Carrie Fischer took a break from her book, “The Friday Society,” to take a Snapchat video of RaiQuelle Luster. Fischer began to record then asked which candidate Luster voted for.
“Look at my face, look at my skin,” Luster said. “What side do you think I’m on?”
Luster, a black freshman, described Trump as a creeper. Fischer, who is white, said she could not in good faith vote for Hillary Clinton.
The two, who are roommates, sat in the main lounge of the Forest B building. About 30 others, most focused on homework and occasionally glancing up at the television, sat in the room, while less than 10 gathered around the television and actively watched.
Fifteen pieces of paper were taped together next to the television to form an outline of the United States on the wall next to it, with each state being colored in red or blue, depending on who had won.
As people walked through the lounge to get to their rooms, some stopped and looked at the map, commenting on the color that seemingly dominated it.
“Oh my god, why are so many states red?”
“Oh my goodness.”
“Damn, this is going to be close the whole time,” Fischer said, watching as more results came in. “It’s going to be close until California comes in.”
Luster began to talk about what the two would do when the election was final.
“We can cry, or celebrate, or both.”
“I’m thinking both, because I’m conflicted,” Fischer said.
More states were colored in red on the map.
“No, no, no, no, no,” Luster said.
Both believe no matter who wins, a war will happen as a result of this election.
“I’ll go to bed, and either way it goes, the world is going to be on fire when I wake up,” Fischer said.
***
It was noisy at Neal-Marshall Black Cultural Center.
“We’re going to have a good, chill time up in here tonight,” announced Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center Director Monica Johnson to the students at 7 p.m. “We’re here to kick it, have fun and be civil.”
A hundred or so students gathered in a long line to grab some chicken wings, vegetables and chips from the buffet in the back of the room. Some turned when new results came in. Others stood waiting to get their food.
People had to weave their way around the Grand Hall to find an open seat or make their way to their friends.
There were games — Scrabble, dominoes and cards — ready to be played while students waited for the results.
Groups took pictures, documenting what was sure to be for many the first election for which they were eligible to vote. People sat around eating in good spirits as the results from CNN continued to flash on the screen.
At 8 p.m., Clinton’s victories in Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maryland were announced and met with cheering, claps and a definitive “yas” from one woman in the crowd.
Trump’s wins in Oklahoma and Mississippi were met with cheers, though clearly less than Clinton’s.
Florida was still too close to call.
It grew louder at Neal-Marshall.
“Damn, we need Florida,” one man cried.
As results were still being counted, one table of students began playing Apples to Apples.
There was a mix of anxiety and excitement, still, as the crowd sat in anticipation. The first group was still playing Apples to Apples. Another group joined.
At 9:30 p.m., CNN was reporting a lead in electoral votes by Donald Trump.
“I feel like if Donald Trump gets in, it’s the end of the world,” one spectator said.
***
ESPN is playing on the majority of the televisions and a 2000s pop hits playlist is blaring through speakers at 8 p.m. Tuesday night in Kilroy’s on Kirkwood, but several groups of students have gathered there to watch election results.
People are chatting excitedly with friends and the bartenders are serving up $2 Long Islands like every other Tuesday at Kilroy’s, but students present to watch the election seem strongly in favor of Clinton as a few cheers are heard above the music each time it is announced that she is leading in a state.
A loud cheer of “Bring it in! Bring it in!” rings through the bar as CNN announces that Clinton has won New Jersey.
Tori Barnard, an IU senior wearing an ‘I Voted’ sticker on her gray sweater, said she and a friend came to Kilroy’s to watch the election results because it is within walking distance from home and they needed to be somewhere where they can drink for this election.
Barnard said she never disliked Clinton but voted for Bernie Sanders in the primaries because his policies were more exciting to her.
“I was excited to vote for Hillary today because overall she’s smart, and she will have good advisers that she is going to listen to,” Barnard said.
Ali Henke, a senior, jokingly said she and her friends came to Kilroy’s to watch the election results because they don’t have cable at home and Kilroy’s has booze.
“I think Trump is going to win the popular vote and Hillary is going to win the electoral vote, and there is going to be mass confusion until there is a recount,” Henke said.
Henke said she voted for Clinton on Tuesday morning and was very disappointed with Trump’s win in Indiana. She said she was concerned about Trump winning the election.
“I think it’s going to be a lot closer than people want to admit,” Henke said.
