Although Graduate Student Association elections are less than a week away, only five students have announced their intent to run for 13 available positions.

Open positions include: president; administrative vice-president; executive secretary; treasurer; Graduate Council (five seats) and Faculty Senate (four seats). Elections will be held at 7:15 Tuesday night in 101 Kern.

Of the seats available for Faculty Senate, one is reserved for a graduate student in the Commonwealth Education System. The other three are open to students from any University campus.

GSA President Ken Martin said most applications are returned 48 hours before the election, but added "there is never widespread competition for positions."

Students can wait until the March 20 meeting and nominate themselves for the positions.

Last year, 15 students ran for 13 available positions, a typical number for GSA elections.

As of yesterday, Martin intends to run for president, one student for treasurer, two students for Graduate Council and one student for Faculty Senate.

Martin, who has served as executive secretary and delegate for GSA, is running for his third term as president. No other students have entered the presidential race yet.

"I think there are plenty of issues out there," Martin said, but added the most crucial issue is maintaining a strong budget so GSA can continue to provide and expand on student services.

He said it is important to "keep up and push on all the issues that affect students," such as health insurance, family housing, parking, womens's health care at Ritenour and University safety.

The president is the chief executive officer of GSA, presides over the executive board and represents GSA to the University Board of Trustees, the Alumni Association Council and Executive Board and any other official University boards.

Mary Koban (graduate-mineral process engineering) is the sole candidate for treasurer. She is a GSA delegate and a representative to the Student Organization Budget Committee.

Koban said her participation on the Student Organization Budget Committee has familiarized her with putting together a budget and allocating funds.

"I think it is a basis from which to begin but it is not the only component of being GSA treasurer," she said.

If elected, Koban said she plans to look into the recently required health insurance for graduate assistants.

"I really plan on looking into health insurance in depth," she said.

Koban, who will be out of town the day of the elections, said she would be very surprised if she runs unopposed.

The treasurer is responsible for all GSA finances and the preparation of any budget requests.

The only nominee for Faculty Senate is Andrew Jackson Sr. (graduate-education administration).

Nominees for Graduate Council are Jeff Hufton (graduate-chemical engineering) and Thomas D'Alfonso (graduate-industrial engineering/poultry science).

The two remaining offices of the executive council, administrative vice president and executive secretary, have no nominees.

The administrative vice president sits on the University Student Advisory Board, chairs the GSA assembly meetings and sets the agenda for assembly meetings.

The executive secretary takes the minutes of the assembly meetings, heads publicity for GSA and updates the list of delegates to GSA.