ISU political organizations and area community leaders took part in a post-election forum held Thursday afternoon in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union to analyze the confusion that still baffles the country.

The discussion panel, “The 2000 Election: What, Why and What Now?” was sponsored by the ISU Political Science Department and the Committee on Lectures.

Steffen Schmidt, university professor of political science, moderated the forum, and he said the panel’s purpose was to talk about how the election went, what will happen now and discuss the most important things that will come out of this election.

“The most interesting fact that has come out of this election is that there hasn’t been a president elected yet,” said Jason Darrah, president of College Republicans.

Darrah, senior in political science, said the reason this election is so close is because Vice President Al Gore did not run an effective campaign. He said Gore’s lack of discussion on the economy and his decision not to allow President Bill Clinton to help out in the campaign may have cost him the election.

Debbie Kattenhorn, president of ISU Democrats and Cyclones for Gore, said problems may arise if Gore wins in the popular vote but loses in the Electoral College.

“The most important outcome of this election will not be who wins, but what becomes of the Electoral College,” said Kattenhorn, senior in political science.

She said she was discouraged by the lack of attention paid by college students during this election.

“We were disgruntled with the students on campus,” Kattenhorn said. “It seemed like they didn’t care and I don’t know why — this has been an amazing election.”

She said she now wonders if ISU students regret that they didn’t vote.

“It will be interesting to see student reaction,” she said.

Schmidt said students often don’t pay attention because they are ignored by the candidates who assume college students don’t vote.

Jean Murray, executive director of the Iowa Democratic Party, said this has been too close of an election for anyone to believe that their vote didn’t count.

“Nobody should ever walk away and say their vote does not count,” Murray said. “Everyone’s vote counts.”

She said the race was close because more people voted before Election Day in the state of Iowa than have ever before.

“This election has brought in more people [to the democratic process],” said Joyce Russell, journalist for WOI radio.

She said Elizabeth Dole was one candidate who early on brought anti-Clinton supporters into the election, paving the way for Republicans to do well in Iowa.

Russell said one person who helped Gore win in the state of Iowa was Gov. Tom Vilsack. However, she said, this will lead to a more hostile atmosphere in the state legislature in the upcoming session.

The panel said another recount in Florida is possible, as the election stays in limbo.

“There are too many irregularities that I can’t believe won’t go unnoticed,” said Murray, in reference to the 19,000 nullified ballots in Palm Beach County, Fla.

Jim Hutter, associate professor of political science, said there will be a thorough examination of Florida.

“I don’t think this thing is over yet,” Hutter said, “which is not what I thought would be happening when I woke up this morning.”