As the results of Pennsylvania and Ohio flashed up on the big screen, the room erupted in cheers and whoops.
This wasn't the Democratic party headquarters on election night, it was the OU Votes watch party at the Oklahoma Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma. About 500 students were expected to attend the watch party at some point. About 150 were there at about 8 p.m.
Although the event was not partisan, it was clear the Democratic party had won the college crowd Tuesday in Norman.
As CNN flashed on the screen that John McCain had won Georgia, a few students cheered but more booed softly.
"I would say that the youth vote has been substantially helpful for Barack Obama," said Klint Neal, public affairs and administration junior and organizer of OU Votes. Neal turned in a research paper this week predicting that Obama would win based on the support of young voters.
He said he's seen first-hand his peers becoming engaged during this election.
"People who are apathetic about the political process are going out to vote," Neal said.
Becky Miller, 20, agreed that young people were excited about this election. She said both presidential campaigns tried to engage young voters through Facebook and YouTube.
"I think you could really see it more in Obama's campaign," Miller said. She predicted young people would continue to engage in future elections if Obama won, because they would feel that they really did make a difference.
Paleontology student Dustin Gibbs campaigned for Barack Obama, Andrew Rice and Jim Roth this election by posting fliers on doors and holding up signs.
"I realized that my vote alone isn't enough, but if I help to encourage other people to vote, in that way I can basically have a greater impact on the election," he said. "It's really helped give me something to do and hope for."
At the OU Votes watch party, he watched the three big screens set up in the ballroom as well as monitoring the election results on his laptop.
When someone took up the microphone and announced that CNN.com had just declared Jim Inhofe the winner in the Senate race, Gibbs didn't give up hope, saying there was still a chance Rice could win.
This was the first campaign in which the 19-year-old could vote or campaign. He took advantage of the opportunity, along with many of his peers.
Caleb Gayle, 18, voted Tuesday. Being the son of Jamaican immigrants, he was the first in his family to vote.
"They were definitely encouraging me forcefully to go out and vote," he said of his family.
A lot of young people became engaged with this election and made a difference in this election, Gayle said.
"If any candidate is able to get a lot of young people to the polls, they'll have a lot of sway," he said.
The Obama campaign did a good job of getting young people to the polls, said Chris Applegate, a 21-year-old geography student wearing an Obama T-shirt and a Rice sticker. Obama supports issues that are important to young people, Applegate said, like helping the Darfur region of Sudan and coming up with solutions to slow climate change.
"I think we'll see by the end of the night that the youth have made an impact," he said. And Applegate said political candidates need to learn a lesson from this election.
"They need to listen to us more," he said. "... If they don't listen, they won't be in office anymore."
Julianna Parker 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com
Local news
OU students: don't ignore the youth vote
- Local news
-
-
Volunteers clean up Bishop Creek
Norman’s Bishop Creek is home to a lot more than frogs, turtles and water skimmers, a group of volunteers say....
-
More travelers to hit the road this Memorial Day
NEW YORK — More Americans will hit the road this holiday weekend than a year ago. And they’ll have a bit more money to spend thanks to lower gas prices....
-
OBA names officers
TULSA — Brad Swickey, president and CEO of Valliance Bank in Oklahoma City, was inducted as chairman of the Oklahoma Bankers Association at the OBA’s 115th Leadership Forum and Annual Convention, held May 14 and 15 at the Renaissance Hotel ...
-
Rig count down by 3 to 1,983
HOUSTON — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is down three this week to 1,983....
-
Cornerstone Metals Recycling opens in Norman
Cornerstone Metals Recycling has officially opened a recycling facility in Norman at 2350 Industrial Blvd. The facility will provide easy access drive-through for recyclers in the Norman area including South Oklahoma City, Moore and Pauls ...
-
Agriculture Department spurring exports
International Market Development Coordinator Barbara Charlet is constantly finding new ways to introduce Oklahoma’s agricultural products to foreign markets. With 18 years of experience in the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and ...
-
Women finding independence through direct or home-based sales
Women who sell Avon, Arbonne, Amway and Tupperware say their companies continue to evolve and change to meet the demands of the market. They also say these direct sales approaches can be a fun way to work, combining socializing — through ...
-
New site aids wheel chair-bound diners
OKLAHOMA CITY — A new website — www.WheelingAroundTown.com., dedicated to reviewing Oklahoma restaurants for “wheelchair friendly” accessibility — just launched to provide better dining experience for disabled community....
-
FamilyWize offers prescription discounts
It’s been a tough year for illness and injury at my house. My wife had the flu, my youngest son had mono and my oldest son broke his ankle. We are fortunate that my wife has pretty good insurance through her work. That helps us cover the ...
-
Windfalls sweeping down the plain
A few months ago, when the lottery numbers skyrocketed to an unprecedented jackpot, I visited the automated machine at Homeland with a friend who showed me how to operate the machine and make my picks. Alas, my numbers were not the ones ...
- More Local news Headlines
-
Volunteers clean up Bishop Creek
