11 2024 Election Broadcasting Democracy Campus organizations observe the 2024 presidential elections. DEMOCRATIC DISCOURSE On election night, professors and students discuss the results pouring in. The event allowed for a wide range of people to experience the election. Photo by Jenna Gaessler Harding’s campus was no exception to the buzz surrounding the 2024 presidential election. Department of Communication’s student-produced broadcast, HU16, offered live election updates for White County and the nation. At the same time, the political science honors society, Pi Sigma Alpha, hosted a watch party in the Holland Waller Commons. Both organizations had one goal: to report the truth to the community and the University’s student body. Senior Evan Carter, president of Pi Sigma Alpha, began planning the watch party months in advance, as the election fell during a chaotic Club Week. Carter emphasized the importance of this event to his fellow political science peers. “It’s kind of like the Olympics for political science,” Carter said. “We were trying to come together and just have fun with the politics and the election.” While students watched the results come in, senior Emma McDaris was at a local White County polling station reporting on the numbers for HU16. “I was there looking at the boxes being loaded in and reporting what the stats were,” McDaris said. “We got to see the local candidates. Actually, they sat and watched. I got to interview one of the candidates there; that was fun.” McDaris served as the head producer for the election broadcast and began thinking in April about what election coverage would look like. After months of preparation, the HU16 team was ready to broadcast the election results to the Searcy community. Sophomore Eli Dean served as an anchor for the HU16 election coverage. “We were the only voice to this community in White County,” Dean said. “It was a big deal. Being more familiarized with what’s going on around you politically is really important, and I think we did a great job of that.” HU16 served as the only news broadcast in White County that provided live election results for issues on the ballot that directly impacted the community. Off the air, McDaris highlighted the importance of young people being involved and informed about the political process, especially those living on a college campus. “Democracy is how America survives,” McDaris said. “We have to start caring now and understanding the process.” During a time of divisive politics and eagerness to see the future of America, Harding students witnessed and participated in the election in real time. They reported in the newsroom and gathered with fellow students to watch the results, all with Christian love. Written by Abby Davidson
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