The Undergraduate Student Government Senate discussed possible changes to the senate bylaws last night in an attempt to move the restructuring process along.

"Although restructuring will not be complete in time for the upcoming elections, there are a great deal of positive reforms that can be made within the existing structure," Senate President Mike King said in a circulated memo.

The memo outlined three reforms that can be made within the current structure, including increased involvement in related organizations such as the Organization for Town Independent Students and the Assocation of Residence Hall Students, direct communication with other organizations and elimination of duplication of efforts.

"Restructuring is not about constitutions and words -- it is about changing mindsets and actions," King said.

OTIS President Lynette Mason addressed the senate and said she would like to see the town senators become OTIS members. Town senators should know what is going on in the town, she said, adding that going to OTIS meetings will not be a burden to the senators because it is to their benefit and to the benefit of the students they represent.

Every senator elected from the town district would be OTIS members as defined by the rules of the OTIS constitution. They would assume the full duties and responsibilities upon becoming members and would also be permitted three absences per session from meetings.

Town Senators Josh Bokee, Mike Burcik and Chris Tobin have been working on these proposed changes to the senate bylaws.

In other business, senate members unanimously passed a resolution supporting a proposition that U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard veterans receive three exercise and sport activity (ESACT) credits. It also supports female Marines receiving the same six credits that male Marine veterans receive.

Penn State University Veterans Organization Vice President Pat Scanlan said female Marine veterans currently receive two credits, while males receive six. "A Marine is a Marine," Scanlan said.

Currently Coast Guard and Navy veterans receive two credits, while Army and Air Force veterans receive three ESACT credits, Scanlan said. He said everyone should receive a minimum of three credits, adding that he is working with Womyn's Concerns to take this issue to administrators.

In other action, senate members unanimously passed a change to the elections code concerning town senator representation. Originally, each town senator represented 1,250 students. A decrease in the population of students living in town required this number to be changed to 1,110 students per senator. This was changed so the current number of town senators will remain the same.