President Barack Obama’s re-election has prompted strong feelings both around the world and on UF’s campus.
And although the campaign commercials are over, the results from this year’s election have brought a series of firsts in history that are still sinking in for student organizations at UF.
Tuesday’s results included the largest amount of women ever seated in the U.S. Congress, three states’ approval of same-sex marriage and two state’s legalization of marijuana for recreational use.
UF Women’s Student Association President Marla Munro, 20, said she thought the record number of women that were elected this year was a “great feat.”
With the start of the new legislative session in January, women will hold 20 seats in the Senate and a record high of at least 77 in the House of Representatives, according to a Center for American Women and Politics press release.
“But we have a long way to go before we achieve true equality and fair representation of women in our government,” said Munro, a women’s studies junior.
Bridget Siegel, a 20-year-old religion junior and president of UF’s Pride Student Union, had to switch back and forth from watching the polling result to an episode of “Sons of Anarchy.”
“It was getting too stressful,” she said. “I needed a distraction.”
To Siegel, the night was a victory for the LGBTQ community.
Maine, Maryland and Washington became the first states to approve same-sex marriage by a popular vote. Another victory came from Tammy Baldwin’s seat in the Senate, making her the nation’s first openly gay politician to win.
Siegel said finding out the voters wanted to recognize same-sex marriage made “everything in my life kind of blow up in happiness.”
“Acceptance from leaders in this country is a great thing,” she said.
Colorado passed Amendment 64 and Washington passed Initiative 502, which legalizes marijuana for recreational use and sales. People older than 21 can possess and consume up to an ounce of marijuana, and individuals can grow up to six marijuana plants in Colorado.
Guy Ginton, president of NORML Gators, the UF chapter for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said he was excited to hear the results.
“It’s important to remember that prohibition ended on a state level,” he said. “I think it will be a struggle until more states get on board.”
Ginton, a 20-year-old economics junior, said he hopes the decision can bring an end to the drug war.
“It is impossible to die from marijuana — you can’t overdose on it,” he said. “The only deaths caused by marijuana are the laws making it illegal.”
