JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 3, 2004 — Clinging to every projection, a group of 51社区 students gathered at Bubba鈥檚 Bagels Tuesday night to watch the election returns among friends.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always better watching it together than watching it at home,鈥� said senior Holly Steele, of Memphis. 鈥淭his affects the rest of our lives.鈥�
The election watch was one of a series of events in which Union students participated during the 2004 presidential campaign. Bubba鈥檚 Bagels was also the place where students watched the three debates between George W. Bush and John Kerry.
鈥淲e were going to watch the debates and all that on campus, but we found out there are no classrooms rigged for cable,鈥� said Sean Evans, assistant professor of political science.
Evans came up with the idea of watching important events like the debates and the election returns at Bubba鈥檚 Bagels, and the store was happy to oblige.
Tuesday night, a group of about 30 students sat around tables watching the news reports as they sipped on coffee, did homework and talked. Evans was present for the event, and some took advantage of his presence by asking him questions about such topics as the Electoral College and the Senate races as they awaited the outcome of the election.
Natalie Treece, of Paducah, Ky., is a Bush supporter who said she went to Bubba鈥檚 out of concern for her roommates.
鈥淭hey鈥檇 much rather I be here than hogging the TV,鈥� she said.
Early in the evening, Treece was confident in a Bush victory.
鈥淭here haven鈥檛 been any surprises yet,鈥� Treece said. 鈥淭he states that Bush was supposed to be holding he鈥檚 been holding so far and the ones Kerry was hoping to get he鈥檚 been holding. The Florida numbers so far, it鈥檚 very optimistic and Ohio is optimistic too, but we鈥檙e not sure on that one yet.鈥�
Michael Kieffer, of Marysville, Ohio, was just hoping against a repeat of the 2000 election, when the outcome was uncertain for weeks.
鈥淢y biggest concern is that the votes come in and they鈥檙e counted properly and the Supreme Court doesn鈥檛 have to intervene as it did last time,鈥� Kieffer said. 鈥淎s long as we can show the rest of the world that, yes, we know how to vote, then I鈥檓 happy. Even if the candidate that I want to win doesn鈥檛 win at least I got out and I gave my vote so I feel that I did my part and everyone else did theirs.鈥�