The University Student Advisory Board settled a controversial issue by granting lesbian and gay students representation last night.

In a secret ballot, USAB voted 12-5-1 to give the Lesbian/Gay Student Alliance a provisional seat after voting 11-5-1 to deny the seat earlier in the meeting. Graduate Student Association Vice President Jim Leous arrived too late for the first vote, but cast a deciding yes vote the second time around.

LGSA will retain its provisional seat for one year before USAB votes to decide if the seat will be permanent.

The board moved for secret balloting after LGSA representatives indicated they would prefer a closed ballot. In an interview last week, LGSA Secretary Brian McKernan said he thought a secret ballot would be beneficial to LGSA's chances of gaining USAB representation.

Seth Williams, Undergraduate Student Government president, said he was happy LGSA got the seat and partially attributed the result to the closed ballot.

"Last year, I thought the open voting would make people more accountable," he said, referring to LGSA's failure to gain a seat on USAB's predecessor, the University Student Executive Council, last spring. "This year, I think the closed vote gave them a better chance."

Representatives of the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments, the Penn State Veterans' Organization, and the Interfraternity Council refused to reveal their votes. International Student Council President Anish Wig said he voted against LGSA's bid for a seat.

Student Trustee Christina Henke abstained from the vote, saying, "I think it's in the best interest of students if I don't vote." Henke said she was continuing her policy of abstaining from all USAB voting.

Representatives of the eight other organizations said they voted for LGSA.

CCSG and USG have three seats each on USAB, while GSA has two.

In other business, University Parking Director Alan Derzak told USAB the student parking situation is "going to get considerably worse before it gets better" because of the proliferation of downtown apartment buildings that don't provide adequate parking facilities.

"This is the biggest problem between town and gown for a long time," Derzak said. "It probably won't be answered for a few more years."