Gettysburg College Students Prepare for Election Results
By Ella Prieto, Staff Writer
Students waiting in line to vote (Photo Will Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
On Nov. 8, Gettysburg College opened the Ballroom in the College Union Building (CUB) as a polling place for the Pennsylvania 2022 Midterm Elections. The poll was open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and saw an influx of voters, both from Gettysburg College and the wider Gettysburg community.
The polling place was opened in the Ballroom thanks to the efforts of various political organizations on campus.
Secretary for College Democrats Lucero Rosas ’25 explained, “We got the College Ballroom to be a polling place because College Dems really want to uplift young voices, which are not often heard in elections. We thought it was a great initiative because college students can just come here anytime and vote.”
The College Democrats were also tabling in CUB on election day. At the table, they had pins, stickers, signs, and informational pamphlets for the Democratic candidates for voters to take. Additionally, voting guides were available for any who wished to take one.
Abby Ruggiero ’26 mentioned that the voting guides were “really helpful and made the voting process easier.”
Other students expressed similar sentiments and highlighted the importance of voting.
Caroline Gensinger ’26 said, “I felt empowered as it was my first time being able to [vote]. It was amazing to fulfill the duty to my country of voting and to protect my rights and beliefs.”
Joseph Zimbler ’25 described his experience of voting as “going pretty well. It was great to see a lot of students participate regardless of who they are voting for.”
President of College Republicans Alex Rosado ’24 also voted in the CUB Ballroom and commented that the polling place being in CUB was “sponsored by College Republicans and other political groups to provide more accessible voting. I believe that this election can turn with more civic engagement, so I am hoping for a big turnout. That is what government is all about.”
Campaign signs outside of CUB (Photo Will Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
President of College Democrats Carter Hanson ’23 also commented on the polling place being in CUB, claiming that the move was mostly due to efforts by College Democrats. He explained, “At the beginning of the semester I talked to some people from the County Democrats because one of their big priorities this summer was to get the College to move the polling place back to campus. I came in and decided to write a letter that I tried to have signed by as many political clubs as possible…and so I basically just added their names at the bottom of my letter that I wrote which was sent to President Iuliano. That started a conversation and we were able to get the polling place on campus. It was a joint effort with College Republicans in terms of them letting me add their names, but College Democrats put in almost all of the work.”
After voting, students could head to the two midterm election watch parties. One was hosted in the Junction by College Republicans, the Public Policy Student Council, Young Americans for Liberty, and Young Democratic Socialists of America. The event gathered students from a variety of political perspectives to enjoy food, drinks, cotton candy, and popcorn as they watched.
The event grew from an idea by College Republicans Vice President Carl Demarco ’25, who said he came up with it after the Fetterman-Oz Senate debate.
Demarco said, “I had this idea to try to host a bipartisan, across the political spectrum, watch party to bring the campus together. I reached out to all the political clubs to put aside our political differences to enjoy something very special and unique in the fact that we get to elect our government every two years. And we celebrate the fact that we’re Americans and we have this right.”
Demarco also addressed the fact that College Democrats were not at the watch party, saying, “It’s a shame…we’re here trying to show the world and Gettysburg College that we’re bigger people, and we would have loved for [College Democrats] to join us, and in two years, when it’s the 2024 election, I plan on doing this again and I will still reach out to the Democrats and hope that they join us.”
Co-President of the Public Policy Student Council Andrew Lemon ’24 expressed that “The Public Policy Student Council was thrilled to be a part of this bipartisan effort as a non-politically affiliated club. We are thrilled to be able to see the different ideologies and perspectives of this campus come together to watch this election.”
Recruitment and Outreach Chair of College Republicans Christine Lombardino ’23 commented on her view of the election. She explained that she is “in a weird place politically. I use College Republicans to reach out to other groups on campus so that we can see we actually agree on a great deal. This watch party is especially good because it is bringing everyone together and provides a place for people in the middle to come.”
She also noted that Fox News was chosen as the network screened at the watch party because it was accessible and free.
President of Young Americans for Liberty Michael Klatt ’25 echoed Lombardino, stating, “The joint event is a symbol of being able to reconcile our differences in order to bring campus together as whole. I know election season and social media is really divisive, so it is important to bring people together. What the election means to me personally, is that I lose either way. As someone who advocates individual liberty, I think there is no way for us to win with the two-party system in place.”
The second watch party was hosted at Glatfelter Lodge by College Democrats. Like the event in the Junction, food and drinks were provided, but CNN was screened. College Democrats President Carter Hanson ’23 explained that CNN was chosen by a quick poll of those present at the beginning of the party.
Students campaigning for Democratic candidates in CUB (Photo Will Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
Hanson also explained why College Democrats chose not to be at the other campus-wide election watch party, saying, “Election night is one of those times when we can really embrace the values of our party. We’re here to celebrate Democrats, to support Democratic candidates. This is an opportunity for us to do that, together as a community. I respect that they’re having a joint election night, but we wanted to do our own event because we’re a very large organization on campus and we have a lot of members of campus who are interested in that.”
Monica Solis ’25 shared Hanson’s belief. “With the recent rise in dangerous, reactionary politics in America coming from the Right, I think it just made more sense for me to be at the College Democrat’s watch party. People here are a lot more level-headed, and I just felt that with some of the more extreme College Republicans being present there, there was always a risk that however the election goes there might be some dangerous or uncomfortable situations arising.”
At both events, people on both sides of the political spectrum expressed nervousness and excitement over the elections.
Treasurer of the College Republicans Jack Murphy ’24 said he “thinks Republicans will win. I do not love Mastriano, but I am feeling a clean sweep otherwise thanks to the economy.”
Student Claire Royce ’24 expressed that she felt “this election is especially worth voting in with the current issues on the line, such as reproductive freedom.”
College Democrats member Brandon Neely ’23 said he is “always nervous on elections, but it is nice to be with people I have been working and organizing with all semester.”
Democrat Josh Shapiro, the current attorney general for Pennsylvania, beat Republican Doug Mastriano, a current Pennsylvania state senator, in the gubernatorial race in Pennsylvania. Democrat Josh Fetterman, the current lieutenant governor, beat Republican candidate and television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz for the U.S. Senate seat. In the election for representative for the 91st Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, incumbent Republican Dan Moul beat Democrat Marty Qually.
