Where to Watch the Election Tonight

Students gathered at BU Central in November 2008 to watch the presidential election returns. BU Central will again host a viewing party tonight starting at 7 p.m. Photo by Kalman Zabarsky

After months and months of campaigning, debating, and television ads, the moment of truth is here. Tonight, either President Barack Obama will be reelected or former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will be the next president of the United States.

Four years ago, an estimated 71.5 million Americans tuned in to presidential election coverage. And across the country tonight, people will gather together in homes, bars, and community centers to do the same. Don’t want to watch alone in your dorm room? No worries. BU is hosting a number of election viewing events across campus. Below is a list of where you can go to watch the returns. All of the events are free and open to BU students with a valid ID, except where noted.

BU Central

In collaboration with Student Government, BU Central is providing all-day election coverage, but bear in mind that polls don’t begin closing on the East Coast until 8 p.m., so networks won’t have much to report until then. Beginning at 7 p.m., BU Central will host a watch party, with four large screens broadcasting coverage by BUTV10, CNN, Fox News, and NBC. Refreshments will be provided. This is a joint effort by the Dean of Students Office, the Student Activities Office, WTBU, BUTV10, Student Government, and BU Central.

BU Central is in the basement of the George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Ave. Tonight’s watch party is free and open to students with a valid BU ID.

BU Pub

In honor of Election Day, the BU Pub will hold a political-themed trivia night. Patrons can catch election coverage on the pub’s televisions.

The BU Pub is in the basement of The Castle, 225 Bay State Rd. Students must be 21+ to enter. The pub will close at 11 p.m.

The Florence and Chafetz Hillel House

Students can watch election coverage starting at 6 p.m. in the Hillel House second floor lounge.

Hillel House is at 213 Bay State Rd. The building close at midnight.

The Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground

The Howard Thurman Center, BU’s multicultural center, will provide election coverage starting at 8 p.m.

The Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground is in the basement of the George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Ave.

Warren Towers

The Warren Towers dining hall will show election coverage beginning at 9 p.m. and will feature a complimentary nacho bar. This is a joint effort of the Warren Towers Residence Hall Association and Warren Towers faculty-in-residence Bryan Stone, School of Theology associate dean, Sue Berger, a Sargent College clinical associate professor, and Roy Grundmann, a College of Communication associate professor.

Warren Towers is at 700 Commonwealth Ave. All students who live on campus will be able to swipe into the building.

The Towers

The Towers Residence Hall Association is hosting an election viewing party in Franklin Lounge starting at 7 p.m. Complimentary food and drinks will be provided.

The Towers is at 140 Bay State Rd. All students who live on campus will be able to swipe into the building.

Myles Standish Hall

Starting at 8 p.m., Myles Standish Hall faculty-in-residence Douglas Kriner, a College of Arts & Sciences associate professor, is hosting an election-viewing event in the Myles Bradford Lounge. There will be some refreshments provided and a discussion about the results as they unfold and the issues facing the winner. If the crowd is too large, the event will move to the former dining hall at Myles.

Myles Standish Hall is at 610 Beacon St. All students who live on campus will be able to swipe into the building.

South Campus

If you live on South Campus, head over to the basement of 520 Park Drive at 9 p.m. to watch coverage. Complimentary refreshments will be provided. The event is hosted by the South Campus Residence Hall Association and South Campus faculty-in-residence Mark Laursen, a Sargent College clinical associate professor and Student Health Services director of athletic training, and Kevin Stoehr, a College of General Studies associate professor.

Only residents of South Campus will have swipe access to the building at 520 Park Drive.

If you know of other Election Night events, post them in the comments section below.

BUTV10 and WBTU will also be covering the election. More details can be found here.

Find election year analysis and commentary by BU professors in the video series “Campaign 2012.”