After a night featuring drama and delays, the seesaw of two-party representation in UF Student Senate has edged closer to a balance.
The humid air outside the Reitz Union was filled with shouts of victory as members of Student Government's political parties learned the results of the fall election early Thursday morning.
SG Supervisor of Elections Dan Siegel announced around 3 a.m. - two hours after press time - that of the 47 seats available, Gator Party candidates grabbed 33. The Orange and Blue Party snagged 12 seats - more than they have ever had.
There was no candidate on the ballot for the Family Housing seat.
The Gator Party swept districts A, B and C. However, District D, the largest area of representation, was split: Orange and Blue claimed five seats, and Gator took eight.
Siegel said the results were "ready to go" at midnight, but when the printouts from the ballot-counting machines came back, there was such a close call in District D, a manual recount was needed.
"There were 26 people within one percentage point of each other," Siegel said.
He said three hours were tacked on to the planned midnight announcement to allow for a hand count of District D, as well as District E, which was tied.
Luis Nobriga, Gator Party president, said his party plans to work harder in the spring elections to gain more seats.
"It's pretty good, I mean, we got some seats," Nobriga said.
Orange and Blue's wins marked a departure from Senate domination by the Gator Party, which won 44 of 47 living district seats in fall 2007.
"I'm stunned," said Orange and Blue Party President Sam Miorelli, who won a seat representing District D. "The best shock you could ever hope to have."
Not everyone was thrilled with the minority party's victories.
"I'm pretty upset to see my friends lose," said Gator Party Sen. Jon Fager, who reclaimed his seat in District A. "It takes the dignity out of Senate to act like they do."
Two of the three independent candidates did not win seats, but Jonathan Gersten and Orange and Blue Party candidate Jared Hamil were tied.
None of the eight Student Party candidates pulled victories.
Eighty-four percent of students voted against requiring hand scans to gain entrance to UF recreational facilities.
Ninety-five percent voted in favor of a policy to make the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day a travel-safety holiday.
About 300 people congregated outside the Orange & Brew on Wednesday night to hear the results.
Despite the bitter campaign season, the two parties found common ground on one thing: the Electric Slide.
Feel-good songs from Michael Jackson, Boston, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Billy Joel boomed over the crowd from 1:30 a.m. until the results were finally announced at about 3:15 a.m.
Shortly before 2 a.m., the blaring speakers were interrupted by a last call for alcohol from the Orange & Brew, to which a bipartisan cry of "boo" was shouted.
The parties spent roughly $685 on alcoholic beverages alone at the Orange & Brew.
Employees said the restaurant sells about 20 beers a night on a drinking night, which consists of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Passionate cheering from each party resounded before results were announced, though a near two-hour lull occurred because of delayed results.
Cheers of "Orange!" "Blue!" the UF fight song, the national anthem and a modified version of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" boomed from the Orange and Blue Party. The party also repeated shouts of "Green means go" in reference to a Tuesday Alligator article quoting Kevin Reilly from an e-mail among other SG officials.
The party's cheers were rivaled by the Gator Party's popular mantra: "It's great to vote the Gator Party!" and "Let's go Gator!"
The Gator Party spent about $4,000 on their campaign, while Orange and Blue spent about $2,300, some of which was funded out-of-pocket by Miorelli.
He said the excitement of the election has eclipsed any contribution.
"The last thing on my mind is how much money the party owes me," he said.
