Candidates were caught by surprise when campaigning began yesterday for the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) elections.

Six executive tickets and other candidates in the race for USG, Association of Residence Hall Students and University Park Allocation Committee elections were announced yesterday. Election day is April 2.

Campaigning began at 4 p.m. yesterday in yet another twist in the lengthy elections code revision process after it was changed again Monday night.

Twelve students, all with platform goals, are running for the title of president and vice president of the USG executive body.

They are, in the order they will be listed on the ballot:

Steven Weiss and Mike Aiello

Form student-run non-profit business for job experience and goods

Establish a corporate oversight committee at Penn State

Long-term plan to reduce emissions on campus

Bring freelance journal to campus or another form of print journalism

Tim Dorman and Robyn Ricketts

Provide off-campus study areas

Implement and improve online academic services

Create additional recreational activities and tournaments

Establish a student organization liason to USG

Chris Clermont and Shahida Shahrir

Improve academic advising

One-day student community service projects

Off-campus night life alternative as an academic project

Establish mock United Nations for students to discuss community issues

Sandip Trivedi and Anup Misra

Encourage university to distribute scholarships and privleges based on merit rather than diversity

David Davis and Sara Ryan

Add student-generated questions to teacher evaluations and make results public

Football and Distinguished Speaker Series tickets online

Provide loans for students to buy books

Weekend festivals with live bands and movies

Ian Rosenberger and Takkeem Morgan

Make teacher evaluation results public

Provisional reinstatement of excuse forms at University Health Services

Extension of library rooms available after midnight

Improve safety downtown with lighting and emergency phones

The first debate between candidates is 8 p.m. Tuesday in 110 Wartik.