TOPSHOT - US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks at her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on July 22, 2024. Harris on Monday compared her election rival Donald Trump to "predators" and "cheaters," as she attacked the first former US leader to be convicted of a crime. (Photo by Erin SCHAFF / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ERIN SCHAFF/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen her alma mater, Howard University in Washington, D.C., as the venue for her Election Night watch party. This significant event underscores Harris’s deep connection to the historically Black university, where she began her political journey as a freshman class representative. Returning to Howard, Harris reflects on the “full circle” moment, saying, “The first office I ever ran for was freshman class representative at Howard University.”
Student Enthusiasm and Key Issues
The Howard University student body has shown strong enthusiasm for the election, especially with one of their own alumni holding the vice presidency. Harris’s presence on campus throughout the campaign has been both a source of pride and motivation for students.
- Trent Morrow, a freshman from Georgia, expressed the honor of witnessing political leaders return to their alma mater. For Morrow, gun control and educational disparities are key concerns, especially following recent tragic events close to his Atlanta home.
- Aidan Newell, another Howard freshman, emphasized the importance of “queer rights and bodily autonomy of women.” The stakes of these issues, Newell noted, are deeply felt on Howard’s diverse campus, highlighting the urgency of voting.
For the Howard community, this Election Night watch party is more than an event; it’s a rallying point. The campus atmosphere is alive with students inspired to make their voices heard on the issues that impact them most.
