University students gathered in the Student Union Live Oak Lounge Tuesday to watch Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump pass the the threshold of 270 required electoral college votes to be elected the United States’ 45th president on Nov. 8.
Student Government, in conjunction with the Manship School of Mass Communication Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs, co-sponsored the election night viewing party.
Throughout round-the-clock CNN election coverage and hourly election calling by mass communication professor Joshua Darr, speakers at the event included Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College Dean Jonathan Earle, The Advocate’s Lanny Keller, mass communication professor Robert Mann and LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center professor Chris Tyson.
The Society of Politics, Communication and Law, as well as LSU Votes, the LSU Honors College, and the department of political science also put on the event.
Students who were sure of Clinton’s advantage two weeks ago were surprised to see how close the race had been throughout the night.
“I voted Hillary…because I think that Donald Trump is a f**king moron,” computer science freshman Caroline Birch said. “While I may not agree with everything that Hillary has to say, a third-party vote would be throwing my vote away.”
Birch said that within this election cycle especially, the country has become increasingly polarized with violent and aggressive rhetoric from both sides.
Mechanical engineering freshman Elisabeth Andries said she voted for Trump because she supports the pro-life movement.
“I was leaning more toward voting for [Hillary Clinton] because I’m a huge feminist, but the fact is that she lied about government secrets,” Andriessaid. “The fact that she got away with it like it was no big deal or problem —that extremely upset me. Loyalty is such a big thing.”
Andries said she expected Clinton to win but does not see much change in the country’s future due to the limited power the president has. She also said she was shocked at how close the race was.
Psychology freshman Justin Virella said while he thought the results would be close, he expected Clinton to come out on top.
“She [Clinton] has the potential to be a great president,” Virella said. “But Donald Trump, I have no hope for. I feel as if his platform is inherently nativist. From history we learned that platform isn’t really good for any nation.”
Animal science freshman Kristy Trahan said she voted for Trump because of his business experience, an attribute she said is most needed for the country right now.
“It really affects our relationship with our allies,” she said.