While some AU students spent Tuesday evening with campus political groups in the McDowell Formal Lounge or the Ward Building, others spent election night watching television coverage with friends or staying glued to the Internet, while still others avoided the news with homework.
Sophomore Sara Farizan, who said she is an Independent who voted for John F. Kerry, roamed the sixth floor of McDowell Hall when election returns started coming in around 7:30 p.m. Farizan said she hoped to watch more coverage as the night progressed, but was unsure as to what channel to turn to.
"You never know who to trust," Farizan said. "If you're watching Fox News, Bush is winning, and if you're watching MTV, Kerry is winning. ... It will probably take quite awhile to determine the results."
Chelsea Oudin, a junior, had an interesting viewing situation, living in one of McDowell Hall's six-person suites.
"Our suite is divided, three for Bush and three for Kerry," Oudin said. "Not to mention, there are one Bush and one Kerry supporter in each separate room."
One of Oudin's suitemates, junior Liz Buser, commented on watching the returns.
"I have been watching coverage," Buser said. "It's really nerve-wracking."
Freshman Sara Woods commented on the results after returning from a long day of working at the polls. As she made herself a macaroni dinner around 8 p.m., she said she was pleased with what she heard so far.
"The amount of people that turned out to vote was awesome," Woods said. "It showed that the American people really care."
Freshman Kerry Cassidy stayed away from the loud television in lounges. Her room was quiet except for her rapid typing at her computer.
"I've been following the election returns on the Internet," Cassidy said. "I'm a little discouraged right now because I'm a Democrat and Bush seems to be winning a lot of states, but there's still hope."
Cassidy said she planned to spend the rest of the evening at the College Democrat party in the Ward Building and then watch the rest of the election coverage in a friend's room until the early hours of the morning.
Sean Johnson, junior, supports Kerry and planned to attend the College Democrats party, while his friend, sophomore Bill Young, supports Bush.
"I don't think we'll know who won for certain tonight," Young said. "I am certain George W. Bush will have a victory."
Some students spent Tuesday evening periodically calling home to gain encouragement or commiserate with family. Sophomore Katie Diesinger's father told her that Kerry was following the same election return path as John F. Kennedy did in the 1960s, taking the Northeast and West Coast states.
"I just got back from home," Diesinger said. "My absentee ballot was held from me and it took me over an hour to vote. ... The lines were like Disney World."
John Calabrese, junior, watched election coverage from 1 p.m. onward. "I left my room for meals and church services, and am very excited about the results so far," Calabrese said. "I am such a big Democrat I am wearing a bumper sticker on my back."
Other students, such as Kyle Bastanchury, senior, finished homework early in order to watch election results. "I haven't watched too much coverage yet since I just finished all of my work," Bastanchury said as of 8 p.m. "I am a Kerry supporter, but I don't classify myself as part of the Democratic Party."
Bastanchury hoped to go off campus to watch returns, but said that the on-campus options looked promising as well.
Overall, students spent the evening frantically finishing homework and keeping their eyes glued to the television and Internet, anxiously waiting to see who would lead their nation over the next four years.
