USG ballots pose referenda

By MEGAN DONLEY
Collegian Staff Writer

Voters for the Undergraduate Student Government elections will be able to choose one ticket for USG president and vice president at 12 different polling sites today.

Seth Hall, voting and tallying elections commissioner, said the elections commission is hoping for a voter turnout of more than 5,000 students. Last year, roughly 4,500 students voted.

"We did a lot more to increase publicity," Hall said, citing that as a factor which may increase the number of students voting. He added the weather is an important factor; rain keeps students away from the polls.

Students must present their identification cards at any one of the voting locations. Poll workers can mark off the number on the card, cross the student's name off a list of residence hall students, or use a copy of the phone book to stop students from voting more than one time.

The polls, which are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., are run mainly by members of the Circle K organization. Although the poll workers are paid $3.50 per hour, the majority of the Circle K members work without payment as part of their service for their organization, said Steve Castor, head elections commissioner.

Today, student voters can also answer five referendum questions included on the ballots. The questions are:

-- An independent group of University students would like to form a Public Interest Research Group that would deal with local community and student issues such as consumer protection, the environment and homelessness. Would you be willing to have an optional $5 fee on the tuition bill to support such a group?

-- Would you be in favor of a mandatory one-credit course that would meet once a week with guest lecturers and pass-fail quizzes? The course would approach subjects such as: assault in the University community, Penn State policies and rules, use of computer systems, mental and physical health policies, University and borough relations, academic advising policies. This course would give incoming students an idea of what to expect from the University and what the Penn State community can expect from them.

-- Would you support Penn State becoming a smoke-free environment, having a limited number of smoking lounges per area (North, East, West, South, Pollock-Nittany, Centre) and prohibiting smoking in individual residence halls rooms?

-- Would you like to see:

(a) 24 hour card access for all residence halls?

(b) Card access for all residence halls as it is now, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.?

(c) Card access returned to the hours it was last year, 12 a.m. to 7 a.m.; on week nights, 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. on weekends?

-- The University administration is seeking student response to improving its registration process. The proposed improvement is to increase the number of telephone lines (to reduce busy signals) and to offer a toll-free 800 number. The current system (3-9000) would remain unchanged. Would you support this proposal if the toll-free call began with 60 seconds of promotional material before you registered?