Greater Boston’s college students have made it clear they’re ready to vote in the 2012 presidential election and, lucky for them, their schools have jumped to supporting them. From shuttle services and speaker series to election viewing parties promising free food and heated debate, there’s plenty of presidential fun happening today at campuses across the city.
To see what’s happening on your campus, check out the list below. Or, for students looking to celebrate the presidential election out on the town, take a gander at all the election viewing parties in Boston.
At Babson
Election Viewing Party -- Babson fraternity AEPi is hosting a viewing party in the Keith C Tower at 8 p.m., complete with soda and pizza.
Babson’s Office of Student Activities and Leadership tweeted out earlier today that the College is organizing shuttles from 9-11 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. so students can easily leave campus to vote.
At Boston College
Election Watch -- Anyone looking to play a round of Pin the Tail on the Donkey (or Elephant)? Students are welcome to watch live coverage of the results in the College’s Cabaret Room, where they’ll be serving Georgetown “Election” Cupcakes, Roggie’s pizza, cookies and more. Political-themed trivia will also be taking place, so start brushing up on your history now.
The BC Volunteer and Service Learning Center will also be providing free shuttle service to the Ward School for students who are registered to vote at 140 Commonwealth Avenue. Vans are leaving every 20 minutes, so for BC students looking to hitch a ride, they can register on the school’s Election Central site.
At Boston University
BU Central will be providing all-day election coverage with the help of the Boston University Student Government in the basement of the George Sherman Union. At 7 p.m., they’ll also be hosting a Presidential Election Coverage and Viewing Party, featuring four large screens broadcasting coverage by BUTV10, CNN, Fox News and NBC. Word on the streets is, Raising Cane’s and Panera Bread will be served as well.
Seven other parties will be taking place, as well, which you can read more about on BU Today. Highlights include political-themed trivia at the BU Pub, a complimentary nacho bar at the Warren Towers dining hall and a discussion with Myles Standish Hall Faculty-in-Residence Douglas Kriner, who will be chatting about the results with students as they unfold.
At Emerson College
Emerson College has been encouraging students to head down to Faneuil Hall for CNN’s outdoor public broadcast, because their political fun is really kicking off on Thursday, November 8, at 6:30 p.m. The school is hosting a Post-Election Discussion at the Cutler Majestic Theater featuring WBUR’s On Point Tom Ashbrook, along with faculty member and former ABC News anchor Carole Simpson.
At Harvard
The university’s student-run newspaper, the Harvard Crimson, has put together a list of places students can vote on-campus.
The Harvard Kennedy School is also hosting several events throughout the day, including a speaker series with Mark McKinnon, a weekly columnist for The Daily Beast and the London Telegraph. He’ll be talking about “the good, the bad and the ugly,” of the 2012 presidential election at noon, and will be followed by “An Election Day Look at the American Economy,” featuring Fortune senior editor and columnist Nina Easton and former Harvard President Larry Summers. And to top the day off, the Kennedy School will also be hosting an Election Night Party from 7 p.m. to midnight.
At MIT
Election Night Party @ The Thirsty Ear Pub -- At 6 p.m., The Thirsty Ear Pub will be kicking off their Election Night Party, for the 21+ crowd only. Bonus? Free food will be served.
Election Night Watch Party -- Those who are not 21 can head to The Coffeehouse at 8 p.m. for dueling P's: pizza and presidential debates. Students are told they can bring their work and come and go as they please. What goes better with PSetting, really? (Their words, not ours.)
At Northeastern
Election Watch Party -- The Northeastern International Relations Council is hosting a 2012 Election Watch Party in the school’s entertainment venue, afterHOURS, starting at 7 p.m. Free food will be dished out on a first come, first served basis. Yet, you’ll want to get there fast anyway, because not only will there be free food, but free t-shirts for the first 100 people in the door.
Also be sure to check out the Facebook page NUVotes 2012, “the hub of all activities and programming at Northeastern” surrounding the election. Students are encouraged to post on the page, or use the hashtag #NUVotes on Twitter to share any news, questions or thoughts they have about the election.
At Tufts
Tufts has created a hotline (774-408-VOTE), as well as a website and Facebook page to keep students up-to-date on the 2012 Election. They’ll also be driving students from the Upper Patio of the Campus Center to polling places every 15 minutes. Rides started at 7 a.m., and will go until polls close in the area at 8 p.m.
At UMass
Election Night Celebration -- As TVs capture the live coverage, faculty and other experts will be on hand in the UMass Amherst Campus Center to discuss policy and politics. The patriotic fun kicks off at 7 p.m., and the earlier you arrive, the sooner you can enter drawings for UMass gear and a Kindle Fire.
The UMass Student Government Association and UMass Student Activities & Involvement group have also helped secure shuttles so students on the UMass Amherst campus can get to and from the closest polling locations. Shuttles will be running every 15-20 minutes from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
