The Conservative Coalition in the Undergraduate Student Government Senate has gained both notoriety and increasing numbers, leaving it in a position to exercise more authority throughout its term in office.

Since then, there have been several resignations and appointments, and now 17 senators are involved in the coalition, giving it a two-thirds majority.

With this majority, the group is able to overturn executive vetoes, allowing it the ability to pass any piece of legislation it endorses.

Members of the coalition say their actions reflect normal politics and maintain that a majority triggers change.

"Our purpose was to actually make student government effective," said USG Senate President Sean Clark, who is a coalition member. "We are like-minded people in the same office who secured a majority so that we could forward like policies, goals and ideas. So far, it's worked."

Town Sen. Mike Gallo, who chairs the Legislative and Appropriations Review Committee also insists that the coalition offers major benefits to USG.

"It gives us a core group of students who are definitely committed to progress," he said. "Last spring when we all ran, there was an energy that pushed each of us to win. Some members say that this has since been lost, but I don't see it that way."

Yet, many outside the coalition claim that the group's influence is a threat to the checks and balances system and that it impedes fairness.

"There is no abstract answer to whether a coalition is good or bad, but it's important to know that majorities can be dangerous things," said Michael Berkman, professor of political science.

USG President Justin Zartman, who has been censured and had an executive order passed against him after he disagreed with senate's lobbying position, maintains that student government is no place for that level of politics.

"The coalition is a group of students led by an extremist, (Town Sen.) Jason Covener, who disregards student input and only looks to better themselves," Zartman said. "Their ultimate goal is to get their names in the paper; it's all a power trip."

However, Covener recommends that the minority group in senate talk to members of the coalition for compromise.

"None of us are monsters, we are willing to work with dissenting opinions," he said.

Out of 11 resignations in senate this year -- including the resignations of six coalition members -- 10 seats have been filled, nine by members of the coalition.

West Halls Sen. Kristen Kofmehl, the only non-coalitioner to fill a vacancy, gained membership following a discrepancy with the appointment process. The Senate Appointments Review Board violated rules by failing to advertise the seat in The Daily Collegian, which raised questions regarding the time frame of the application process.

"There being so many members in the coalition makes it difficult for senators on the outside to get what they want done, but it makes me try even harder," Kofmehl said.

The group achieved its two-thirds majority at the Jan. 22 senate meeting when Jason Davidek, who is in College Republicans along with the other members of the coalition, filled a town vacancy.

"My first reaction to the overwhelming number of resignations and then them appointing friends was we would have gridlock in senate," Zartman said. "It exists in Washington, but it shouldn't be in student government."

All segments and subcommittees of senate are currently headed by members of the coalition, including the four major committees and most recently, USG's business department.

Former Town Sen. Mike Fazio was the only head of a subcommittee who was not in the coalition. He was ousted from the position of town caucus chair at the Dec. 4 meeting, two weeks before he resigned from senate.

At that meeting, the group thanked Fazio for his work and gave no grounds for his removal other than Covener's explanation: "The face of senate has changed."

"Removing Fazio was the biggest abuse of power," Zartman said. "It was most upsetting because he was a four-year senator who always worked hard for students and just because they could, they removed him."

In addition to Fazio, there has been much attention surrounding the coalition's influence on those who have resigned.

"The coalition is the worst thing that could have happened to the student body because they are only there to serve themselves," said former Town Sen. Lauren Applegate, who said she resigned because she felt that the coalition was trying to push her out.

However, Town Sen. Rick Smith, who also chairs the Political Action and Lobbying Committee, admits that although "it's been a mean process" that is necessary in order to get the coalition's goals accomplished.

"In my opinion, USG is finally taking action," he said. "But with any political system that enacts change there will be an opposition, there will be debate."