NEW YORK - At Columbia University yesterday, students turned out in high numbers to support Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's run for the Democratic presidential nomination.
But the showing was lighter for New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, even on her home turf.
Students for Obama set up a phonebanking station on Barnard College's campus and made calls throughout the day.
Leaders of Students for Obama were passionate about their candidate and optimistic about his chances in the national primaries.
"We're students, we're idealistic . and we're getting involved and getting excited about a platform that is about change in a very honest way," said Barnard junior Alana Krivo-Kaufman, the Get Out the Vote coordinator for Students for Obama.
And as the afternoon progressed, Obama supporters became even more visible on campus. Students donned Obama apparel, campaigned outside the polling place in Wein Hall, a student dorm, and set up a table on College Walk.
But despite the Obama campaign's clear dominance, many campus Clinton supporters were showing their support in a different way - at the campaign's official headquarters in downtown New York.
This difference in visibility was an issue of resources available to the Clinton campaign in New York, said Jonathan Backer, media director for the Columbia Democrats.
"Because this is Hillary Clinton's home state, the Students for Hillary chapter has lots of connections to people who make up her local presence," he said. "Students for Hillary go directly to the source, and Students for Obama have much more of an organic operation."
Barnard junior Mara Richard - an active member of Students for Hillary at Columbia and a member of Clinton's campaign staff - said she was often asked why the Hillary campaign wasn't more visible on campus.
"That question is very reflective of today, but I don't think it's reflective of the way students are voting," she said.
She described the Columbia support for Clinton as less focused on campus activity and more involved in off-campus and city campaign efforts.
"It's not so much focused on, 'Let's all put signs in our windows,'" she said.
'It's what we do'
At the end of a full day of classes and campaigning, around 100 students gathered last evening in Columbia's student center. They sat around a big-screen TV tuned to CNN, eating pizza and talking animatedly as they watched the election results pour in.
Earlier in the day, it was almost impossible to tell that it was Super Tuesday - student political groups had yet to set up camp, and the only evidence of the primary was several Obama posters plastered on bus stops and bulletin boards.
But despite the early lag in activity, Columbia students agreed that the primary is an important issue on campus. Columbia senior David Ma said the primary "is definitely on people's minds," although it's not necessarily a constant topic of discussion.
"We're dorky Columbians. It's what we do," Students for Obama president and Columbia sophomore Mary McDonald said.
Election officials said the campus turnout was higher than in past years. Steven Richman, general counsel for the New York City Board of Elections, said voter turnout was "moderate to heavy," adding that he was "pleasantly surprised" with this turnout.
At the results-watching party, CNN finally announced that New York had been called for Clinton - but despite the groans and cheers, the news didn't change the energy in the room. Students were still excited, still waiting to see what happened in other states - a perfect end to a long, politically involved day.
