While the Cabinet of Student Leaders (COSL) originated in part as a response to the Penn State College Republicans and Black Caucus debate that occurred last semester, it has some conservatives concerned about being excluded from the advisory group.

Vicky Triponey, vice president of student affairs, said she created the COSL as a representative of student leaders to advise her on different university issues, as well as to create a network for the student leaders to communicate with each other.

It was created in part because then-College Republicans chairman Brian Battaglia posted photographs on his Web site, which many found offensive. These included pictures with captions referencing the Ku Klux Klan and another of a white man in blackface paint portraying Undergraduate Student Government Vice President Takkeem Morgan.

Battaglia said COSL does not have any conservative representatives on it and therefore would not be able to prevent future problems.

"I don't see how this new group could do anything because they do not have contact with conservative groups if an issue would arise," he said.

COSL includes the president of groups such as the Undergraduate Student Government, Black Caucus, Allies, Homecoming organizers, University Park Allocations Committee and the four greek governing bodies.

Battaglia voiced his concerns to Triponey in an e-mail message.

She said there were no political organizations included, but the students selected would include both liberals and conservatives.

"We have no way of knowing if the members are Republican or Democrats, and quite frankly, I don't want to know," she said. "I don't want this to turn into a politically oriented group."

Battaglia said there are probably conservatives and registered Republicans in the new cabinet, but there is no one on COSL that specifically represents the conservative viewpoints.

Triponey said the group would only be one method of advising, and her open-door policy was still in effect for all students.

Battaglia said he has utilized her open-door policy before and has spoken with her, but he said he feels that unless conservatives are actively giving their input, the policy will not help prevent future situations similar to the Halloween party controversy.

College Republicans President Richard Pastena said some conservatives he has spoken with, such as Battaglia, are very concerned with the new group not having any conservatives in it, while others do not believe it is a big deal.

However, Pastena added that groups such as Black Caucus are political organizations. "If you look at the events of the past two years, you cannot say Allies or Black Caucus are not political organizations," he said.

Battaglia agreed with Pastena and said while some organizations, such as Black Caucus, do not have a political focus in their mission statement, they do have a political agenda with issues that affect them.

Triponey said there may be a discrepancy between Pastena's definition of political and her own.

"From what I'm saying, political affiliation is a criteria for being a member of the organization," she said. "That is the group's purpose."

She added that to be a member of any diversity group on campus does not mean also being specifically conservative or liberal, and therefore, she does not consider it a political organization.

Black Caucus President Tiffanie Lewis declined to comment on the situation.

Despite concerns, Triponey said she does not plan to add or remove any groups from COSL at this time.

She said she is always open to speaking with any group on campus about any issue that affects them, but for right now, she does not want specific political voices within the cabinet.