By SHIRLEY JINKINS

Students at the University of North Texas have voted down a Student Senate referendum that would have allowed same-sex couples to be eligible for the university’s homecoming king and queen titles.

A total of 4,895 students voted, or 13.5 percent of the student body. “No” votes were 2,836, or 58 percent of the ballots, while 2,059 students, or 42 percent, voted yes.

Student leaders say turnout was high.

“I can honestly say that my job is to encourage civil engagement among students, and with 13.5 percent of the student body turning out to vote, I think we’ve achieved that,” said Dakota Carter, president of the UNT Student Government Association.

UNT’s enrollment was 36,206 in September, shortly after the school year began. The highest student turnout was for last year’s stadium vote, at 14 percent, Carter said.

Voting was conducted last week on the Student Government Association Web site and by paper balloting. Unlike most schools, UNT students elect homecoming favorites as a male-female couple instead of individually.

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