She said she still plans to request the money and hopes that it will become available.

Ponkamon Aumpansub, president of the Thai Student Association, said she was also planning on requesting funds from the Senate for Thai Night 2005, scheduled for Feb. 19.

The group needs the money because the University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC) has a policy not to allocate money for food expenses.

"At our event we have to pay for authentic Thai food," Aumpansub said. "Because most Thai caterers are very pricey, we have to get food shipped from Washington, D.C."

Last year, she said the organization received funds from USG to pay a portion of the food costs.

"We need funding from other organizations to get the ticket price down," she said.

Although the current Senate has already given about $3,300 to student organizations, Leddy said she would not call the current funding system unfair.

"I do think everyone should have a shot, and the Senate should take into consideration that we are a part of USG," she said.

Owens said the USG student services committee recently created a fund-raising packet for student groups requesting subsidization that the USG Senate is unable to provide.

The packet offers alternate fund-raising ideas including candy bar sales, magazine subscription sales and restaurant sponsorship. Each suggestion explains the requirements and a description of the fundraiser, as well as contact information and other groups that have used the idea in the past.

UPAC Overall Chair Tom Truong said he does not expect any impact on UPAC's decision to fund, now that the USG Senate may not distribute funds to student groups.

"We have plenty of money available," he said. "Student groups are more than welcome to come to UPAC."

Owens said there are no plans at the moment to introduce legislation to freeze funding for the rest of the year because every senator knows about the account shortage.

"I don't think we will need to do it," he said. "It's unspoken knowledge that we can't [fund student groups]."