__Flat Hat Staff Writer Kevin Liptak also authored this article.__
After nearly two years of campaigning and a massive voter registration effort, many students at the College of William and Mary are excited — and relieved — at the historic conclusion to the 2008 presidential race.
“I think this election was different, not only for William and Mary students but for our whole country,” Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler ’88 Ph.D ’06 said. “Our students recognized the importance of their vote and it was really exciting to see all the get-out-the-vote efforts. Civic engagement is one of our hallmarks, and I was really proud that students took that seriously.”
For those who dedicated time and energy to both Democratic and Republican voting efforts, Tuesday night was a moment to reflect on an election that spanned nearly two years.
“All of our energy has been focused on this, and it’s really exciting because we actually had an impact,” Young Democrats President Liz Pedraja ’09 said. “Virginia went blue, and [Williamsburg] went blue, and that was probably because of us.”
Even with Republican candidate John McCain’s loss, College Republicans President Scott Morris ’10 sees hope for the future of the Grand Old Party.
“The College Republicans, while deeply disappointed in the outcome of this election, wholeheartedly believe that our great nation is still center-right in ideology,” Morris said in an e-mail. “We hope that the strong Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress, as well as President-Elect Obama, remember that in policy discussion and implementation.”
At the Stryker precinct polling station Tuesday morning, the line stretching around the block consisted largely of students from the College waiting to vote — many who registered in Williamsburg through drives sponsored by the Student Assembly.
“There are a lot of students voting,” SA Sen. Matt Beato ’09 said. “I’ve seen more students than community members here. I never expected to see this many students.”
For many in line, Tuesday was their first chance to vote in a presidential election, a fact that was not lost on those casting their first ballots.
“It’s kind of exciting to know that we can finally contribute,” Elizabeth Mabeus ’09 said. “It’ll feel good because I’ll know that I helped make it happen, and I was part of the democratic process.”
Most students voting on Tuesday said they were eager for the election — and the ensuing barrage of divisive advertising — to be over.
“It’s been getting kind of old,” David Loss ’11 said. “Maybe it’s because I knew who I was going to vote for pretty early, but it’s just a waste of my time. It’s been making me kind of angry and annoyed, so I’m glad that it’s over.”
Blake Jones ’12, who said he voted for McCain, also expressed some relief at the close of a long campaign.
“Even if McCain doesn’t win, it’s still going to be nice to have it over with,” he said after voting.
When the polls closed in Williamsburg, many students gathered with friends at parties or in their own rooms, waiting to hear the outcome of the election.
In the Sadler Center’s Lodge 1, students watched Brian Williams of NBC News report results throughout the night on a large television screen.
At 11 p.m. — when West Coast polls closed and television networks called the election for Obama — the reaction from students of both parties was immediate.
“I know that I, along with the thousands of other volunteers all over the state, really wanted [Obama] to carry the commonwealth,” Jared Calfee ’10 said. “I remember after his 2004 [Democratic National Convention] keynote address [I told] my high school friends he would be the next president.”
Meanwhile, Republicans at the UCAB event pondered 2012, when they will have the chance to unseat Obama and increase their diminished seats in Congress.
“I am very disappointed, but it’s okay,” McCain supporter Alex Kashurba ’11 said. “I really think McCain would have made a great president, and I’m not sure about Obama. Hopefully Obama will be as great as everybody thinks he will.”