The limited-attendance, hybrid model event will begin at 8:00 p.m. November 3.
On the night of November 3, a group of students will convene to watch United States election coverage. The event, hosted by the Political Discourse Society (PDS) and the Office of Student Life (OSL), will adhere to safety precautions as mandated by the Swiss and Ticinese authorities.
The U.S. Election Night Watch will begin at 8:00 p.m. on November 3 and run into the early morning of November 4. At the time of writing, the event will be held in-person with a limit on the number of attendees and various safety measures in place. Event organizers will also utilize a hybrid model, thus permitting individuals to join virtually should they prefer.
During the event, participants will watch and discuss live-stream coverage from multiple media outlets. They will also have a chance to test their knowledge during a virtual trivia game about the numerous state and federal races taking place across the United States. Baked goods will be available, but students will have to step outside for a snack to comply with indoor mask-wearing guidelines.
President of PDS Campbell Pair helped organize and plans to attend the entire event.
Campbell is a third-year student majoring in International Relations. She has been a member of PDS for three years and currently interns for U.S. Senate candidate Reverend Raphael Warnock as a Finance Fellow. As a first-year student, Campbell attended a similar event during which students gathered to watch the 2018 U.S. Midterms.
In 2016, Franklin held a similar event to watch the U.S. presidential election. In the months leading up to the 2016 election, Franklin welcomed speakers and hosted voter registration drives to help students register to vote. While COVID-19 restrictions limited Franklin's ability to welcome speakers during this election cycle, voter registration drives did occur earlier in the semester.Ìý
Russell Martin, the Assistant Dean of Resident Life and Student Programming, has been central in organizing election-related events this year and in the past. According to Russell, these initiatives create a sense of community and help students connect to important issues.
At this time, a limited number of individuals will be able to attend the U.S. Election Night Watch on November 3 in person. Participants must sign up, wear masks, and social distance. Details regarding the event are subject to change. To sign up or request more information, contact rmartin@fus.edu.