Decked out in red, white and blue, Weinberg freshman Jodie Stern is throwing an election party with patriotic decorated cookies.
“(We’ll have) a mixed group of Kerry and Bush supporters,” Stern said. “I plan on being glued to my television set watching Tom Brokaw and Tim Russert … homework is pretty much out of the question.”
Students, as well as student groups, are trying to make watching the 2004 election results a fun social event.
College Democrats and College Republicans, along with several other student groups, are sponsoring an election party on the ground floor Norris University Center starting at 8 p.m.
The event is a way to get everyone involved no matter who they’re rooting for, said Ben Snyder, Weinberg junior and vice president of College Republicans.
“I think politics are frequently divisive on campus and this is an opportunity to watch an election that we all have a stake in,” Snyder said.
The election returns will be projected on a several screens showing various networks. Food and beverages will be provided.
“(Students will) yell at the screens, watch ‘The Daily Show,’ where Democrats yell at Republicans, Republicans yell at Democrats and Greens yell at everyone,” said Andrew Proksel, president of College Democrats.
As part of a tradition since the 1976 presidential election, the political science department has invited students to watch the election results. Political science Prof. Kenneth Janda will comment throughout the evening.
“It’s just another learning experience with a social touch to it,” Janda said. “You learn from simply watching other people’s experience.”
It is a memorable experience to watch the returns come in a big group, Janda said. The event will take place in Scott Hall 212 at 7 p.m.
In addition to watching the returns on campus, students will be working as poll volunteers throughout Evanston precincts.
Associated Student Government officers plan to have about a half a dozen volunteer poll watchers at the three on-campus voting locations. The volunteers will answer students’ questions and encourage voters to stay, said Weinberg sophomore Veronica Tong and vice chairwoman of external relations committee for ASG.
“(We want to) make sure people stay in the lines and not leave if the lines get too long,” Tong said.
The student volunteers have been working throughout the quarter to register voters and say now it’s the crunch time, said Matt Yalowitz, a Weinberg sophomore who will be volunteering at the polls tomorrow.
“I’ve been registering voters all fall,” Yalowitz said. “I feel its my civic responsibility to make sure NU has a high voter turnout rate.”
Yalowitz said he wants to prove that NU students are not apathetic.
This is the first year ASG will try to call people who haven’t voted, Tong said. ASG has a list of students who are registered in Illinois and plans to cross out names as students show up to the polls.
“We really want the people who registered to get out and vote,” Tong said.
The event at Norris is co-sponsored by College Democrats, College Republicans, Residence Hall Association, Residential College Board, For Members Only, Hillel Cultural Life, Rainbow Alliance, Women’s Coalition, Northwestern Community Development Corps and WNUR-FM (89.3).
“I just hope the election is decided tomorrow and if not, it will be a long night at Norris,” Proksel said.
For information about poll locations and registration, go to http://www.asg.northwestern.edu/news/2004.10.30.vote/.
Reach Ashima Singal at [email protected].
Groups hold return-viewing parties across campus, ASG tries to make sure students vote
On election day:
If you registered by mail, bring a photo ID (Illinois state driver’s license or WildCARD) and proof of address — such as a utility bill — to the polls. If you registered in person, bring your receipt.
You can cast a provisional ballot if your registration is in question.
NU’s designated polling places on campus are Patten Gym, Norris University Center and Parks Hall.
For more information, visit the Cook County Clerk’s election Web site at www.voterinfonet.com.
