November 06, 2012 — Coral Gables — In the midst of a fall semester that has seen the two U.S. presidential candidates visit their campus on two occasions each, University of Miami students headed to the polls on Election Day, many of them casting ballots for the first time in their lives.
UM President Donna E. Shalala accompanied a group of students to the BankUnited Center precinct. There, students—some of them toting backpacks and books—took their places in line alongside Coral Gables residents to exercise their constitutional right.
UM President Donna E. Shalala and Sebastian with students at the BankUnited Center voting precinct.
While waiting to vote, students ate pizza and popcorn, courtesy of the Get Out the Vote team, which also hired a local DJ to provide entertainment. “This is the non-partisan pizza,” joked Shalala, who, along with Sebastian the Ibis posed for pictures with students.
Bumper stickers, signs, “Voters are Sexy” T-shirts, and other election-related freebies were distributed. In the heart of UM’s Coral Gables campus, election-day activities at the University Center got under way, and with the major television and cable news networks airing daylong coverage, watch parties were planned on campus.
