Universities are alleged to be bastions of liberal thought -- and election results suggest that UAF fits that category.

The Nov. 7 elections ended with Democrats controlling both chambers of Congress, and local politicians, including Democrats Joe Thomas and Scott Kawasaki, kicking several incumbents out of their jobs.

And if the votes cast at UAF were representative of the state, Democratic candidates Tony Knowles and Diane Benson would have won by a landslide. U.S. House of Representatives candidate Benson won 57.7 percent in the university campus precinct, while gubernatorial candidate Knowles won 56.4 percent.

Statewide, however, Benson lost with only 40.1 percent to Republican incumbent Don Young. Knowles lost with 40.7 percent to Republican Sarah Palin.

Jey Johnson, a sophomore majoring in linguistics and theater, voted for Democrats and Greens, though he said he lacked specific knowledge about the politicians.

"I was so bad in not keeping in touch with what was going on in this election," Johnson said. "I voted Tony Knowles for governor."

Levi Ben-Israel, a junior double major in theater and psychology, voted for only Democrats and was pleased with the outcome.

"I hoped that what actually did happen, would happen," he said. "I voted for Guttenberg, Thomas, and Benson, because I would like to see a more liberal government."

Ben-Israel said he thinks conservative governments tend to "break down the separation between church and state." He would like people to be free from "government imposed morality," he said.

Anna Gagne-Hawes, a junior double major in theater and history, voted for the Democrats as well.

"I identify with the Democratic Party because of its stance on women's issues, healthcare rights, and the environmental policies," she said.

Gagne-Hawes is from Juneau, so she voted absentee for the Democratic candidates in her district. She also voted for Knowles and Benson.

North Pole resident Jason Turnquist said he "thought that Democrats would win," but was expecting "Republicans and Karl Rove to do more to swing the election."

Turquist was releived at the lack of widespread election problems, and said the "lack of corruption built my confidence in the electoral process."

Some students did vote Republican, though.

Courtney Walinski recently moved to North Pole because her husband is in the military and stationed in Fairbanks. Walinski is in her second year at UAF, studying early childhood development.

Since she is new to the area, she said, "I wasn't familiar with who was running."

She did vote for governor, and voted Republican by supporting Sarah Palin.

Blake Rider, a junior in electrical engineering, voted for the Democrats.

"I am pro-choice, pro-gay rights, and I tend to agree with the majority of the Democrats' values," he said.

His votes for Democrats included Knowles.

"I was worried about Palin's religious views being imposed on the state," Rider said.

Several students found independent Andrew Halcro's message appealing.

"Halcro would have been a pretty strong governor," said Mark Dallman, a junior in philosophy. "Knowles has been in politics for quite enough, and I wonder if he has been institutionally brainwashed."

Dallman "didn't know much about Palin, because she wasn't very specific about which camp she was in."

Ryan Rankin, a junior in physics, also supported Halcro.

"Halcro didn't talk like a politician," said Rankin. "He didn't spin his message or beat around the bush. I am happy he got 10 percent of the vote."

Rankin also supported Diane Benson. He said he "didn't know much about Benson, but I felt that voting for her was voting for the lesser of two evils."