The sound of drumming, tambourines and loud, spirited cheering from supporters of Bruins United and Students First! drowned out every other sound on the steps of Kerckhoff Hall on Thursday night.
The cheers became louder with each passing moment as both slates and supporters of The Green Initiative Fund awaited the results for the undergraduate student government elections.
Supporters of the Students First! slate crowded the steps in front of Kerckhoff Hall chanting away with cheers and songs such as: “We are the students, the mighty, mighty students. Fighting for justice and education.”
Members from various organizations supporting Students First! poured out onto Bruin Walk while Bruins United supporters waited on the grass alongside the steps.
The night was more of a rally, and the Students First! candidates huddled together before being swallowed by the mass of supporters.
To the left of the Students First! supporters were the Bruins United candidates. Their smaller group performed 8-claps and jumped up and down as supporters chanted cheers of “Bruins United will never be defeated.”
At the head of the stairs were the organizers and supporters of The Green Initiative Fund. The referendum proposed a $4 increase in quarterly student fees to support environmental sustainability projects. Cheers for the referendum came from both of the slates, with people chanting “T-G-I-F! Let’s go green!”
As supporters waited underneath the glowing Kerckhoff lights for the results to be announced, several flags flowed in the air, highlighting the different groups supporting Students First! candidates.
Participants didn’t quiet down until a voice struggled to be heard from the loudspeakers. It belonged to Kyle Kleckner, the Elections Board chair. As he spoke, Students First! supporters lowered their flags in anticipation while the Bruins United crowd rocked back and forth, hands under chins ““ all waiting for him to announce the results.
In reverse roll-call order, Kleckner began the announcements. With every win Students First! received, the cheers in the crowd increased, and by the time Evan Shulman and Homaira Hosseini were announced as the internal vice president and president, respectively, the crowd roared.
Members of Bruins United shed tears over the election of their two representatives, but more so over their loss to the opposing slate.
Four supporters of Bruins United slowly marched down Bruin Walk with presidential candidate Matt Sandler’s campaign signboard as if part of a funeral procession.
With the results finally announced, supporters of Students First! marched down to Bruin Plaza, where a large circle was formed and each candidate thanked his or her supporters.
Hosseini, initially at a loss for words, was carried into the center of the circle, where she thanked everyone present.
“Each and every single one of you did so much for this campaign. I don’t deserve to be here,” she said, to which the crowd responded: “Yes you do!”