Seven presidential and vice-presidential candidates -- the largest number to run in the past decade except for 1987 officially declared their candidacy yesterday for the Undergraduate Student Government.

It is possible that more than seven candidates may run if there are write-ins. In 1987, six candidates and one write-in candidate ran for the presidency.

"I think to be honest when there is more controversy in USG, then there are more people who want to run and change things," said Elections Commissioner Wendy Goldstein.

Elections for USG executives and senators will take place Wednesday, March 21.

Elections Commissioner Brian Kocher said senator applications are due Wednesday. He has received three applications for 34 positions.

These are the presidential candidates, listed alphabetically by last name, and their running mates:

-- Tony Dutzik (senior-public service) of McKees Rocks and Kelly Glazier (sophomore-public service) of Springfield. Dutzik, as USG town senator, is chairman of the Administrative Contact Committee and a liaison to the Lesbian and Gay Student Alliance and University Health Services. he is also a member of Omicron Delta Kappa honor society and the University Scholars Program. Previously he served as Penn State College Democrats executive vice president and as the northwest regional coordinator for the Pennsylvania Federation of College democrats.

Glazier, a West Halls senator, serves on the President's Council for Undergraduate Recruitment and Retention and is a teaching assistant for a business enterprise class.

-- Eric Epp (senior-secondary education) and Sue Donohue (sophomore-real estate) both of State College. Epp, an East Halls senator, is a security night receptionist. Previously, he was the South Halls Council secretary and member of the student auxiliary for the Department of University Safety.

Donohue, a former member of the College Republicans, works several jobs on and off campus.

-- Brad Haartz (junior-aerospace engineering) of Cincinnati, Ohio and Doug DeLong (junior-accounting) of Rochester, N.Y. Haartz serves on the South Halls Council, the Atherton Executive Council and the Student Hearing Board. He is also South Halls senator and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa; Sigma Gamma Tau and Tau Beta Pi, engineering honor societies; and the Golden Key National Honor Society.

DeLong is a University Scholar, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and the Golden Key National Honor Society. He is also on the organizing committee for the College of Business Lion Line Phone-a-Thon. Previously, he was the director of the USG/ARHS Book Co-op and treasurer for the College Democrats.

-- Jeff McCarty (senior-science) of Detroit, Mich. and Drew Maerz (senior-chemistry education) of Schwenksville. McCarty is co-director of LGSA and a member or the University Student Advisory Board and the Student Leadership Advisory Board.

Maerz's activities include Student Organizational Budget Committee chairman, WEHR disc jockey and member of the University Parking Committee and Card-key Access Committee. He is also a resident assistant, a member of RHAB, and vice president of the National Residence hall Honorary.

-- J.P. Muir (junior-political science) of Kinnelon, N.J. and Sue Williams (junior-health planning) of Pittsburgh. Muir serves on the USG Supreme Court, Interfraternity Council Executive Board and the USG Department of Safety. He is also Panhellenic Council representative. Previously, Muir served on the Organization of Town Independent Students Night Map and Pitt/Penn State Blood Drive committees.

Williams, as a member of the Association of Residence Hall Students executive council, is national communications coordinator and assistant director of the Residence Hall Advisory Board. She is also a member of the Key-card Access Committee and Delta Zeta sorority, 3 Hastings. Last semester she was inducted into the National Residence Hall Honorary.

-- Allistair Rae (senior-history) of Philadelphia and David Bindseil (junior-accounting) of Erie. Rae has been a member of the USG Supreme Court for the past three years. Previously, as an East Halls senator, he served on the Senate Appointment and Review Board and the Strategic Analysis Research Team. he was also in the USG Department of Political and International Affairs.

Bindseil, serves on the Speaker Committee of the Department of Political and International Affairs and participates in the Model United Nations. He was a town senator on SARB and served as the Elections Code Committee chairman. Bindseil was also in the University's Cooperative Education Program with IBM.

-- Jim Van Horn (sophomore-business administration) of State College and Denys Wilmer (senior-elementary education) of Valley Forge. Van Horn is editor of The Lionhearted, a literary journal, and serves as state secretary of the College Republicans of Pennsylvania. he is active on the Republican State Committee. Previously, Van Horn served as vice chairman of the Penn State College Republicans. He was also the moderator for a program sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association titled "Prospectives on a University Community."

Wilmer, a town senator, is a founding member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, 3 Stone. Previously, she served on the ARHS Council and the USG Department of International Affairs.

Presidential and vice presidential candidates will state their platforms and answer questions from a panel of student leaders and from the audience during three debates before elections.

-- The first, for presidential candidates only, will be held at 7 p.m. March 11 in Findlay recreation room.

-- The second, for vice presidential candidates only, will take place at 7 p.m., March 14, in Pollock recreation room.

-- The third, for both presidential and vice presidential candidates, will take place at 7 p.m. on March 19 in 10 Sparks Building.

Candidates were required to submit a petition signed by University students, a statement of candidacy, a registration form and a $25 deposit fee.

Presidential and vice presidential candidates had to submit 400 student signatures from full-time undergraduate students at University Park campus, with at least 25 signatures from each election district.