Cheers of “four more years!” and general excited cries of “Obama!” erupted from the South Quad as students heard the results of the 2012 presidential election.

Though various news organizations called the election at different times, much of the celebration on Eastern’s campus started around 10 p.m. when MSNBC announced President Barack Obama’s second term.

Numerous students had gathered in the Andrews Hall basement to watch the election results as they were announced. After students heard the results, most made their way outside cheering with enthusiasm. Some began dancing in celebration.

Shanae Connel, a junior English major, said she was ecstatic about the results. She said this was her first time voting in a presidential election and she did everything she could to help Obama. Not only did Connel vote, but she said she worked with the NAACP to help promote Obama.

Another first-time voter, Xavier Menzies Jr., a freshman English major, said he felt empowered and was proud to live in a country with such social evolution.

“It feels like I finally have a choice,” Menzies said.

He said many people told him his vote was not going to make a difference, but he ignored them.

“I wanted to be in the number of people who helped make a difference,” Menzies said.

Both Connel and Menzies said education and student loan policies were deciding factors in their votes for this election.

Despite student excitement on campus, Richard Wandling, a political science professor, said the youth of America has been less enthusiastic than the 2008 election.

Wandling said this could be attributed to Obama’s campaign focusing more on what might go wrong if Romney is elected.

While Obama still won the election, Wandling said many people likely voted for him, not out of enthusiasm, but to make sure Romney was not elected.

David Carwell, a political science professor, agreed with Wandling, and said many voters were less excited about Obama because he ran as an incumbent this election.

“You’re only new once,” Carwell said.

Seth Schroeder can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].