On an evening that began with raucous cheers for the candidates at the Institute of Politics (IOP), hundreds of students waited nervously into the early morning for a result that never came.

At about 1 a.m., the crowd was told to disperse and the once highly charged ARCO Forum event fizzled as students trickled home.

Throughout the evening, the atmosphere alternated between nervous tension and jubilant celebration. The largely Democratic crowd cheered wildly with each state that went for Vice President Al Gore '69.

Victories for Texas Gov. George W. Bush were greeted with less enthusiasm.

Not even a smoking popcorn machine, which caused a fire alarm and a brief evacuation of the building early in the evening, could break the spirit of the crowd.

"I am more amused than anything," Jacob S. Weinstein said of the evacuation. "It's a chance to get some fresh air."

Even as people waited outside on the sidewalk, someone heard on the radio that Gore had won Pennsylvania. The crowd erupted with applause.

But partisan ties aside, students said they came to the IOP's election night event to hear the different opinions and partake in the festivity.

William R. Levine '04, a Bush supporter, said he came to the IOP because "it was more exciting when people are rooting for different sides."

"I didn't want to seclude myself with people who agree with me," he said.

Richard L. Rivero '04, a Gore supporter, said he thought the IOP event would be a fun evening--and a learning experience.

"I wanted to learn more about the electoral process and hear all the different opinions," he said. "It's an opportunity that I should take advantage of while I am here at Harvard."

Jennifer G. Flood, a student at the Graduate School of Education, said she came the Forum to find people who shared her interest in politics. She also said she wanted to hear a diversity of opinions.

The crowd was also treated to a call from Sen. John S. McCain (R-Ariz.), who addressed the crowd over the ARCO Forum's speakers.

McCain shared his thoughts on the election and fielded student questions.

He told the Forum that he would rather stay in the Senate than join Bush's cabinet if the Texas governor became president.

Other speakers at the event included David Nyhan, a Boston Globe columnist who stressed voter participation, and Maxine Isaacs, a Kennedy School professor who was a press secretary to 1984 Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale.