"It's all been a bit of a mess," he admitted on Thursday.
Mr Darlow was the runner-up to Jo Moore when 2009 presidential election results were announced in August. But Miss Moore was later disqualified for breaching election rules and protested loudly that what she did or did not do was not serious enough to justify her dumping.
It wasn't until last week Mr Darlow found out Miss Moore had decided not to proceed with a legal challenge against OUSA and the president's role was finally his.
He said he had distanced himself from the difficulties between Miss Moore and the OUSA.
"Obviously, what happened to her wouldn't have been ideal for anyone. But I haven't been involve in any of it. It's been nothing to do with me."
However, the election rules would certainly need to be sorted out by next year, he said. He understood the current executive had already begun discussing options.
When Miss Moore won the presidency, Mr Darlow said he began to make plans to leave Dunedin next year. He would have completed his studies by Christmas and was preparing to spend the summer on a Japanese skifield before heading to Europe.
Now, he can look forward to a year at the helm of one of New Zealand's oldest and strongest student bodies with around 20,000 members, an annual turnover of more than $10.5 million and a staff of 42.
It was last year's disastrous Undie 500 event - when police in riot gear took on hundreds of drunken and abusive students and arrested 57 young men on various charges including disorderly behaviour and obstruction - which prompted Mr Darlow to stand for the OUSA.
One of his top priorities for next year would be trying to reduce problems with student behaviour, he said.
"Students continually seem to be at odds with the university, the police or the [Dunedin] city council. They are the best of friends and the worst of enemies. I want to try and solve some of the problems by building up good relationships with the university and working in tandem with the police and the council."
He said he was aware a North Dunedin working party had already been set up to progress issues such as reducing rubbish in the student accommodation area, and improving night-time security.
"I definitely want to be involved with that. But it does get a bit frustrating when there seems to be a lot of talk and not much action."
Mr Darlow has never been involved with student politics before but does not see that as a disadvantage.
"In some sense it is going to be good to come in from the outside and not be influenced by what has happened before."
A keen skiier since he was 2, Mr Darlow is a qualified ski instructor - something which he said should prove beneficial as president.
"I've taught kids from 7 to 14 years old, and dealt with their parents too. The skills I used there, and my past experiences as a student and employee, should all be useful."
Edwin Darlow
• Age: 24.
• Born and raised: Christchurch.
• Educated: Rudolf Steiner School, Christchurch; Christchurch Boys High School.
• Tertiary studies: BSc in psychology through the University of Otago; completing a postgraduate diploma on the skiing industry.
• Claims to fame: Spent 2006 as an exchange student at the University of California Santa Barbara campus; qualified ski instructor; has worked on skifields in the US and Canada.
