Election-Night Gala Scheduled by Students at Golden West College

Forget those ritzy bashes held by political party big wigs in upscale Orange County hotels. Students at Golden West College can attend an election-night gala on November 5 in the Student Activities Office on the GWC campus.

Golden West College
Copy by Marc S. Posner
October 29, 1996
Release: 96-58

One reason this is a favorite is because it was part of NBC’s national network coverage of election night in 1996 — one of a small number of stops for a package by Mike Boettcher on the Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. The other reason it’s a favorite is because I learned from it; I was initially reluctant to publicize the event because I didn’t see news value in it. I was pressed to reconsider, and the results speak volumes.

The event starts when the polls close at 8 p.m. and continues until 11 p.m. and features an evening of watching the returns stream in. Also in fashion for the event, which runs until 11 p.m., are the colors red, white and blue. The room will be packed with flags, balloons, streamers and carnations in a scene reminiscent of the conventions held in San Diego and Chicago this summer.

Snacks — including hot dogs, nachos, a veggie tray, chips, cake, cheese and crackers, and punch — will be served.

The event is sponsored by the Associated Students of Golden West College.

Students have been following the presidential race and Proposition 209 closely. Also of interest locally, three seats are open on the Coast Community College District board. Earlier this month, students held a candidates forum for the would-be trustees and they hosted a debate on Prop. 209, dubbed the California Civil Rights Initiative.

In a mock election held earlier this month, students voted to re-elect President Bill Clinton. The incumbent defeated Republican challenger Bob Dole by a 25-point margin, 56% to 31%. Ross Perot finished with double-digit support at 10%. Libertarian nominee Harry Browne got 2% while Peace and Freedom Party candidate Marsha Feinland had a single vote.

Prop. 209 also won convincing approval with 55% in favor and 41% opposed; 4% of the voters were undecided on the measure, which would remove affirmative-action from college entrance and job application processes.

Of those who voted in the mock ballot, 85% said they intend to vote in the real election on November 5.

Golden West College is located at 15744 Golden West Street in Huntington Beach. The campus is bounded by Golden West and Gothard streets and Edinger and McFadden Avenues.

More information about the college is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.gwc.cccd.edu.

For more information about the election-night party, please contact the Student Activities office at (714) 895-8261. For general information, please call (714) 892-7711.