The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) is working to begin its proposed off-campus student union. However, the location of the union building and who will fund it are still in question.

The union is a response to several complaints from off-campus students about feeling disconnected from campus life, problems with relations between students and State College residents, and difficulties dealing with off-campus housing.

The union hopes to serve as an advocacy group for students not living on campus, Town Sen. Chris Babic said.

The organizers will talk with businesses, gather statistics and prepare literature for off-campus students, he said.

The union hopes to provide off-campus students with a central location to access these services.

As of now, the former municipal building at 118 Fraser St. is one possible temporary location for the union, State College Borough Council President Richard McCarl said.

"It is a great first step to have a base of operation. We are on our way," Babic said.

Borough Manager Peter Marshall said a proposal has not been presented to him requesting a location for the union.

The organizers are seeking money from the University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC), as well as fund raising and exploring other avenues of funding, said Paul Cronin, USG executive director for town affairs.

Cronin said he cannot give an estimate on how much funding the group will need.

Russell Martin, UPAC chair, said the group has not yet received any proposal for funding from USG.

UPAC said it does not fund rent or leases.

Cronin said the union would not have to pay rent for the old municipal building.

However, Marshall said the building would not be free for USG to use.

McCarl thinks students' forming a union is a good idea.

"The town wouldn't be anything without students, so we are willing to help relations between the two sides," he said.

The USG Supreme Court has not yet approved the union.

Departments of the union will include greek life, business affairs, employment opportunities, voter registration, housing and political affairs.

The union will also have a legal service division that will investigate apartment-related issues such as security deposits, USG Vice President Kris Ankarlo said.

Some senators have raised concerns about the plan. Town Sen. Steven Weiss criticized the plan, saying that after the union is finalized, it might not have the power it needs to achieve its goals. Weiss questioned if the group will be an efficient tool for students.

"It sounds good and stable, but things within need to be very active," Weiss said.

Though Ankarlo said he expects the union to be ready by Thanksgiving, he said there are still issues that need to be addressed.

"We still have a lot of red tape to cut through before things are up and running," he said.

Sara Clemente (sophomore-crime, law and justice) said she welcomes the idea of a union.

Clemente lives in an apartment downtown and said some of the problems with living off campus are that students get disconnected from university life and encounter problems with landlords.

"This will be good for us, to have a group to back us up," she said.