Tonight is the big night, and student government has teamed up with Vote Project, a volunteer U student group, to mark the event with an elections result party.
The event will mark the end of months of campaigning for Vote Project and the Associated Students of the University of Utah, where a record 6,000-plus U students registered to vote in today’s election.
“It’ll be a great way to celebrate the students here at the U,” said ASUU government relations board chairperson Taylor Morgan.
The room will consist of more than just coverage of the ongoing election. Organizers hope that free food, Lovesacs and a Democrat vs. Republican Halo tournament will draw a large crowd.
“Hopefully the Halo tournament will be a healthy way to vent frustrations,” Morgan said. If the tournament doesn’t succeed in that role, there will also be an open forum for debate offered to any who care to speak.
KSL TV 5 will also cover the event live, providing another forum for feedback between the U students and the Utah Democratic and Republican headquarters. This will be the first time the U has been included in such a way, in part to the political activism demonstrated by the student body.
“We’re really excited for U students to be recognized,” said Bryson Morgan, director of the Vote Project U Chapter. “We hope that these numbers make the state take the U more seriously, and show their favor with funding.”
Vote Project worked together with ASUU’s government relations board to make this year’s numbers big.
“ASUU only gave out $1,200 to Vote Project,” said Taylor Morgan. “They did what they did without much money at all.”
The election party will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at the Saltair room of the Union.