The Political Science Club sponsored a bus trip to the winning candidate of the Governor’s Race’s victory party and speech, last Tuesday night. A mixed group of graduate students, undergraduates, and members of the community gathered on the bus that left at 8 pm to go to Asbury Park Convention Hall where Governor Elect Chris Christie’s victory party was held.
The bus picked up everyone who reserved a seat behind the Rebecca Stanford Student Center. Students and people of the community were able to get their tickets online for free.
Upon arrival to the Convention Hall, students had to present their tickets and go through a short security tent set up out front of the entrance. Once inside on the main floor was a stage set up where Christie was going to give his acceptance speech on the main floor. Food and drinks were offered in a separate hall connected to the main floor.
Attendants walked around with lanyards for passes to get on stage during the Governor’s victory speech. Some students were able to get on stage, while others with passes were seated near the podium where the Governor was set to speak.
In his speech, Christie expressed his gratitude to the people of New Jersey stating, “So tonight, first and foremost, I want to say thank you, New Jersey, for making me the luckiest guy in the world.”
Christie then made a promise, “And for the next four years, we will fight to make those changes permanent, and we will fight to make them bigger. I did not seek a second term to do small things. I sought a second term to finish the job – now watch me do it.”
Christie continued, “I used to tell folks all the time that I had the greatest job in the world – for a Jersey kid to be elected Governor of the state where I was born and raised.”
He continued, “It’s the greatest job that you could ever have in your life – I loved it every day, I would get up and know that I would have a chance to do something great. I didn’t do something great every day, but I had a chance to do something great every day for people that I would probably never meet.”
Christie spoke about the influence that Sandy had on his first term, “But on October 29 of last year, that job changed. Was no longer a job for me. It’s a mission. You see, a mission is different than a job. A mission is something that’s sacred. It’s a sacred trust that was thrust upon me and you on October 29th of last year.”
Dr. Joseph Patten, Chair of the Political Science and Sociology Department and advisor to the Political Science club said, “Taking a ride on the Political Bus on election night to meet political leaders across our state is now an 8 year old tradition of the Political Science Club.”
Patten said, “It’s especially fun to see students from all majors who have never before engaged our political process, learn that it is accessible to everyone. The Political Bus is a fun event, and politics is supposed to be fun. It’s about meeting people from all walks of life, sharing ideas, and trying to solve problems.”
Ryan Kelly, a junior political science major, said “Well since it was in Asbury it was too good of an opportunity for any political science student to pass up, which ultimately led to a great turn out from our school. It was great to see the man behind the Sandy reform in the flesh. We very well could have seen his 2016 presidential campaign kickoff.”
There has been anticipation about Christie’s intention in 2016. Christie told ABC’s This Week in response to a 2016 bid, “Listen, who knows? I don’t know. I’m going to continue to do my job and finish the job. But everybody who is trying to figure out what life is going to bring you a few years from now, I didn’t expect to be sitting here four years ago… So, nobody can make those predictions.”
Monica Santos, a sophomore political science major, said, “Being a bit of a political junkie, I was expecting the world, and then some, when I signed up to go on the political bus. What I experienced though was unlike anything I could have thought up. Putting all political affiliations aside, the atmosphere of the entire bus ride over and of the Asbury Park Center booming with the happy buzz of Christie supporters, was just absolutely amazing.”
She continued, “I don’t think I ever realized (until going on the political bus) that so many people could truly be united under the common beliefs that they are so passionate about. It was just a mind-opening experience to what the world of politics really has to offer.”
PHOTO TAKEN by Jessica Roberts
