The Lesbian/Gay Student Alliance will use their seat on the University Student Advisory Board to communicate their concerns with the administration and other student organizations, members said.

USAB approved representation for LGSA last night by a vote of 12-5-1.

"It's almost a landmark," said LGSA member Brian Rowland,"with LGSA now having a voice to speak with all the other voices."

The seat on USAB will not end the problems of discrimination and harassment that gay men and lesbians face, but it is a way to address their concerns and access their goals, LGSA Secretary Brian McKernan said.

"The position will be a stepping stone that will help us voice our positions clearly and effectively and guarantee a means of communication with the president,"McKernan said.

McKernan sat in the LGSA seat for the remainder of the meeting, but said that the actual representative to the board would be decided at the next LGSA meeting Monday night.

The addition of LGSA will strengthen USAB by providing representation of gay men and lesbians and informing student groups on their issues, McKernan said, adding that interaction with other student leaders will provide an outlet as LGSA address their concerns and attempt to solve them in a group situation.

The group was denied a seat last year on the University Student Executive Council, which became USAB last semester. USEC's change to USAB was one of the reasons for the acceptance of LGSA, McKernan said.

"Part of the reason is to make sure (USAB) is strong and has better representation," McKernan said.

The addition of the seat indicates that the representatives of the student body are aware of the needs of gay men and lesbians, Rowland said, adding that the members of USAB could share LGSA's concerns with the members of their organizations.

"At least it seems as if the student body is more aware,"said LGSA member Winnie Devlin.

Lack of knowledge and understanding regarding gay men and lesbians can cause prejudice, she said, but explained that the addition of the seat would begin to abate this ignorance and decrease this prejudice.

"It's good news," Devlin said.