The Harris-Walz campaign and President Ben Vinson III confirmed the campaign will host its election night event on The Yard next Tuesday.
Vinson sent a university-wide email Friday, saying this will be the first time a presidential election night event will be hosted on a college campus in “modern history.”
“We are incredibly proud of our alumna, Kamala Harris, who has already made history as the first woman of color and HBCU graduate to serve as our nation’s vice president,” Vinson said in the Nov. 1 email. “We are also honored that she has chosen Howard as the place to potentially make history again.”
The campaign will rent several other Howard facilities and spaces that will support operations and security measures, though it was not specified which facilities would be used. The event is not open to the public, Vinson said, but the university is determining viewing opportunities for guests. It will also be nationally and internationally televised.
Access to many spaces on campus will be modified Thursday afternoon, Vinson said. Students will still be able to access their residences, but auxiliary services such as dining will be “modified.” Fences are erected around The Yard and workers were seen Friday morning organizing construction materials.
“We understand the significance of this event and the eagerness of our community to be involved,” Vinson said. “Please take this opportunity to exercise your right to vote, a right that Howard Bison have dedicated their lives to securing.”
Throughout her presidential campaign, Harris, a 1986 graduate, has emphasized her identity as a Howard alumna. The 1986 graduate is the first elected vice president to be a woman of color and an HBCU graduate, as well as the first Howard alumnae to run for president. The 2024 presidential race is extremely close, according to The New York Times. As of Nov. 1, Harris is leading the national polling average at 49 percent with former president Donald Trump following behind her at 48 percent, the Times concluded.
The Office of University Communications updated next week’s university operation status on Oct. 29, moving classes online the Wednesday and Thursday following Election Day on Nov. 5, given the possibility that results will not be finalized on Tuesday. The university will still be closed on Tuesday.
Harris has used Howard’s campus before during her presidential campaign. In August, The Hilltop reported that she was spotted leaving campus in her motorcade outside the Interdisciplinary Research Building. The New York Times reported Harris used Howard facilities earlier in August. Harris also announced her 2016 presidential campaign at Howard.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is taking proactive measures, working with the U.S. Secret Service and increasing MPD staff and visibility to ensure they are “meeting the needs of any challenges that shall arrive or might arrive during election week,” Pamela A. Smith, Chief of Police, said in an Oct. 29 news conference on security for election night events in the city.
Smith said MPD has not identified any credible threats to D.C. during election week.
Trump will host his election night party at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida.
Copy edited by Camiryn Stepteau
