More than 600 UF students - the highest turnout in Student Government's election slating history - showed up to the Reitz Union in hopes of filling two parties' Student Senate candidacies for spring elections on Feb. 26 and 27.
Sarah Krantz, SG supervisor of elections, said about 500 students are usually expected during the three days of recruitment. The count this time around was 640 students.
"It's unheard of," Krantz said. "It's really the parties that pulled them in."
Six parties were registered - Student Alliance, Progress, Orange and Blue, Gator, Swamp and Pants - but only Orange and Blue and Gator interviewed candidates to fill their party tickets, she said.
More than 500 students interviewed with the Gator Party, but each party is limited to accepting 47 people, Krantz said.
Kevin Reilly, Student Senate president and Student Body presidential candidate for the Gator Party, said his party took in 45 students.
Reilly said no one applied for seats to represent the UF medicine or veterinary medicine departments.
Mark McShera, Orange and Blue Party chairman, said the party took in 32 students out of 48 who were interviewed.
"We were happy with the turnout," McShera said. "With 50 people up there, they all had pretty good ideas."
Krantz said recruited candidates would meet tonight to find out if they are still eligible to run based on academic requirements.
