Students had mixed feelings regarding the presidential election results. Emotions ran high, as many students waited in wonder on who would claim Florida and who would win the entire election.
Florida A&M University students, like the rest of the nation, awoke Wednesday to find that John Kerry and John Edwards conceded, which allowed President George W. Bush the presidency.The Kerry/Edwards ticket conceded even though all of the provisional ballots-ballots cast by people who are not on the precinct roll but are still eligible to vote-from Ohio were not counted.
Some students, such as junior LeRena Sessoms, were not surprised by the outcome of the election.
“I expected this to happen,” said the 20-year-old social work student from Fort Washington, Md.
Sessoms explained she anticipated the confusion with the ballots and the difficulty some found voting, especially after the chaos surrounding the previous election.
“I thought Kerry would win, but the majority of people I know voted for Bush,” Sessoms also said, stating the Bush supporters she is acquainted with are not Republican, but moral conservatives from her church.
Some students were disenchanted with the prospect of either candidate winning.
John Higgs, a freshman from Jacksonville, said he is a twice-convicted felon, but would not have voted even if he could.
“These guys (politicians) aren’t helping you,” said the 18-year-old general studies student.
“I don’t like Bush; he’s sending people to war…Kerry’s talking about being for the poor, but he wouldn’t have done anything once he got in (office).”
Higgs said he would take an active interest in the presidency once a black man is elected.
Still, there are students, though disappointed in the outcome of the election, think the process had positive after effects.
“When people observe the results, they will see black people did vote. FAMU had a good percentage of voters,” said Chicago native Philip Agnew, sophomore class president and co-chairman of the FAMU Vote Coalition.
The 19-year-old business administration student said the coalition worked with other campus organizations to register students and get them to the polls.
Asstudents watched the results in the Truth Hall lobby Tuesday, an impassioned debate began among a few ladies who watched Bush claim the state of Florida.
Freshmen Jasmine Mitchell and Krystal Garrett discussed their different political views and how either candidate could help or harm the nation in the next four years.
Mitchell, a 19-year-old biology student from Miami, expressed her disappointment in Bush winning Florida.
“Everything we did is in vain…everything I worked hard for is in vain. The Republicans cheated and they stole a lot of votes,” she said.
Mitchell said she voted during the march on Oct. 27.
However, Garrett, a pre-physical therapy student from Baltimore, who is currently 17, and a Republican did not get a chance to vote this year.
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