Members of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) are lobbying state legislators for higher state appropriations today for the first time in a year.

The trip marks the first time since last November USG members traveled to the capital to address the issue of university funding. Another lobbying trip was canceled in February because a key member could not attend.

Frank Camarota, USG executive governmental relations director, said the group will speak with seven legislators -- including Rep. Lynn Herman, R-Philipsburg and Sen. Robert Thompson, R-Chester, the Senate Appropriations Committee chair -- between 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

"We want to work with them because they're an integral part of our appropriations," he said. "We need to keep everything positive with them to hopefully further our agenda in the future."

Ten students were expected to attend the February lobbying trip. Today, only two students -- a USG senator and a member of the executive governmental relations committee -- are traveling with Camarota.

USG Vice President Takkeem Morgan said the organization's lobbying policy this year is to establish a strong relationship with legislators through one-on-one contact in a small group, rather than by protesting in large numbers.

"Sooner than later, there will be an opportunity where we'll try and rally as much support as possible," he said. "We don't want to send people down to scream at legislators because they've already heard that. That's what they're expecting."

Of the two other students attending, only one is a USG senator. No members of the Student Empowerment Alliance (SEA), a group that tried to recall USG earlier this year because of the lack of lobbying trips, are attending.

Brian Battaglia, SEA member and town senator, said he was uninformed about the trip because it was not widely publicized.

"If they're going to tell Senate and they want Senate to go that's fine, but it appears that they haven't made an effort to do that," Battaglia said.

Camarota said he publicized the event within USG's executive branch and in the governmental relations committee. He said he also attended numerous Senate meetings to invite senators.

He said he received little response from the Senate.

Senate Vice President Galen Foulke said he attributes the low attendance to the fact that most senators are busy working on their individual projects.

"Three people can be just as effective as 15," Foulke said.

Some members, like Town Sen. Mike Yohannan, said they would like to attend future lobbying trips, but have difficulty doing so during the week. Yohannan said he tried to attend today's trip, but could not because of an exam.

As chair of the Senate's governmental affairs committee, Yohannan said he has been trying to form a statewide group of students to help influence state policies. He has also been focused on educating students about why tuition increases each year.

Yohannan added it is important to maintain face-to-face contact with legislators, but said lobbying is part of a larger effort.

"It can only be one part of how we as a community try to influence the process. It's about information and action," he said.