On Nov. 5 in the Anderson Academic Commons, IGNITE and PODER Latine (Política Organizada por Diversidad, Equidad, y Representación) held an election watch night in honor of the 2024 Presidential Election.
The group served Raising Cane’s and Little Ceasers Pizza and had many activities, including Kamala Harris coloring sheets, bracelet-making sets and gingerbread house kits. IGNITE and PODER provided skincare face masks, chapstick and water bottles with goodies.
PODER is a fairly new affinity group on campus this quarter and was founded out of the need to discuss politics within the DU Latine community.
“We noticed that there wasn’t any sort of representation or awareness within our community regarding politics,” Erika Leon, PODER’s president, said. Their goal for the year is to “…raise consciousness on any sort of political issue that our community faces.”
PODER wants to emphasize that politics is for everyone on campus, not just individuals who happen to be political science majors or pursuing law. The election watch night is the group’s second biggest event after their trivia event.
“I think especially for an election year like this, so many big issues are at stake and I think that makes people so nervous and maybe they don’t want to be alone in their room. I think this is a good chance to bring a community together,” Amelia De La Trinidad, PODER’s director of operations, explained.
For this particular event, PODER partnered with IGNITE, a chapter of a national organization that aims to increase women’s participation in politics and leadership.
“IGNITE and PODER focus on bringing light to minority politics,” Eric Alfaro, PODER’s community outreach director, mentioned. “Two missions that very directly align. There’s no better collaboration in our minds to have at this event.”
“I’ve definitely been feeling a little anxious over the past couple of days just leading up to now but I’m just trying to stay optimistic,” Arely Romero, a second-year real estate and construction management major, said.
“I’m terrified. I don’t like that I feel that way about the government that is about to rule my literal body as a woman. It just horrifies me that that’s where I’m at as a nineteen-year-old in this country,” Piper Heilbronner, a second-year sociology and public policy double major, Arely Romero, a second-year real estate and construction management major, said.
Teagan Weindel, the secretary of IGNITE, echoed a similar point.
“Reproductive rights are something very important to me and are something that I will rely on in my future as a woman with a chronic illness. I really, really hope I still have those same rights,” Weindel explained.
The event extended past its initial time of 10 p.m., as the anxiety was at an extreme high. In the end, Donald Trump was announced as the president-elect, with J.D Vance as his vice president-elect.
For more information on IGNITE and upcoming activities, check out its Instagram, Crimson Connect and national organization pages. PODER Latine’s growth can be supported on its Instagram and Crimson Connect.
