Seventy fewer students applied for the student representative position on the University Board of Trustees, despite a two-week deadline extension. Thirty students applied this year compared to 100 last year.

USAB extended the application deadline for the board's only student vote two weeks ago because members were disappointed with the lack of applicants. Until last Friday, only 20 students had applied for the position.

"I think we advertised as good as possible," said Brian Donaldson, board of trustee representative for the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments. "I don't think people realize the extent of importance a student has on the board of trustees."

Graduate Student Association President Ken Martin agreed people may not understand the importance of the student trustee and said he was disappointed in the turnout.

"I don't understand why there (were) so few," Martin said. "It can be intimidating because the person has to be here for three years. How many freshmen and sophomores are really involved and have the experience."

In spite of the low number of applicants, Donaldson said some of those who applied are highly qualified. He said that some of the applicants had high grade-point averages and answered the questions on the applications sufficiently.

The applicants have differing backgrounds and majors, are of both genders and have freshman through graduate standing, Donaldson said.

A committee within USAB will review the applications, interview some of the candidates and send recommendations to the state Secretary of Education. The committee hopes to send the recommendations by April 15 but the interviews may take a while, Martin said.

"It might take a couple weeks because some are coming from Commonwealth campuses," he said.

The committee includes: Student Trustee Christina Henke, Martin, Undergraduate Student Government President Janyne Althaus and Donaldson.