David Floyd — Executive Editor

Donald Trump is a braggadocious bastard who epitomizes toxic masculinity, rape culture and dangerously fervent nationalism, and Hillary Clinton is obsessed with preserving her legacy. I know that it’s tempting to support a third party candidate, but it is systemically unlikely that a third party candidate will win an election. Clinton is a politician, but she knows what she’s doing. She has specific policy goals. Trump, however, is intentionally vague and would be woefully unprepared for the demands of the presidency. Let’s give Clinton a shot.

Jordan Hensley — News Editor

Last week I had the privilege of voting for Hillary Clinton for president. Although I voted for Bernie Sanders in the primaries, and Hillary has her faults, I believe she is the best choice for president. She is a candidate that supports women’s health, a woman’s right to choose, LGBTQ rights, common sense gun laws and religious freedom. Hillary understands foreign policy and how to communicate and work with other world leaders. I’m With Her because she’s qualified and will take the job seriously, unlike her Republican opponent. 

Justin Grayson — Arts and Entertainment Editor

Knowing that one of our two leading candidates in this election will soon become the next President of the United States is a scary concept. Donald Trump is a madman and bigot who rarely thinks before he speaks, and Hillary Clinton has proven herself to be untrustworthy. I am highly considering voting third party. Third party candidates, of course, have no chance of winning, but Tennessee is not a swing state and will go to Trump no matter who I vote for. At least by siding with a third party, I will have raised a small protest against both unsatisfactory candidates.

Lindsey King — Opinion Editor

I refuse to vote for any candidate that represents the two-party system. The way voting and elections work in this country is fundamentally broken, but the system works for both Republicans and Democrats so no change will occur with either of them in power. We should eliminate First-Past-the-Post voting, work to correct gerrymandering and allow more parties to participate in presidential debates. With these things in mind, I’m voting for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. He will not win, but my vote represents the hope I have for the future and my rejection of the current system.

Heath Owens — Features Editor

On Saturday, Nov. 5, I drove over an hour to absentee vote in my home state of Virginia. Instead of writing indefinitely about why Clinton’s opponent can not be the United States’ 45th president, I will write briefly on why ‘I’m With Her.’ Beyond our own borders we must consider globalized society and its fragile state. Clinton understands foreign policy and has longstanding relationships with leaders who will foster world order. More importantly, I believe in America’s founding vision — with liberty and justice for all. While the creed was void in 1776, we have come too close to the fruition of that vision to turn back now.