By Aleena Mustafa
Trinity Times Correspondent
What used to be a simple walk to class has become a daily source of anxiety for Aniya Peay, a senior studying global affairs and history at Trinity Washington University.
“I hope they don’t say nothing to me,” Peay remembers thinking on her walks down Florida Avenue. “It feels dystopian, like we’re on constant watch.”
The increased federal law enforcement and military presence in the nation’s capital has created stress among some Trinity students – tension that counselors at the university’s Health and Wellness Center say they have noticed growing.
For many college students, returning to school is already stressful. But in the context of an increasingly strained political climate in Washington, the transition has become even harder. On Aug. 11, 2025, President Donald Trump deployed 800 National Guard troops to patrol D.C. streets, intensifying already fraught tensions.
“D.C. doesn’t feel the same anymore,” Peay told Trinity Times. “I see the feds and police on the Metro as I commute to school.”
Peay’s uneasiness reflects a broader sentiment among Trinity students – constant apprehension fueled by Trump’s second administration and the heightened visibility of federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“I wake up with anxiety every day in fear for myself and my family members,” said Natalie Melendez, a psychology major, fiddling with her necklace. “I’m always worried that I could possibly get [arrested] during a traffic stop. ICE agents [can] racially profile people now.”
Her fears are not unfounded. An Associated Press analysis of internal federal law-enforcement reports found that more than 940 immigration-related arrests were made in D.C. during August and September, accounting for more than 40% of the total arrests that followed Trump’s initial “crime crackdown.”
Undocumented immigrants make up a notable portion of Trinity’s student body, and the federal government’s aggressive policing has made it harder for some to focus on their studies.
Much of that fear and anxiety surfaces in conversations at the Student Health and Wellness Center.
“You can’t help but feel the tension,” said Anne Cosimano, a counselor at the center. “It affects everything else because we aren’t in a vacuum. We have family, we have friends, we have jobs. It’s not easy for students to try and figure out how to navigate all of this.”
Focusing on the negativity can be mentally destructive, Cosimano told Trinity Times.
“I’m hoping people find joy and laughter and happiness because there’s still some positives out there,” she said. “There’s still good things in our life. There’s still good connections. How do you hold on to those things despite this other stuff?”
A 2024 study published in the Journal of American College Health found that political events and elections have become major sources of stress for college students nationwide. Many report anxiety, difficulty concentrating on coursework and an overall sense of uncertainty – echoing the experiences of students like Peay and Melendez.
In response to these challenges, Trinity’s Health and Wellness Center has expanded its group sessions and workshops. Counselors collect feedback through student surveys and conversations with faculty to determine which topics are most needed.
“We had a specific workshop after the elections last year,” Cosimano said. “Because so many people were distressed, we had a workshop on how to get support when you’re dealing with things around you that aren’t in your control.”
In recognition of Suicide Prevention Month this September, the center offered a specialized workshop on recognizing signs of mental distress and how to approach fellow students or friends to offer support.
These workshops serve as safe spaces for students to “do breathing exercises, one-on-one screenings, guided imagery, time management practices, even ‘worry time strategies’ where students set aside 15 minutes to worry, then put it away so they can focus,” Cosimano said. “There are resources in the community to help people become more aware of their own mental health challenges.”
As anxiety and stress among Trinity students continue to rise, the Wellness Center remains committed to offering support – and to adding new services and resources as needs evolve.
Peay’s route along Florida Avenue hasn’t changed much, though the number of federal officers has decreased. Still, she says, the sense of fear and uncertainty lingers.
At least now, with the outreach of the Health and Wellness Center and the solidarity of her classmates, Peay said she doesn’t feel like she’s walking the road alone.