The SECB was exactly two minutes early for “Election Watch 2008” at SCCC. We walked into the library and saw a sign directing us to room T. After a circle around the room, we found room T, and expected some small sign of a party–but there was nothing. No food, no posters, no drinks–just empty tables and some students working at the computers that lined the wall. Based solely on the backs of their heads and the absence of election coverage on their computer screens, they didn’t even seem aware that today is election day.
We took a seat at an empty, round table in the middle of the room and waited for a few minutes for a sign of the show to start. Five minutes passed, and nothing. Everyone was so focused on work, we didn’t think it’d be appropriate to ask any of them if they knew when the presentation was supposed to begin. Especially because one young woman who did have the audacity to speak out loud was immediately shushed by someone from across the room.
So we kept sitting at that empty table. We stared at a blank screen and waited some more. And then eventually we looked at the returns ourselves via cell phone. “Election Watch 2008” via our G1.
Ten minutes later, two young men came and sat down next to us. “Do you know when this is supposed to start?” one asked.
“We know as much as you,” the SECB replied.
“I’m curious to hear how things are going,” he said.
“Obama just took Pennsylvania, according to CNN,” we stated, reading from the glowing screen of the phone.
“Pennsylvania? Isn’t that where Joe the Plumber is from?” He laughed. “Oh Joe the Plumber… what a strategy that was.” He took a deep breath. “So we’re gonna have a black president, huh? About time. We need to show the world we’re forward-thinking. Especially after the last eight years.”
With 15 minutes passed and no sign of any kind of official election coverage happening, the second man got up and left. But the first man continued to talk–he told us he served in the military for four years. He voted for Obama. He’s a musician, but he very often wishes he wasn’t one.
He asked the SECB if we wanted to hear a song. Being polite (read: cornered) we said yes, assuming he’d hand over an iPod or a pair of headphones or something. Instead the young man turned to a computer in the quiet library and started playing a song through the PC’s speakers. It was an acoustic track, there were lyrics about catching or holding or finding someone. We can’t remember.
“How long have you been a musician?” we asked.
“Since I was a kid,” he said.
Another guy stood up from his computer and walked across the room, and, taking the mouse into his hand, turned down the song.
“Is that okay? Thanks,” he said sarcastically. “This is a library.”
“No, it’s not okay. I’m playing a song. Why don’t you get outta here?”
“Me get outta here? This is a library!”
The Obama-voting musician turned back to the computer and turned it up.
“Why don’t I go get some of my friends and we’ll all come in and talk to you.”
“Go ahead.”
“You’re going to regret saying that. Turn it up. Go ahead, turn it up.”
“I can’t. It’s as loud as it’d go.”
The angry man walked out.
We kept our eyes glued to our phone. The song ended. “So, what’d you think?” he asked.
“We’re usually into heavier stuff,” we said, our eyes still on our phone.
While CNN called even more states for Obama, a librarian came in and was shocked that there wasn’t even a TV in the room. She walked out. It was 30 minutes after 5; we left before the fight broke out and before the party started.
