With Undergraduate Student Government Elections less than a week away, students have a lot of important decisions to make about who they want to be representing them.

Unfortunately, one of the most important decisions may already have been made for them as only seven students are currently in the running for eight elected University Park Allocations Committee positions.

If any year has demonstrated the importance of UPAC to the students of Penn State, this is the one. The committee, which is in charge of the distribution of the student activity fee to student organizations who petition it for funds for specific programs, has angered many students this year.

After UPAC allotted almost $10,000 to fund Cuntfest, many students complained about the use of their student activity fee money for the controversial program.

UPAC came under fire again when the organization ran out of money in early February, preventing them from funding some student events.

Once again, students were upset. In informational meetings about the lack of funds, many students voiced concerns, questioning how the organization had given out so much money so quickly. Some students accused UPAC of mismanaging their funds.

So, where are the students who were so concerned about the way UPAC has operated this year? Those who had so much to say about the effects of UPAC decisions should be taking this opportunity to not only express their opinions to the student body, but to put themselves in the position to change them.

The fact that only seven students were willing to participate in the campaign indicates that while students are willing to criticize and complain, they aren't willing to put in the time and effort needed to pioneer change.

Some USG candidates this year have made platform issues out of making all 35 UPAC positions elected. In light of the fact that so few candidates have chosen to run for the positions that are offered, this hardly seems a practical proposal. If the controversies UPAC has already faced this year can't drum up the interest to fill eight positions, how can anyone expect to fill 35?

The lack of interest hurts the entire student body. If there are problems, but the people who want to change the way things work aren't making the effort, no one benefits. Worse yet, with only seven people running for eight spots, the students have very little choice in an election that will, essentially, decide how the money they pay for an activity fee will be spent next year.

But that doesn't mean that students who don't approve of those running can't still make a difference. Write-in candidates will be crucial in this election. At least one candidate who's not on the ballots will be elected and that means if students are able to get their names out there now, the may find their names among the winners announced next week.