As the sun set behind Howard University’s Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall Wednesday evening, Vice President Kamala Harris appeared — nearly 16 hours after her scheduled appearance — to confirm the worst fears of most in attendance.

“While I recognize this election, I don’t recognize the fight that fueled this campaign,” she said. “Now is not the time to give up. It’s time to roll up our sleeves. »

After planting his flag at the historically black university during last night’s election watch party— the first campaign ever held on a college campus — Harris did not mention Howard in her speech. She did, however, spontaneously launch into a spirited chant of Howard, calling out “HU” to a crowd who eagerly responded, “You know!”

In a sharp contrast to Tuesday night’s line dancing, the many Howard students and alumni who returned to campus gathered apprehensively, speaking in hushed tones about the country’s future. There weren’t many tears or expressions of outrage on the construction site Wednesday, but there were plenty of hugs.

“Everyone is taking baby steps,” said one former student, who declined to give his name. “We are here. We are alive today. For now, that’s what matters.

Harris struck a gracious but determined tone in her speech, committing to a peaceful transfer of power and offering words of comfort to the HBCU community in attendance and her supporters watching across the country.

“I know a lot of people feel like we’re entering a dark time,” she said. “Please know that everything will be okay.”

Jamela, a Howard graduate student who asked to be identified only by her first name, was at the watch party Tuesday night. She was surprised and disappointed by the election results; she felt like history was repeating itself against all odds.

Yet she returned to campus Wednesday afternoon to show her support for the vice president and her Howard community — and receive it in turn.

“It means a lot to be together right now,” she said. “Howard is the Mecca – he produces so many incredible leaders who… She won’t be the last Bison to blaze this trail.”

Jamela, a doctoral student at Howard’s School of Education, said she fears for teachers and for education in America in general. under a Trump presidency. She is particularly worried that he will try to abolish the Ministry of Education and take a hammer against what she sees as incremental but significant progress toward equity in access to education.

“This election and what follows is extremely important for teachers, for students, schools, colleges and universities,” she said. “I’m ready to fight…but I’m very concerned about what this means for our future.”