Undergraduate Student Government (USG) candidates will begin campaigning today to hold positions in next year's student government -- all the while unsure if USG will be the recognized student representation next year.

The proposed University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), a possible USG replacement, is still waiting for university approval, but those involved with USG agree that the elections will run as scheduled March 29.

"There will be an election," USG Senate President Andy Banducci said.

Students campaigning for the 41 seats will announce their participation and can begin campaigning today; candidates can begin using campaigning materials after tonight.

Despite obstacles that the USG elections commission faced, including late appointments of commission members, it expects to run a successful election.

"The process [thus far] went well," USG head elections commissioner David Gelpi said. "It has been hard with the diminishing support that we've received from the student body, but we are holding elections to the best of our abilities."

The commission also received half of the usual budget and has had to rely on different resources.

"The commission itself can't do the advertising we'd like," Gelpi said. "Now we're relying on the candidates."

Andrew Smith, deputy commissioner for voting and publicity, said the low budget has affected his duties for the elections.

"Since we don't have a lot of money, we can't create any extravagant advertising schemes," he said.

Smith added that although this is his first time on the commission, this year's elections will run differently from those in the past.

"I think the difference will be mainly in student interest," he said. "Depending on how things go, we may see an increase in interest or decrease because students are more concerned with UPUA."

As of March 2, about 36 candidate packets were issued for the 41 USG positions.

Smith also said the proposed UPUA might affect the student participation in this election.

"I don't know what effect [UPUA] will have," he said. "It could cause more people to run in the elections, or they might think running for USG will hurt their chances with UPUA."

Banducci added that some current USG Senate members might not re-run in the USG elections because they are trying to get involved in UPUA.

He said he expects the elections to run similar to how they have in the past but acknowledged the difference in advertising and a possible lack of participation.

"I think there will still be people that want to represent the student body and will still be participating," he said.

Other USG members and UPUA supporters disagree.

"I don't suspect people to run for USG," USG Vice President Luke Adams, who supports UPUA, said.