inclination of being an actual Communist. I was called that because my parents grew up in a country that has a Communist government. 

However, I’ve been fortunate enough to have the worst insult thrown at me be “Communist.” Within the last year, Hispanic, African American and Muslim communities have been called much, much worse, and by a presidential candidate no less. Rapists, thugs, terrorists, killers, criminals – the list goes on.

What my classmates seemed to have forgotten back in eighth grade was that my parents actively left their home country to be in one that they knew would serve them better. That’s what so many are forgetting now. Being an immigrant doesn’t make you unpatriotic. Being an immigrant doesn’t make you a thief, trying to steal jobs.

Being an immigrant doesn’t make you any less of a person.

Right now, Trump is winning. To me, this means that xenophobia is winning, that racism is winning. I hope that by the end of the night this changes, because in five, ten years from now, I don’t want my children to be called a Communist. I don’t want the children of millions of other minorities to be labeled as unwanted or un-American. I don’t want a child to know what it feels like to be called a rapist or killer, just because we voted in a prejudiced man that only knows how to blame and hate in 2016.

I want them to know what it feels like to be a part of a country that accepts all.

Will Anderson at 5:36 p.m.

It amazes me that our country has reached this point. Personally, I’ve been left in a state of discouragement and disbelief, and not just because of the two idiots who represented the Republican and Democratic parties. We, as people, have come to a point where you can not have a reasonable discussion about politics without it becoming hostile, and that leaves me to question our nation’s maturity as well as my own. Unfortunately, self-righteousness and pride controlled Trump and Clinton’s debates. And unfortunately, our personal arrogance continues to find ways into our discussions.  

Surina Khurana at 4:45 pm

For the past several months, nearly everyone has been complaining about the presidential candidates. Yet we – the people – are the ones who put Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on the ballot. Of course, everyone agrees the mainstream media had quite a significant role in helping advance Clinton and Trump, covering every tweet and sickness relating to those two candidates. However, the media isn’t the body that votes in the primaries or in the general election. The people vote.

We can complain all we want, but we did this to ourselves, America.

Anjali Shrivastava at 4:18 pm

I don’t remember much of the 2008 election. But I do remember watching Hillary Clinton making a speech, specifically addressing young girls, encouraging us to live out our dreams. My mom likes to tell the story that immediately after hearing that speech, I turned to her and told her “I want to be president when I grow up.”

Obviously you shouldn’t vote for someone based on their gender – I never would have voted for Sarah Palin. But, the idea that young girls tonight will be encouraged in the same way brings me great joy. I have many issues with Hillary Clinton, but the idea of a man like Donald Trump being the person who prevents women from bringing the glass ceiling down is nothing short of ironic.