James Whitehead, who last spring sent the message, "Why should one kill homosexuals?" across nationwide computer phonelines, officially registered yesterday as the eighth candidate to run for Undergraduate Student Government president.

"I thought that I would be able to get a lot of support and I could make the USG do something," said Whitehead (senior-mineral economics), who is running with Jerry Winner (junior-management).

University attorneys said Whitehead's action last year was protected by the First Amendment and he went unpunished. Leaders of Lesbian and Gay Alliance objected to the University's handling of the case.

Whitehead and Winner submitted their statements of candidacy and 400 student signatures to the Elections Commission yesterday at 12:30 p.m. Yesterday was the deadline for official write-in candidates.

Whitehead said he decided to run when he found out who else was running.

"I wasn't going to run until I saw the announcement of the other candidates in the Collegian," Whitehead said. "Then I decided to run because I didn't like any of them."

Winner said he decided to run because he thinks winning is very possible.

Whitehead said he and Winner will face reality, unlike other candidates.

"I thought someone with a grip on reality should run," he said. "A lot of people seem to be in their own little world up there. They are not realistic about the expectations of the world."

Newly elected co-director of LGSA Michael Flam said Whitehead would not stop him from getting University administrators to add sexual orientation into the anti-discrimination policy. He added that Whitehead has an unstable personality.

"Anyone who writes a computer message advocating genocide -- you have to question their state of mind," Flam said. "I think he would be better off to save face and shut up and not embarrass this institution any more than he has."

"He takes such a fervent stance against homosexuality, I question his sexuality," Flam added.

Candidacy and Campaigning Commissioner Jennifer Bronzini said the write-in candidates will be in the debate Monday night and voters guide on election day, but their name will not be on the ballot.

Voting and Tallying Commissioner Chuck Wurster said it is more difficult for a write-in candidate to get votes not only because their name is not on the ballot but also because their name must be spelled correctly.

"Write-in ballots have to be spelled specifically as candidate files can't be misspelled," Wurster said. "Voters have to go an extra. If voters aren't aware of them then it is difficult for them to be a success."

Last year the write-in candidates came in last place and the year before the write-in candidate came in fourth place out of seven candidates.