Michael Harrison
A Post-Election Reflection: Experiencing Election Day On-Campus
As of the time I am writing this blog post, former Vice President Joe Biden has been declared the winner of the United States presidential election. It took a few days (although it felt like an eternity!) for the major networks to call the race, but there at least seems to be some more certainty in the world now than there was just a few weeks ago. It's easy to forget that we are all living through a very confusing period of time—and that it's OK to not always be OK. The academic and social expectations that are placed on high school and college students alike can be overwhelming even in the best of times. And the addition of a hotly-contested presidential election can only mean one thing: more stress in students' lives.
There's no question that tensions are still running high across the country, but fortunately Election Day in Hanover went quite smoothly — and in the days since the election, I have been quite impressed with my fellow students' patience in waiting for the final results to be announced. Hanover is a unique place since its culture, economy, politics, and everything else about cannot be separated from Dartmouth. The College has a dominant presence in what would otherwise be a rural, sparsely-populated, and not-particularly-memorable New England town.
And that brings me to my next point: despite all of the stress and uncertainty that this past election has brought to students' lives, the election also offered many reasons to be optimistic about the future. I, for one, was truly inspired by what I witnessed at 7:30 EST on November 3rd. Hundreds of people — students, faculty, and members of the general Hanover community — waiting patiently outside Leverone Field House on a cold morning. They stood six feet apart, masked, and with a few extra layers to keep warm in the below-freezing temperatures. While I had already voted early, I still wanted to pass by Leverone to see what the Election Day turnout would be. I've included some pictures below.
The Dartmouth, the student-run newspaper here at Dartmouth College, has done some great reporting before, during, and after the election on student engagement/participation. They have also interviewed Dartmouth faculty, who have provided much insight into political polling, the results of local and federal races, and policy implications for college students and the country more broadly. (I would encourage anyone reading this to check out their election-related work on their website!) Anyway, experiencing the electoral process on-campus has felt more like a marathon (rather than a sprint) ever since the start of the term. From voter registration drives offered by the Student Assembly and presidential debate watch parties hosted by the Rockefeller Center, the College Democrats, and others — to my own decision to vote early at Hanover Town Hall a few weeks ago, the months-long election process has really shown me that students have an important role to play in promoting civic engagement. While the student body at the College may be relatively small, students here recognize that their vote (no matter which candidate they support) can hold a lot of weight in New Hampshire, a classic swing state.
Personally, I had to "unplug" somewhat since election night. I don't think it's mentally (or physically) healthy to watch CNN or ABC all night long as millions of votes are counted. That said, the fact that the election results did take longer than they normally would to be announced speaks to something else that is inspiring: despite the ongoing pandemic and the need to rely on absentee/mail voting to avoid Election Day crowding, more Americans have voted in this election than in any previous one! So, the fact that it took a little longer for all of the votes to be counted is a sign that the electoral process is working. While some students (myself included) were disappointed that on-campus election night watch parties ended inconclusively, we can't forget that ultimately, the process worked and voters' voices (in Hanover, New York, and everywhere else in the United States) were heard.
Going forward, I am confident that the Dartmouth community will continue to be a civically-engaged one. I don't know when the next time a well-known politician will come to campus will be, but if I'm being honest, political stump speeches don't mean as much as people actually voting. The crowds of people that I saw outside on Tuesday morning — a sight that I'd never seen before — remind me that there are many people out there who still believe in the importance of voting.
Posts You Might Like
This spring in Spare Rib, the intersectional feminist zine and feminist collective on campus, has been quite busy and exciting with a bunch of new events. Keep reading to find out more!
After the last bit of snow melted, the sun brightened the entire campus. When the eclipse blocked the sunlight for a few minutes, Hanover was lively!
Turns out we have a new café in town since I've been gone: The Works! Of course, I had to put them to the test.
What major exploration and declaration look like at Dartmouth! And, an ode to the Government department.
Amid the pressures of schoolwork and occasional homesickness, the natural landscapes accessible from campus have become my sanctuary.
It's easy to forget how easy it is to access walking trails during the hustle of a Dartmouth term. As graduation nears, I am reminded of how special it is to step off campus and enjoy quiet moments in nature.
In this post, I write about why I think Dartmouth's undergraduate focus is valuable.
With a solar eclipse sweeping across North America for the first time in nearly seven years on April 8th came a road-trip with hundreds of other Dartmouth students to a zone of totality near campus: St. Johnsbury, Vermont!
Aside from taking classes this term, I will also be completing my second term of the Presidential Scholars Program.