Eric Borlaug captured the office of associated student body president Friday, garnering 52 percent of the vote in the election’s only three-way race.

A total of 277 students voted in the Associated Students Senate election, down from 284 last year. The turnout settled at 1.65 percent of the 16,810 student population.

Candidates Cheryl Barkley and James Carter finished with 31 percent and 17 percent of the vote, respectively.

“I think it is ridiculous, but it’s expected,” said Borlaug, who had hoped for the turnout to double over last year.

“I was very disappointed,” said Ann Fryslie, director of Student Life.

“The candidates all worked so hard.”

The race came to an end at the stroke of midnight Friday, the deadline to cast ballots online. Fryslie extend the original Thursday deadline because of technical difficulties sending out a notification e-mail.

Current office holder Erika Tomatore did not seek re-election as she is leaving City College.

Her absence set the stage for candidates Borlaug, Barkley and Carter to battle it out. All three campaigned heavily in campus classrooms and computer labs.

Borlaug, 19, credited his campaigning techniques as having played a vital role in his victory. He visited 32 classes, handed out an estimated 1,600 flyers, attended club meetings, and posted MySpace.com bulletins.

Even wearing a “goofy” green hunting cap throughout the campaign was strategic, he added.

“I don’t always recognize someone unless they wear the same clothes all the time.”

Senator Barkley, 25, hit the campaign trail as well. She handed out flyers and likewise went to many classes to advance her ideas on how to improve college life.

Carter, 44, passed out flyers and asked professors to promote the election in their classes.

Carter, former student body president and current commissioner of clubs and organizations, said he was dismayed by the low turnout.

“You would think the students want their voice to be active,” he said.

“Why can’t we get student participation? It is a little disturbing.”

Borlaug’s term will officially begin July 1. He said he plans to have as many senators as possible start meeting in the summer, where he will encourage them to generate ideas.

“Whatever decisions they make, I will go along with,” he said.

“I’m going to facilitate…that’s the main thing.”

Borlaug said his goal of setting up the three new standing boards on the environment, diversity and finances will be one of his first presidential priorities.

He added that he is looking forward to working with the 2006-07 group of senators.

“The vibe that I’m getting from next year’s senate is so good.”

Senator Jessica Schely agreed.

“I’m looking forward to working with the senators…I think [Borlaug] has some wonderful ideas.”

By this time next year, Borlaug said he hopes to have found new avenues for fundraising so the senate can increase its budget by 250 percent.

He also said he hopes to realize his goal of filling every one of the senate’s 26 seats.

“We can’t fit them around the table -but we can try.”

– Bethany Hopkins is a Channels Editor and Natalie Taylor is a Journalism 101 student.