The opinions of presidential candidates for the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) are divided over the recent recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee to revamp USG's structure.

The recommendations, which were presented Thursday, call for a complete restructuring of USG -- moving it away from a governmental body to one that focuses on advocacy.

Jon Sagot, a student committee member, said the committee decided to move to a student advocacy based on the history of student government at Penn State and college governments across the country.

"Government is most effective when it's in the form of advocacy and when the administration had access to the student voice," he said.

The recommendations would change the bicameral USG, which is made up of a Senate and an Academic Assembly, to a unicameral house with elected and appointed representatives based on their address, college or greek affiliation.

The committee, one of current USG President Galen Foulke and Vice President Luke Adams' platform goals, was formed in November.

Presidential candidate Robert Dinkelspiel said a system without checks and balances could easily be abused and could weaken USG's connection with students.

"It definitely will take away student voice," he said. "The sheer fact it takes away the judicial branch is horrible. This is a sign of more power in the executive branch."

Sagot said that by eliminating the two-house system, bureaucracy and bickering would be reduced.

"A one-house system with a formal mission statement will break down barriers, because they will all work together," he said.

Presidential candidate Mark Taticchi said that regardless of the committee's good intentions, infighting in USG might even increase.

"If the elected members and president don't get along, that would totally negate the president's ability to pursue his platform goals," he said.

The new system contains practical problems, presidential candidate Scott Sherbine said.

"I think if we want to consolidate every issue into a week, that is preposterous," he said. "There are so many issues, and that's why we have two different meetings with two different focuses."

Presidential candidate Michael Peters said that while the proposed structural reform includes representation from student voices across campus, its success will still depend on who is elected as president and vice president.

Matt Midles, another student committee member, said students have to stop working within the paradigm of a student government, because government is specifically what the committee has tried to avoid.

"This is not about power, governments or trying to control other people," he said.

Candidates also expressed concerns because instead of allowing the legislative bodies of USG to vote on the recommendations, the committee said the system could possibly be mandated by the administration without the approval of the legislature.

"I don't think the voice of the students should ever be squashed," presidential candidate Mahmoud Ablan said. "And I don't think the administration or anyone else should be allowed to step over us."

Foulke said the recommendations could be the best thing to come out USG's turbulent history. "I never dreamed something so amazing and well-thought out could be developed in such a short time," he said.

Foulke added that even ifnot re-elected, he plans to continue to work for the realization of these recommendations.