Claire Allison McGuire
Features Editor
On election day, Nov. 4, students, faculty and staff gathered in Allen Commons for the election watch party. This event was planned and hosted by the Voter Engagement Interns and sponsored and promoted by the political science department, Black Women’s Organization, Scot Council and others.
“We’re just really happy to see a broad group of students from all across campus coming in for the event,” said Elora Agsten, Wooster’s learning engagement librarian and one of the co-faculty advisors for the Voter Engagement Interns. “We know this is a really stressful time, so we’re really grateful for the support from students who have come here to partake in the political process.”
Nearly every seat in the Commons was filled as students enjoyed pizza, chicken wings, candy, political commentary and each other’s company.
“In truly uncertain times, it was relieving to watch a defining election happen together,“ Anousha Datta ’27 said.
Over 100 community members attended the event. Ainsley Phillips ’25, a voter engagement intern, expressed satisfaction about this turnout.
“The number of people who turned out for the event was incredible,” intern Ainsley Phillips ’25 said, “Different organizations on campus put in so much time and effort, and to see that many people come together and look for community in that moment was really refreshing. I worked with the other Campus Voter Engagement Interns and our faculty advisors for weeks to make it happen, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.”
The event, which ran from 7 to 10 p.m., saw the attendance of many professors. Matt Krain, professor of political science and global & international studies, spent the night speaking to students and easing their worries.
President Anne McCall also made an appearance with her husband, joking that “[The reason] I’m watching and talking to students is because I’m too nervous to look at the screen.”
For students feeling stressed by the impending results, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion opened The Alley to broadcast the results, but also allow students to play games, take some candy and write positive messages for other students.
As 10 p.m. rolled around, students clapped and made their exit.
Students felt a variety of emotions about the election’s results. Some feel that The College of Wooster community is an open space to find solace.
“Of course not everyone was going to be happy about the results — that is the nature of politics,” Marissa Forster ’27, voter engagement intern, said. “But what is special about events like this is that people come together. There is a community here. In the coming months and years, we can lean on each other for support. The success of the watch party proved that.”