Kachelle Pratcher
Blue & White Flash / Staff Writer
With an air of anticipation and mixed emotions, Jackson State University students gathered in the Student Center on Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. to watch election results on monitors throughout the food court and awaited the announcement of who would be their president for the next four years.
Sponsored by the Student Government Association and Jackson State’s NAACP Chapter, every floor of the student center was filled with anxious students gathered around every television. Faculty, staff and alumni also came to show support while waiting on election results.
“I am really excited that students voted today and came out tonight, it shows that even though Mississippi is a red state our school is not,” said SGA president Brian Wilks, senior political science major from Jackson, Miss.
JSU NAACP chapter president Jason Hardiman, a senior biology pre-vet major from Jackson, Miss., said: “We sponsored this event in an effort to keep our community well aware of the presidential elections as one.”
The student center was filled with music, laughter and dancing while food was served. Students engaged in political conversations could be heard at most tables, while other students did homework and tweeted the entire night.
“I really enjoyed the watch party. I had so much fun and all I can say is it’s ‘Obama or Nothing’,” stated Romero Fitch, a sophomore computer science major from Chicago, Ill.
The room was filled with a lot of emotions from the student body while watching CNN election coverage.
“I (felt) scared and excited about this election,” said Paige Wiggins, a junior criminal justice major.
Kristi Williams was also nervous about the impending results.
“I (was) on pins and needles waiting for the election results, it’s nerve wracking,” said Williams.
“I am glad that all college students are getting together and standing up for what they believe in,” said Kathy Spencer, a junior political science major from Houston, Texas, “no matter the results.”
Sophomore student Johnathan Luckett, also known as DJ King Kong, played hit music to keep the audience hyped while waiting on results to update. Chanting over the mic ‘Turn Up’ got the crowd more engaged and had everyone dancing around the student center having a great time.
“This election is really important for everybody and it’s an honor to see that my peers are interested in what happens with our country and politics,” said Y’Tasha Smoots, a junior biology pre-physical therapy major from Canton, Miss. “ I really love the involvement.”
The watch party was originally scheduled from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., but the JSU student body was not leaving until they heard who was elected President of the United States. Each time the electoral votes were updated, more music, cheers and screams filled the student center. It wasn’t until voting results from the swing state of Ohio were announced after 10 p.m. that the moment arrived where the television screen revealed that President Obama was re-elected with 274 electoral votes to Governor Mitt Romney’s 203. That number increased throughout the night in President Obama’s favor.
Justin Smith, a biology pre-med major from Jackson, Miss., said: “I feel like JSU is doing a great job by hosting a watch party for the Presidential election because it’s getting more students involved and it shows them the importance of their vote. With more students knowing the importance of their vote, the society will be filled with more people who understand what politics are,” said Smith.
Students then moved the celebration outside to the Gibbs-Green Pedestrian Walkway to chant, take pictures, and sing “2 terms” to express their happiness. The student center and plaza was packed with students until around 11 p.m.
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