Patriotic sprinkles decorated blue frosted cupcakes, and longneck bottles lined the tables of the cozy lit apartment. Student senators slouched on plushy couches with CNN playing in the background, debating what the best fried chicken was around and which swing states they thought would turn red or blue.

“It’s natural,” student trustee David Pileski said at the viewing party. “We’re in a closed area where we all know each other’s beliefs and are comfortable. Politics is very personal, and to be able to talk to close friends about this election is the way to enjoy a memorable night.”

Members of the student senate weren’t the only students to tune in to the presidential election results Tuesday night. Some students watched the results roll in from the comfort of their couches and the convenience of their laptops. Eddie Gonzales, junior in LAS, said he kept an eye on the election results through Politico.com.

Many registered student organizations also met at campus buildings to watch the results together. The College Democrats attended a local viewing party at Laborer’s Union Hall, sponsored by states Sen. Mike Frerichs, D-52, and state Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-103.

Shana Harrison, president of the RSO and senior in LAS, said their members are supporters of the local candidates and watched the results together to show their support.

“We took our students out there to enjoy meeting strong Democrats in Champaign County and to eat some good food and enjoy our night,” she said.

The College Republicans also attended an off-campus event, hosted by state Rep. Chapin Rose, R-110. Despina Batson, president of the RSO and senior in LAS, said members watched the results of the election with county candidates.

“The county party invited us to their victory celebration, which was off-campus, and we attended as one large team,” she said. “This year we were hand-in-hand with the county party, so it’s a great way for us to come together and watch the polls and have a good celebration.”

The Political Science Club also met Tuesday night on campus. Max Balkan, executive board member of the club and sophomore in Business, said they switched the day their club met so they could watch the results together.

Balkan said the club has been discussing the election during its weekly meetings, and he has made several predictions about how the results of the election would turn out by using a mapping website.

“I’m expecting Obama to win by 30 to 40 electoral votes,” he said.

Many students, hoping to get homework done in the Union, unexpectedly found themselves engaged in the CNN broadcast in the Courtyard Cafe, courtesy of the Illini Union Board.

“I was at the Union already, and I had to get some work done,” said Jay Banerjee, senior in Engineering. “Then I saw (the election results) were on and I started watching.”

Corinne can be reached at [email protected].