In a stunning victory, Republican nominee and business magnate Donald J. Trump defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Nov. 8, making Trump the 45th President-elect of the United States.

Trump cemented his victory at approximately 2:45 a.m. eastern time when the state of Pennsylvania voted red, pushing the billionaire real-estate tycoon over the threshold of 270 electoral votes, ending the most controversial and consequential election the United States has seen in a generation.

“Ours was not a campaign, but rather an incredible and great movement,” Trump said in his speech to supporters following the announcement. “It’s a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds and beliefs, who want and expect our government to serve the people, and serve the people it will.”

After a campaign mired in controversy from the start, Trump’s defeat on Election Day seemed inevitable, as all polls in battleground states hinted at a possible Clinton landslide. Trump sent shockwaves through the nation as he claimed every toss-up state both candidates had been competing for, except for Nevada, which voted in Clinton’s favor. Trump’s victory came in margins as high as nearly 9 percent in the key state of Ohio, whose voting results have predicted the outcome of every Presidential election since 1976.

The deciding factor for Trump was states in the “Rust Belt,” which he put in play during the final days of his campaign, with strategies such as hosting events in Wisconsin, which has voted Democratic since 1988, and closing out his bid for the Presidency with a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan at 11 p.m. the night before Election Day. These states comprised Clinton’s “blue wall” of states that seemed impenetrable by Trump when the voting booths opened.

“Trump sent a message to disaffected people that were concerned about their jobs,” said Skyline history professor James Wong. “He resonated with angry people who felt lost in the process and are afraid of changing.”

Wong credited Trump’s win not only to his own message, but the former Secretary of State’s lax approach to reaching voters.

“[Clinton] relaxed too much on blue collar workers and minorities,” Wong said. “And they failed to show up to the polls in favor of her.”

This election has had a palpable impact on the Skyline College campus, with teachers holding discussion groups during normally scheduled classes in order to discuss the upcoming four years, and has even caused some students to miss school all together.

“There are two students that missed a midterm today because of the psychological impact of the election,” said Skyline sociology professor Rika Fabian. “They are Mexican immigrants with families that recently became naturalized citizens in this country.”

Fabian, who just became a naturalized citizen six months ago herself, chose to be an American because of the United States’ history of striving for an inclusive society; and felt betrayed by the results of the election in favor of Trump’s controversial dialogue.

“How can we keep faith in the fact that half of the country can accept that kind of guy who disrespects women, disrespects minorities and immigrants?” said Fabian. “I cannot respect that kind of culture, even though I do respect democracy and the bureaucratic system.”

Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on January 20, 2017, ushering in a new age of American politics unlike anything seen before. The now lame-duck President Obama promised to aid in the peaceful transition of power that has been a staple of American democracy since its founding.

“I have instructed my team to work as hard as we can to make sure this is a successful transition for the President-elect,” said President Obama. “Because we are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country.”