Instead of watching last night’s election coverage in their rooms, many students gathered together in residence halls to commemorate the event with big-screen TVs and themed snacks.

Hillside Community was one of the places that opened its commons for an election party.

The event was for people who wanted some camaraderie as they watched, according to Wendy Nastasi, community director of Hillside.

“We [had] a very large screen TV and a bunch of couches,” she said. “People [could] come in and watch if they [liked].”

Meghan Cavanaugh, president of Mountainview College’s Hunter Hall, helped run a similar program.

“We are going to be watching the news as the states change to red or blue, determining who will be the next president of the United States,” she said early Tuesday.

According to Cavanaugh, the Hunter Great Room was equipped with an enlarged map of the United States, which students colored in as the results for states came in. A history of the Democratic and Republican Parties was also discussed.

Cupcakes colored red, white and blue, along with other snacks, were served, she said.

“It’s hard to predict how many residents will come to a program like this, but we’re hoping, because it’s going to be such a historical election, that many residents stop by to see the results,” Cavanaugh said beforehand.

Cascade Hall, also of Mountainview, offered students the chance to cheer on their candidate of choice.

According to Jordan Stern, the president of the hall, the Great Room was decorated with streamers, and red, white and blue brownies and cupcakes were also served.

“It [was a] social gathering to promote healthy discussion about candidates’ views,” he said.

The event [was] all about food and watching your candidate hopefully win, Stern added.

Aaron Cohn, president of College-in-the-Woods Council, said on Tuesday that every building in CIW also threw some sort of election party.

“Their respective hall councils are putting them together, and many will have a projector, food (American, of course) and an electoral map that they will be updating throughout the night,” he said earlier in the day.

According to Cohn, organizers expected a huge turnout, with people coming and going throughout the night.

“CIW has a lot of people who are passionate about politics and this election, so we wanted to give them a place where they could watch and share this historic night together,” he added.

Hinman College halls also provided a place for residents to watch the election.

According to Richard Charneco, president of Hinman, student Craig Sauer hosted an election-watch party in Smith Hall. The program was held in conjunction with the Learning Community classes: Consumerism, Image and Empire (ENG 117E) and Introduction to American Politics (PLSC 111).

Cleveland Hall watched the updates in the main lounge and incorporated fun games, Charneco said. Lehman, Roosevelt and Hughes Halls also hosted gatherings in the main lounge.

“Nothing intense from the halls, but they all [showed] an interest in the elections and [were] eager to share political opinions amongst their colleagues,” he said.