Quinnipiac Political Science Association and the Office of Community Engagement held an election watch party for students from 8-11 p.m. Nov. 5 in the Piazza on the Mount Carmel Campus.
QPSA is a nonpartisan organization that aims to create a space for people across the political spectrum and to promote civil discourse.
The hosting organizations provided attendees with American flags, stickers and food catered by Tonino’s Pizza. They switched between televising C-SPAN and PBS election coverage during the event.
“A lot of people expressed that they wanted to be with their friends in an environment and watch it together,” said Julianna Mazzella, a sophomore political science major and QPSA president. “So we wanted to create that environment for people, and with the help of the office of community engagement, we were able to do that.”
Students had the chance to take blank maps and fill them out as states were called for candidates Vice President Kamala Harris or President-Elect President Donald Trump. They could also fill out their prediction at the beginning of the night with the map.
All eyes were on the seven key swing states — Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
“I voted for Harris and mostly identify with the Democratic Party,” said Zach Borden, a sophomore supply chain management major from Pennsylvania. “(Pennsylvania) is very decisive. In Pennsylvania, it’s extremely split, and my values are more aligned with her values rather than the former president’s.”
Students across the political spectrum attended the event. Nyla Lavoie, a first-year radiologic sciences major from Massachusetts, voted for Trump.
“I think it’s important that when people are voting, to not let anyone persuade you. Do what you think is right in your heart and what you need.”
At the watch party, students also spoke about their fears of the outcome of this election.
“I mean, what happened in the last election on Jan. 6, I’m just hoping that there’s nothing like that this year,” said Jameson Hatsion, a sophomore economics major from Connecticut. “I have a feeling there might be some backlash with whoever wins, but hopefully they have the proper measures in place when the passing of the parties happens in January (2025).”
The watch party allowed students to talk about their voting experience as it was the first time many exercised that right. Out-of-state students were able to vote in the election through mail-in voting.
“I did vote, and I did the mail-in,” said Payton Stein, a first-year marketing major from Colorado. “It was stressful just filling (it) out. But I’m glad I did. I’m glad I took the initial steps to get my vote counted and have my voice heard.”
Options like early voting and mail-in ballots — which became popular during the pandemic — allow more students to vote while they’re in college. There has been a 14% increase of student voters between 2016 and 2022, according to a study conducted by Tufts University.
“We work with the All In Vote, which is a bipartisan organization that tracks voting percentages year over year for colleges and universities and to see and they also grade us as a gold, silver and bronze school based on what we’re doing,” said Tom Ellett, chief experience officer at Quinnipiac. “We work with the student political groups, and really try to focus on voter registration of the plan to vote for students, and then actually the election day support this year.”
In the last presidential election, Quinnipiac received a gold ranking from All In Vote, meaning that 70-79% of Quinnipiac students voted. Previous rankings and Quinnipiac’s action plans for the election can be found on its website.
Ella Drew, Connecticut native and a sophomore political science and public relations double major who is QPSA’s director of engagement and marketing, wanted Quinnipiac to be able to have civil discussions no matter who won the election.
“I hope that people really learn to understand and respect each other’s values,” Drew said. “But also that we, as a group, not even Quinnipiac, but as a whole, learn to engage in respectful and meaningful conversation.”
