Hey! Long time no see! This is Tetsuya here! In this post, I hope to give you a glimpse into the election night at Amherst College!
At the beginning of November, as election night drew closer, anticipation and nerves filled the air at Amherst College. Continuing its tradition, the Keefe Campus Center hosted its renowned Election Night Watch Party. This event was made possible through the collaboration of 11 student organizations and administrative offices, including the Amherst Political Union, the Center for Community Engagement, Student Engagement and Leadership, and several others.
Throughout the night, each room in the Keefe Campus Center broadcasted a different media outlet, including CNN, PBS, NBC, C-SPAN, FOX, and MSNBC. This setup allowed me to move between rooms, gaining exposure to a variety of perspectives and insights from diverse sources.
Throughout the night, each room in the Keefe Campus Center broadcasted a different media outlet, including CNN, PBS, NBC, C-SPAN, FOX, and MSNBC. This setup allowed me to move between rooms, gaining exposure to a variety of perspectives and insights from diverse sources.
For those seeking a moment of relaxation, many turned to the Religious and Spiritual Life Center for pastoral guidance, while others enjoyed participating in community art programs.
In the José Martí Room, the student organization La Causa hosted a watch party featuring a Spanish-language broadcast from Telemundo or Univision. Attendees closely followed the U.S. presidential election, while also paying particular attention to the general election taking place in Puerto Rico.
In addition to the excitement of the election watch party, Amherst Dining Services satisfied students’ hunger with delicious snacks like cookies, chips, and a variety of drinks! As the evening progressed, more and more students poured into the Keefe Campus Center to socialize, enjoy the food, and follow the political developments. At times, the food line grew so long that it extended beyond the building’s entrance, adding to the lively and bustling atmosphere.
Post-election night, Amherst provided a range of support systems for those in need. These included counseling sessions, panel discussions hosted by the Political Science Department featuring faculty experts, discussions organized by the Amherst Political Union, and guest speaker events to help unpack and analyze the outcomes of the election.
While some celebrated and others felt disheartened by the election outcome, I found the event itself to be a remarkable experience. It provided the Amherst community with an opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions about pressing issues while also fostering connections among its members.
