After an anxious election night left the outcome of the presidential race locked away with thousands of provisional ballots in Ohio, the Brown Democrats plan to hold their regular general body meeting tonight to plan their next action.
With President George W. Bush perceived to have the advantage in his reelection campaign and Democrats losing ground in both houses of Congress, the Democrats were disappointed at their viewing party in Faunce House Tuesday night, although the group was buoyed by the news of State Sen. Rhoda Perry's reelection.
Members of the Brown Democrats filtered in and out of both the Lower Blue Room and Leung Gallery, bringing with them news of returns for local races, which commanded enthusiastic reactions.
Kelly Hall '06, legislative committee chair for the Brown Democrats, walked into Leung Gallery at around 10:30 p.m. chanting, "Rhoda won! Rhoda won!" and doing a victory dance among fellow Brown Democrats, referring to Rhoda Perry's victory in the closely contested District 3 State Senate Race.
Seth Magaziner '06, president of the Brown Democrats, said he was pleased with Brown voter turnout in local elections. "The Brown vote was roughly the margin of victory for (Perry)," he said, estimating between 500 to 1,000 students turned out to vote for her. "We've been making a lot of phone calls, showing up at polling places - we're very proud of that," he said.
Hall said she agreed that Brown students significantly affected the outcomes of local races, particularly assisting in Perry's senate bid.
"I'm thrilled that (Perry) won, especially since she had such a competitive race," Hall said. "It's really satisfying to pull it out in the end."
But the mood was more subdued when it came to watching the results of the presidential race. As election returns first began to roll in, the group of about 50 students remained relatively quiet, taking time between projections to socialize and catch up on work.
About 30 other students ventured to the Lower Blue Room to watch CNN's coverage of the returns and refresh online updates at the computer kiosks. While some followed closely the analysis of political pundits like James Carville and Tucker Carlson, many students watched passively as the states were called.
Members of the Providence Fire Department watched quietly from the back of both rooms.
Mark Tumiski '08 watched the returns in the Lower Blue Room after spending the day calling Democratic voters on behalf of the party's candidates. Tumiski said he has been a Kerry supporter "since after I got over (Howard) Dean" at the end of the primaries.
He said his work on behalf of Democratic candidates was "very promising," adding that "everyone I talked to had been out to vote."
Brian Craigie '07, who voted for Kerry by absentee ballot in Connecticut, said that he chose to watch the returns with the Brown Democrats for lack of a better way to pass election night. "I got here at 8 - I couldn't stand trying to study while this was going on. I wanted to be around people and be a part of the whole process."
Paul Palmera '65, an avid Kerry supporter watching returns in the lower Blue Room, expressed concern with the early returns.
"Bush has a lot of electoral votes already and a lot of big states seem to be leaning towards him," he said. "I don't think it looks good - I'm worried."
Carina Wallance '06, who watched some of the returns while waiting for a friend in the lower Blue Room, said she agreed the early returns did not look promising for Kerry.
"As you watch this and as you see it be so split, it's amazing to watch this country to so 50-50 over a president who has messed up so much," she said.
Kevin Schwanfelder '05 said he had New Mexico's interests at heart as he watched the returns. "I'm from a swing state that Gore won last election by just 366 votes," he said. "So I'm especially watching for New Mexico, to make sure we swing the right way." Schwanfelder helped the Brown Democrats with voter registration earlier in the semester.
Nadia Maccabee '08 spent the day calling potential Democratic voters for the Brown Democrats. Maccabee watched the returns in the Lower Blue Room with Tumiski.
"We've just decided that Kerry's going to win," she said with a laugh, early in the evening. "We're just trying to stay positive with the big picture."
Maccabee said she was disappointed with the outcomes of some of the referenda in other states, including several that banned gay marriage and civil unions. But she added being involved in the political process was "inspiring" and gave her an appreciation for all of the issues affected the by election results.
"The fact that this has been such a mobilizing force - that's inspiring," she said.
By 11:15 p.m., most students were concentrated in the Lower Blue Room, and the projector in Leung Gallery was taken down.
Despite diminishing attendance late in the evening, some said they would remain until more returns were confirmed.
Maccabee said although the outcome does not look good for Kerry, she intended to watch the entire process play out.
"Mark (Tumiski) and I definitely aren't going to sleep at all," she said.
At 1:15 a.m., David Dryer '07 took a walk to clear his head.
"Before, whatever he did, he didn't have a mandate for. But now, this is America ... and it burns me like nothing else," Dryer said. "It's like the death of something."
