It is rare that any event should stand out against the general bustle of the thousands of students on campus, but the small armies of campaign workers distributing fliers made it hard to ignore this year's Undergraduate Student Government elections.

Voter turnout was down from last year's election as only 4,953 students voted compared to last year's total of 5,789.

But the atmosphere at the polls was relaxed, and students didn't seem particularly stressed about their decisions -- even when Gumby made an appearance at the HUB on behalf of the Mathew Thomas/Joy Brown ticket.

Other tickets included Erich May/April Campbell and Carina Defferrire/Pat Scanlan in addition to the winning ticket of Mike King/Lori Pennay.

Although people filtered through the polls at a steady rate throughout the day, there were rushes around lunch and dinner time.

Heather White (senior-sociology), who worked all day at the Student Book Store, 330 E. College Ave., said a lot more people voted than she expected.

"They were very enthusiastic about voting for the presidential candidates," she said, adding that students were less excited about the choices for the town representatives because only 10 people vied for the 15 positions.

Polls were located at Warnock, Waring, Pollock and Redifer Commons, the University Gates on College Avenue, Fisher, Atherton, Simmons and McElwain Halls, the HUB, Student Book Store and Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, 321 E. Fairmount Ave.

Campaigners had to stay a masking tape-designated 50 feet away from the voting tables, and students had to put away election paraphernalia, such as buttons or fliers, when they voted.

Election workers were either members of the USG election commission or students recruited by USG members, and were not supposed to influence or actively recruit student voters in any way during the voting.

"You're just a bonehead if you're two feet away and you don't vote," said election worker Charles Heo (senior-journalism). Heo said he thinks all students should have voted.

And students who did vote had a variety of reasons for hitting the polls.

"My roommate is running," said Jonathan Frederick (junior-biology), and his friend Josh Kravitz (junior-film) was convinced to vote by a friend.

But some students ignored the hoopla and didn't vote.

"Maybe they should advertise on TV or the radio," said Heather Schall (sophomore-Russian), who said she didn't vote because she didn't get enough information about the candidates.

When the polls closed, the ballot boxes were sealed and collected by Head Election Commissioner Scott Payne, and the ballots were taken to testing services and the write-in candidates were counted by hand, said Election Commissioner Jim Stephens.