The Association of Residence Hall Students voted last night to support the Lesbian/Gay Student Alliance's bid for greater representation.

ARHS voted 13-0-4 in favor of LGSA representation on the University Student Advisory Board.

Dominic Mattioni, president of ARHS, said "I'm happy the organization supports LGSA . . . they have goals they want to achieve and I hope the other organizations take that into account when they vote on Thursday."

Brian McKernan, secretary of LGSA, addressed the meeting and said "We will be able to present gay and lesbian concerns to USAB . . . We feel that it is important to have a guaranteed LGSA seat on USAB. We feel USAB will be stronger because of it.

"We hope that cooperation will promote understanding and we will be moving toward living in a more understanding University," he said.

Mattioni said that although he was disappointed in the four abstentions, he was pleased that ARHS continued its support for LGSA. "This is just another organization on USAB that will benefit the other organizations," he said.

Last year, ARHS overwhelmingly supported LGSA's drive toward a seat on the University Student Executive Council, now USAB. However, LGSA was not successful in convincing USEC and the proposal was rejected on April 28.

Despite last year's disappointment, McKernan is optimistic about LGSA's chances when the proposal comes before USAB on Thursday evening. LGSA has spoke to many groups and individuals about their cause, he said.

"I have a positive outlook about the vote," he added.

In other ARHS business, the organization voted 17-0-0 to donate $1,500 to the Penn State Student Challenge to be used toward making residence halls more accessible to disabled people. Also, ARHS voted to donate $250 to the Penn State Veterans Organization to help the veterans whose house was destroyed by a fire on Friday night.