Students expressed excitement about the re-election of Democratic President Barack Obama Tuesday evening at a viewing party conducted in the Smith-Adams residence hall.
The Honors College provided pizza and drinks for the viewing party, which began at 6:30 p.m. As many as 50 different students and faculty members filtered in throughout the night, many of whom were Obama supporters. However, when the election tightened and stalled at around 9:45 p.m., the number of viewers dwindled to about 15.
Dr. Suzie Macaluso, instructor in the Department of Sociology, said she considered the viewing party a fun experience.
“I felt like the students really enjoyed being together to watch the results,” Macaluso said.
Macaluso and Dr. Lynette Sharp Penya, instructor in the department of communication, lead a discussion during the election explaining the tally methods of news stations, political bias in the media, and the electoral college system.
Some students expressed favor with the electoral college, saying it keeps the popular majority vote from completely dominating a minority. Others, however, said the electoral college prevents minority opinions from being expressed at all in states with different or strong political tendencies.
David Wall, freshman sociology and history major from Bryan, did not vote this year. He said the format of the electoral college would have crowded out his vote in Texas.
“If I was in a swing-state, I would have voted Obama,” Wall said.
One television in the Smith-Adams lobby was tuned in to MSNBC, while another was stationed to Fox News. At approximately 10:15, MSNBC declared that Obama had acquired over 270 electoral votes, enough to secure the presidency from Republican challenger Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts.
Hao Zhe Kok, sophomore computer science major from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, said it was a very tight election.
“I was surprised for a race this close that there wasn’t any controversy, such as electronic errors and voting fraud,” Kok said.
Several students said the most important issue for them this election was civil rights. Krista Cukrowski, sophomore digital entertainment technology major from New Haven, Conn., voted for Obama, citing women’s health and women’s rights as influencing factors in her decision. Cukrowski said she enjoyed the election viewing party.
“I am really happy,” Cukrowski said. “I think it was a great idea. I hope they do this every election year.”
