With Election Day almost here, many students are making plans to spend the evening closely watching exit polls and waiting for the announcement of the winner.
"I'll probably watch TV the whole night and cheer, sort of like Monday Night Football," said Ben Moeller, a sophomore undecided major. "I might not be able to take the consequences though."
Though they will be on opposing sides on Election Day, the College Republicans and College Democrats have been working with SA so that anyone who wants to watch the results can do so Tuesday night in the Student Union Theater.
SA President Anthony Burgio said he hopes the election draws a lot of students who are interested in sharing the election experience together.
"It's kind of like one of our SA films. We figure it'll be just as entertaining," Burgio said.
Some students said they've made their plans far in advance, hoping to be right there at the moment their candidate emerges triumphant. Many said the debacle of Florida in 2000, which had Americans waiting until December for an official result, is still fresh in their minds.
"I am getting together with some friends after classes to watch the polls," said Megan Murray, a sophomore biology major. "We are watching until a president is elected."
Recent polls have shown the election in a near dead heat between President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry. According to students, the closeness of the competition, along with the myriad problems that stemmed from the 2000 election, has raised interest among UB students and increased political activity.
Members from both the College Democrats and Republicans said before they sit down to watch the results, there is last-second Election Day work to be done.
"The last 72 hours we're doing an all-out political blitz to get people informed on the presidential race," said Mike Scholes, vice president of the College Republicans.
Scholes said club members will be going around the city to various poll sites as well as making phone calls on Election Day to prospective Republican voters.
Scholes also emphasized the importance of the local congressional race between Republican Nancy Naples and Democrat Brian Higgins.
"It's one of the biggest seats in the country," Scholes said.
And of course, the Republicans will not be alone.
"We're certainly going to be at the poll sites on Election Day," said Justin Martin, president of the College Democrats.
Martin said the College Democrats are also planning to descend on voting stations, which is common and can be very effective.
"Many voters for various races seem to make up their mind within seconds of their voting," Martin said. "They walk into their poll place still considering their vote."
