Sitting 10 feet from a TV screen in Schine Student Center, two Syracuse University students couldn’t have been more different.

Oneysha Brown, a Democrat from Brooklyn, and Jeffrey Peterson, a Republican from north Virginia, were locked on CNN’s Election Night broadcast, waiting for results to come in. After every projected result, their reactions varied, but they both kept smiles on their faces.

“I’m a Democrat. He’s a Republican. Theoretically we shouldn’t get along,” Brown said. “But you can see here we get along.”

More than 70 SU students came together Tuesday night to watch the 2018 midterm elections. The watch party held by Student Association, New York Public Interest Research Group and Orange After Dark encouraged inclusion.

Nicole Aramboles, a freshman in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, voted for the first time in the 2018 election. Corey Henry | Staff Photographer

When Jalen Nash, a music columnist for The Daily Orange, and Erin Mooney were elected as SA chairs two weeks ago, their first initiative was to improve voter turnout through an election party.

“I’m just trying to create a space where students are informed,” said SA Vice President Kyle Rosenblum. “As college students, we have a huge role.”

Nash and Mooney did not have experience planning a large-scale event, so they leaned on Rosenblum and SA President Ghufran Salih for help, they said. With their help, they organized free food for guests.

As the doors opened at 8 p.m., a line stretched out the door for pizza and drinks. Students sported blue and red glasses, miniature American flags and “I Voted” stickers as they kept their eyes on the screen, waiting for results to come in.

For freshman Nicole Aramboles, it was her first time voting and attending an election party — something she initially didn’t think she would do.

“Politics affects directly,” Aramboles said. “As a minority, a person of color in the LGBT community … It’s affecting other people’s lives drastically.”

Aramboles acknowledged that the crowd, like SU’s campus, was primarily Democratic, but she was excited that other parties showed up.

Dozens of SU students watched election results come in at Schine Student Center on Tuesday. Corey Henry | Staff Photographer

Rachel May, who won New York’s 53rd state Senate district, appeared in Schine before the results of her election were tallied. May, sustainability education coordinator at SU, talked to students while staying away from the TV screen, hoping not to pay attention to results too early, she said. May said she was nervous for her party at first but was encouraged by the turnout at Schine.

The crowd remained quiet until 9 p.m., when Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) was reelected. A group of students hesitated to cheer but ultimately clapped, while one student near the front of the room scoffed.

“This brings people together,” Peterson said. “Parties, nationality, everything. It’s important … so people are going to get excited and show their emotions.”

Republicans maintain the majority of the senate, CNN projects. Here’s the reaction at Schine. pic.twitter.com/BFmFzWv0Dk

— KJ Edelman (@KJEdelman) November 7, 2018

As results rolled in, students yelled when a Democrat won a Senate seat, throwing their hands up and pumping their fists. But as the Republican Party got closer to maintaining 51 seats in the Senate, the students’ attention turned to incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas.

Cruz appeared to be losing early to Democrat Beto O’Rourke. At 10:30 p.m., Cruz clinched the Senate victory for the Republicans. Aramboles groaned at the announcement. One student flipped off the screen in anger. After O’Rourke’s loss, people filed out of the dining center with mixed emotions.

Many students at the party said they voted earlier in the day. SA provided free hourly shuttles for students to get to polling locations.

“If I’m not happy with the way things are, it’s my time to change it,” Brown said. “(Voting) was just me putting what I want into effect. I see that result today.”

The election watch party was designed for SU students to acknowledge their impact on government and recognize other people’s point of views, Nash said. After standing in the back of the room most of the night and observing students interacting, he said he realized SA accomplished its goal.

“As young people, the next generation, we show solidarity,” Nash said. “Even though we may not agree politically, we can all come together, eat pizza and talk about it.”

Published on November 7, 2018 at 12:05 am

Contact KJ: kjedelma@syr.edu | @KJEdelman