Memorable Moment 2012

This night was an amazing opportunity to take a look at just what an actual journalist does, and I plan on taking this experience forever with me as I continue down this career path. Watching other reporters, both writers and broadcasters, really makes me realize just how much I look forward to this in the future.

The cheers died down by the end of the night, and despite the outcome of the results on the Republican side, it was exciting to see so many supporters sharing the same views. Overhearing the conversations and talking to different people, it was interesting to look at things a different way.


Even though the party ended early on the Republican side, the people definitely know how to throw a watch party. The music, the food and drinks gave the room a feeling of letting your hair down and just relax.

Going to this event I was prepared for the worst, but I left feeling excited and exhilarated but most of all lucky.

-Jessica Sias
 

Good times with the Republicans

This was my first time going to something like this, and I didn't know what to expect when we first got there, but I got comfortable.

When we walked in the room, everyone was paying attention to the two big screens with the election news on it. Everyone was having a good time and enjoying each other's company. Everyone was very confident in Romney's chances. They had their children with them, and I could just tell that this was a family event.

There were lot's of reporters interviewing candidates and doing some of the same things that we were doing. There were photographers everywhere trying to get pictures of the candidates.

The people who won their race got up and spoke to the crowd and tried to fire them up about Romney and what they would do in office.

Every time that Romney moved up over Obama, people were cheering, but when Obama moved up, their mood quickly changed. When Obama won Ohio, the room got empty and quiet. All the excitement left the room, and I'm guessing it was with the Democrats.

-JaDarian Coleman

An experience to remember

Walking into the Hyatt-Regency and seeing people in Obama T-shirts took some of the pressure off of not knowing what to expect.

I walked around the room, building my courage to walk up and ask someone for an interview, only to  turn around and bump into Royce West. His friendly attitude and polite behavior gave me that push I needed to approach people. He was inspiring and completely changed my attitude toward public officials.
 
It was wonderful to see so many different people display such an unparalleled sense unity.  I feel honored and privileged I experienced a monumental day in history first-hand.


-Lawanda Mckelvy

The Dream

I feel that this experience was once in a lifetime. I experienced the time President Obama came to Eastfield College in the fall of 2011 and that was nothing like what I experienced tonight. The energy of the crowd kept me on the edge of my seat all night.

The turning point of the night is when President Obama won the electoral votes from California. The Democrats brought down the house in a rage of excitement. The smiles in that room could have lit up a cave.

The atmosphere in the room was tremendous. I have never felt so warm and accepted by such a large group. I was not intimidated at all by the other journalists doing their jobs.  I felt like we all worked as a team to get the information that we needed. I was approached by many friendly citizens, and I actually made a couple of friends along the way.

The experience was breathtaking. I felt like I fit right in with everyone one there. This experience actually has pushed me even more to vote.

-Devin Gardner

The "Obamas" have gone wild

The Democrat watch party was the ultimate experience for a young news reporter.

I felt like a 5 year old when I met Eddie Bernice Johnson and Lupe Valdez. Even though it was brief, I felt like I accomplished a lot.

The people there were very nice and optimistic.  There was no doubt in anyone's mind that Dallas and Obama were not going to win tonight.

When the Republican parties hit the big screen, the crowd would boo, but it was all in good fun.

As soon as I walked in, I noticed buttons and flags in the crowd. The crowd was ready to rock.  I went to the front of the room and noticed the smaller screen where I met Royce West. I nervously giggled to myself to ask the man in blue jeans and white button down shirt if he was Royce West. Nonetheless, I built up courage to speak to him.

I can't wait to do this again in four years.

--Rachel Colon

Obama Wins!

It is madness in the building at the Democratic watch party. People are screaming, jumping up and down and crying tears of joy.  They have turned on the music, and the victory celebration is just beginning.

The phrase of the night is "four more!"

The Democrats have sealed the deal.  Barack Obama is President of the United States for four more years.

"Obama won by more than they said he would, and I'm so proud of such a decisive victory," said Assistant District Attorney, Brandon Birmingham.

--Lawanda Mckelvy

Fox 4 calls it! Obama will win!

People still held onto faith even as Obama won Washington and California, but as soon as the Republicans heard Obama won Ohio, the room was empty.

The music has died down now as people take the last of their drinks and head out the door.  The few people who remain in the room have looks of defeat on their faces.

--Jessica Sias

Let the celebration begin

It has just been announced at the Democratic watch party that President Obama has been re-elected. The convention room is filled with chants of people shouting "Obama, Obama!" The once tense crowd was relieved to hear President Obama would be re-elected. 

--Devin Gardner

Obama re-elected? Republicans go home

Everyone at the Republican watch party is ready to go home.

When they announced that Obama won Ohio, you could tell that all hope was gone for the Mitt Romney supporters.  The room got very quiet and started to empty. You could tell that the Romney supporters are really sick about this one; they really believed that he could win.

-JaDarian Coleman

There's no party like a Democratic Party

The crowd whoops and hollers here at the Hyatt-Regency hotel in Dallas as blue claims a projected win for Minnesota, Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, Virginia and New Hampshire. Gary Johnson, a dentist Richardson, Texas, begins to chant, "Four more years!"

The crowd responds ardently muffling out out any feeling of doubt.

As soon as the CNN flashed 274 electoral votes for Obama, the room went crazy. Chanting of "four more years" continues all over the place. Kids as young as 6 are running and waving American flags. Everyone is hugging everyone.

--Sidney Murillo

It's a tight race

Obama is leading in Florida, Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina, but Romney is not far behind. It is really a tight race, and it's just too close to call right now.  It looks like it is going to go down to the wire.

But the Republicans believe that Romney can pull it off.

-JaDarian Coleman

Dallas County votes a straight ticket

The Democratic watch party is becoming more packed as the race gets closer. DJ Mbenga of the Dallas Mavericks is here.

Mitt Romney has the electoral vote to win so far.

The crowd grew bigger when Dallas County went all "blue".

"In Dallas, I believed there would be more of a Democrat win, " the Democrat's volunteer team coordinator Diego Ayala said.

--Rachel Colon

Eyes glued to TV screens at the Republican watch party

Very few people clapped when Bennett Ratliff won District 115 because the Republicans refused to take their eyes off the screen as race results keep coming in.

Anticipation is growing in the room as the votes for president are neck and neck in Virginia, Florida and Ohio.

People don't want to miss a thing as they pull out their phones to record and take pictures.

The faith is still strong in the room.

--Jessica Sias

Republicans celebrate as races are called

Republicans are eating, laughing and cheering as races get called.

Shouts erupted for Jeb Hensarling as he was declared the winner in the U.S. Congressional District 5 race with 75 percent of the vote. "Rockin' in the Free World" played loudly amid smiles and celebration.

People were also very excited about Mitt Romney winning Arkansas, which was announced around 7:39 p.m. Everyone cried out victoriously for the small but significant win.

-- Melissa Joyce

Eddie Bernice Johnson arrives at the Democratic watch party

Eddie Bernice Johnson just hit the stage. She is wearing a bright red jacket and stands a little over the podium.

"I don't believe we've lost," said Johnson.  "I do believe we have the best candidates."

Johnson also spoke about how Americans should vote. "Vote for them if they think like you, not look like you," she said.

--Rachel Colon

Democrats have concert at watch party

The Democratic watch party is over the top. They are having a mini concert right now. People are up dancing and shouting the words to the song "We Got Now" while a local artist performs. They remain optimistic about the presidential race.

"Obama's first step should be to get started tomorrow morning fulfilling promises just like he did in '08," said First Assistant District Attorney Heath Harris.

The public officials in attendance are friendly and willing to speak with all who approach them.  The experience tonight has been life-changing.

--Lawanda Mckelvy

Jeb Hensarling wins District 5

Don't let the business attire at the Dallas County Republican watch party fool you; people are letting their hair down and certainly having a good time as they cheer and toast Republican Jeb Hensarling for winning the U.S. Representative spot in District 5.

Hensarling thanked supporters and family and even made sure to bring them onstage.

"I stand for Mitt Romney, how about you?" said Hensarling as supporters cheered and raised thier glasses to him.

The night is still young, and everyone here is definitley hoping for a good night.

-- Jessica Sias

Democrats getting nervous

Many of the Democrats here believe Obama has changed our country for the better. However, supporter Timothy Armwood feels that Obama should be more aggressive if he is re-elected president.
 
There are many first-timers here who are having a good time, but others are beginning to grow more nervous as the election continues. Many are staying positive despite the numbers, which show Mitt Romney in the lead.

-- Devin Gardner

Democrats optimistic

The Democratic watch party is filled with people from all walks of life. Some groups are wearing Obama T-shirts, some are wearing their Sunday best and some are business casual.

The room is filled with optimism and Democratic unity. Everyone in this room is already in celebration mode. There are balloons, camera crews, food and upbeat conversations everywhere.

People are eating and cheering as they watch the big screens showing elections polls. Optimism abounds.

-- Lawanda Mckelvy

Romney in the lead

The party has started at the Dallas County Democratic watch party, and the Democrats are anxious to see how this election will turn out. So far, Republican Mitt Romney leads 153-123 in electoral votes.

--Devin Gardner

Democrats hope for the win

With the buttons and blue flags, I notice the spirit in the air at the Dallas County Democratic watch party.  There is a lot of free food here and plenty of seats. It must be because it just started. There is one large screen facing the back of the room.

At this point in the evening, the Democratic watch party isn't losing hope about the presidential election.

"[Obama] has done a great job and is honest to the American people," said Jerlys Anderson, Administrative Association for UT Southwestern.

President Obama just won Florida.

"Unless America loses their mind, he should win," Anderson said.

However, Romney is currently winning Alabama.

--Rachel Colon

Voting picks up after school lets out

On a pleasant afternoon in Mesquite, the polls remained somewhat empty yet quietly picked up as parents took time to vote after picking up their kids from school. However, many voters did not want to talk about their choices.

Then suddenly, as kids began to rush out of Mosley Elementary School like a stampede of bulls, a couple of people took time to discuss their votes. Sarah Whitinger, 34, came out to show her support for Barack Obama. She thinks he has done a good job in his first four years, and his healthcare plan has helped her receive health care. Another important issue for her was workers’ rights, and she felt Obama dealt better with the issue than Romney.

Gannetta Washington, 44, and Sandra Marshall, 68, both voted a straight Democratic ticket and fully supported Obama. Marshall said her main issues were increasing Social Security income and keeping Romney out of office. 

Out of seven responses, most voted a straight Democratic ticket or chose mostly Democratic candidates. A total of 12 voters turned out between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m

-- Martin Santacruz

First-time voters back Miklos

Matthew Cocco and Sheila Dang both voted for the first time.

Spending an hour at Mosley Elementary School interviewing voters as they left the polling place proved difficult. Only eight people cast their vote during the hour we were there. Of those, only two agreed to an interview.

First-time voters Matthew Cocco and Sheila Dang, both staunch Robert Miklos supporters, felt education and the economy were the most important issues in this year’s election. Both were most concerned about budget cuts in education and slow economic growth that threaten the futures of young and old. Though they didn’t disclose which presidential candidate got their votes, they agreed the next leader of the country must improve the economic outlook.

-- Adan Ramirez

Couple shares love, politics

Patricia and Mike Snyder cast their votes for Barack Obama.

Today was a rather uneventful day at the polls in Mesquite as a team of student interviewers waited behind the distance marker for voters to participate in the election.

We had been waiting for a while when an older couple walked hand in hand to the voting booths. Their body language communicated their love for each other. Patricia Snyder, 74, and her husband Mike, 76, have been married for 55 years and are clearly still very much in love. They think voting is their civic duty.

The Snyders said they voted for Barack Obama because they felt he is the one who is best suited to straighten out the fiscal issues our country is facing. They also believe he will bring the military troops home.

-- Austin Shelton

A slow day at the polls in Mesquite

We expected a large mass of people to be line voting for our next president today. However, while waiting for voters at Motley Elementary, there was not a single person in line. So we waited. And then we waited some more. Eventually, we spotted a voter and pounced on him as if he were the last corn dog at the state fair. But he refused to be interviewed, stating it was none of our business.

So, we waited again for someone to stroll through the voting station. Along came Amanda Thompson, 24, who has voted in every election since she was 18 years old. She decided to support the Democratic Party in a largely Republican state. She felt the most important issue in this year’s election was civil rights. Thompson said she voted for Barack Obama, though she did not vote a straight Democratic ticket.

Roger Smith, 65, also spoke with us. This was not his first time to vote, although he does not participate in every election. "This is the biggest election that I have taken part it," Smith said. He said it was important to vote this particular time because the economy is in shambles and he wants to see improvement. Smith voted for Mitt Romney, but he did not vote a straight Republican ticket. 

-- Austin Shelton

Prowling around campus on election day

Today people were in a rush, or rather a frenzy, to get to class on the Eastfield campus. Many said they had already voted in this year's elections.

One student named Aya said the reason she voted was because of the economy and jobs. Aya voted a straight ticket, but she was reluctant to reveal who she voted for in the presidential race.

Aya wasn't alone. Donna Smith and another student named Lye were also reluctant to reveal their votes. Smith said she always votes and that she voted a straight ticket. Lye said she is also a regular voter and voted a straight ticket. She said that the most important issue to her is the economy.

Kayla, another student and first-time voter, said her most important issue is education. Kayla also said she voted a straight ticket and that she supported President Obama.

Erika Lacy, another first-time voter, said the reason she came to vote is because "this year more is at stake." She said for her the most important issues are financial aid and healthcare because she has kids. She voted a straight Democratic ticket.

Not everyone voted, though. "I never vote," student Tracy Samples said. Another student named Maria said she didn't register, so she was unable to vote today.

--Danielle Shaffer

Election day is here

Students from the Mass Communications, News Gathering and Writing, and Publications classes at Eastfield College are teaming with The Et Cetera student newspaper to cover today's election. In fact, The Et Cetera will function as a daily newspaper today, covering the elections and producing a special four-page section with results that will be distributed when our printer delivers them to campus tomorrow morning at about 11:30.

Mass Comm students will be visiting local polling places this afternoon, and News Gathering and Publications students, along with Et Cetera staffers, will cover the Democratic and Republican watch parties in Dallas tonight. They will be blogging and tweeting from their locations, as well as writing stories for tomorrow's print edition.

This is an amazing opportunity for these students to experience daily journalism in a very real-word setting. They will be interviewing candidates alongside seasoned reporters and filing stories on deadline, just as their professional counterparts will. 

Please follow our students work here, starting later this afternoon as well as @TheEtCetera on Twitter.

Republic watch party is a family thing

It's really getting packed in the room, and everyone is here with their families. Most people have their children with them, and they seem to be enjoying themselves. Everyone knows each other and are speaking and enjoying each other's company, so its all good right now.

-JaDarian Coleman