The number of candidates running for Undergraduate Student Government have increased by over 100 percent compared to last year.

Forty-three people are running, compared to the decade low of 17 last year, to fill 34 senatorial positions. The decade high was 50 candidates in 1987.

"I think it's because of all that is going on in the senate and USG," said town Senator Monica Lacenere. "Everyone has been hearing all the stories and events that have happened this year."

Candidacy and Campaigning Commissioner Jennifer Bronzini said 69 people took applications from the Elections Commission.

Involvement also may have increased because the deadline was yesterday rather than the Monday after spring break.

"Having it extended gives people more time to get their application together," said Senate Vice President Jon Barbour. "People who take it home many times don't do it and come back and don't have time to get it done that day, but two days gives you time to get it done."

Eleven of the 30 present senators are running for re-election.

Barbour said a small number of people are running for re-election because of graduating seniors, and senators running for executive positions or office in other organizations.

Although the number of candidates is higher than last year, there are no candidates for the East I or Centre areas.

"People don't apply for East because they don't want to live that far," Barbour said. "You have to live in the area to be a senator."

Senators did not know why there were no Centre candidates.

Barbour added that write-in candidates usually fill the positions and if the seats are not filled the area governments appoint senators.

There is competition for South and fraternity area senate seats.

Publicity and Debates Commissioner Wendy Goldstein said there may be a debate for senators running for these positions.

Senators agreed that the larger number of candidates will benefit the senate.

"We'll get people who deserve to be picked for senator," Lacenere said. "We'll have more of a sampling of students because of more people running."

The candidates include: Joe Atkinson (sophomore-finance), town; Laura Baich (junior-management), Pollock; Jon Barbour (junior-economics), fraternity; Lanni Barkow (senior-broadcast cable), town; Amanda Beavers (sophomore-political science), North; Don Bowman Jr. (junior-public service), town; Luke Brown (freshmen-mechanical engineering), West; Steve Colafella (sophomore-economics), fraternity; Eileen Dreibelbis (sophomore-recreation and parts), Pollock; Kurt Derr (senior-political science), town; James Flick Jr. (freshman-business administration), South.

Barbara Hollish (sophomore-health planning and administration), town; Angie Joint (junior-labor and industrial relations), South; Sukhi Jolly (freshman-business administration), East II; Tae Kang (sophomore-political science), town; Pam Kauffman (junior-political science), town; Alissa Kosfeld (sophomore-engineering), East III; Arron Kotzbauer (freshman-division of undergraduate studies), town; Monica Lacenere (junior-advertising), town.

Joe Madden (junior-political science), town; Chris Markham (sophomore-liberal arts), West; Jerry Martz (junior-meteorology), town; Tracey Maulfair (freshman-political science), town; Mary Miles (freshman-liberal arts), town; Jeffery Miller (sophomore-political science), fraternity; Sean Noel (sophomore-business logistics), town; Brian Pavlakovic (sophomore-engineering), South; Efren Perez (sophomore-business), town; Ken Powers (sophomore-political science), Pollock.

Nate Prepelka (junior-chemical engineering), town; Jonathan Riva (junior-mechanical engineering), town; Christian Ross (junior-international politics), town; Brian Rudick (sophomore-history), fraternity; Keith Salas (junior-psychology), fraternity; Gitanjali Saluja (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies), East II; Eric Smith (sophomore-secondary education), South; Mike Snider (junior-psychology), town.

Mark Stewart (sophomore-engineering), West; Robert Streble (junior-management), fraternity; Julie Thomas (junior-political science), town; Art Titzel (sophomore-social studies education), town; Mark Tompkins (junior-engineering), town; Joseph Warminsky (freshman-engineering), South.