UTEP hosts election watch party

UTEP students were on the edge of their seats as they spent election night anxiously awaiting final results.

Hosted by the Political Science Department and the offices of Residence and Student Life, experts were on hand to offer perspective on the election and different issues at stake.

In a small room on the UTEP campus, students crowded in to watch the election unfold. With so much at stake they say it was important they be as involved as they could.

“All my friends, everyone was talking about it on social media. Everyone was tweeting about it. It was the talk for many months and it was a really big deal for a lot of millenials I feel like we all got involved because that’s all circle of friends could talk about,” UTEP student Sheryl Rodriguez said.

Students filed into Boquillas Hall Tuesday evening energized and ready to watch the election unfold, but it was no surprise to UTEP Political Science professors who helped organize the watch party.

“I think students have been really energized. Just on campus alone, we were able to register over 8,000 new voters. That’s huge in this community. And I think the turnout rate and early voting is also very high so we can tell that the students are very excited and motivated to get involved in this democracy,” UTEP Political Science Professor Irasema Coronado said.

The atmosphere and conversations at the watch party were civil as students from both sides were open to conversation on those exact issues, but quickly, tensions grew and the entire night turned into a rollercoaster of emotions for students as the race got closer.

“I’m very excited, I’m very nervous. It’s becoming very, very real. We knew we were going to lose Virginia. That was a given but with Florida and Michigan, each time gets a little bit closer, it’s gets Republican and red.” UTEP Student Mariana Prieto said.

“I’m feeling a little bit anxious, like I said before, these numbers aren’t what I expected to see. It’s making me really nervous, I’m actually really shocked that the nation would be swaying this way,” Rodriguez said.