Only 161 students voted in the Black Student Union runoff election — an election that was open to the entire student body.
Erica Washington, a biological sciences junior, was elected vice president with 59.6 percent of the votes cast.
“I feel like I can exhale,” she said. “I’m looking forward.”
Washington said she thinks one reason for the low voter turnout was the rain.
Washington ran on an unofficial ticket with Shannon Harris, who was elected BSU president in the March 15 election.
The two plan to work together to implement the ideas they campaigned on — ideas that involved improving the BSU by working with the African American Studies Department and Student Government.
Washington said she would like to get more minority students involved with SG by letting them know they can be involved without actually running for office. She said she wants all minorities — not just blacks — to feel comfortable working with SG and to fill appointed positions.
Derrick Petit, a political science and history sophomore, was the other vice presidential candidate in the runoff.
Petit said he is looking forward to continuing to work with the BSU to accomplish the agenda he set forward in the campaign.
While the candidates look forward, they also expressed concern about the turnout for the election.
“I’m not sure if it was apathy,” Washington said.
Petit said he thinks the low turnout was caused by
competition with SG elections, which were also held yesterday. He said students were able to vote online in SG elections, but had to walk to the African American Cultural Center to vote in the BSU election.
Ralph Johnson, outgoing BSU parliamentarian, expressed hope that BSU elections would be online by next year.