Candidates in this year's Undergraduate Student Government (USG) elections hope to rebuild the student organization.

Three executive campaign teams are currently running for USG president and vice president for the next academic year.

Nick Stathes (junior-political science and economics) and Pat Daley (sophomore-English), have had concerns with USG since the beginning of the year, when they decided to run.

"We're not satisfied with the current state of the USG," Stathes said. "We think that there needs to be a major attitude adjustment from everyone on USG."

Stathes, a current USG senator, and Daley are planning to advocate for simple changes such as more communication between USG representatives and the student body, as well as more awareness of Penn State counseling services.

Their Web site, nickandpat.com, will provide information on the candidates and their platforms.

Stathes and Daley are also advocating for an entirely student-run organization, opposed to the proposed University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA).

"We certainly do not support the UPUA because administrative involvement should be completely uninvolved in student advocacy," Stathes said. "But in addition to that, we understand that the USG does not operate perfectly."

Twins Kevin (sophomore-kinesiology) and Daniel Ward (sophomore-public relations), another executive campaign team, plan to advocate for USG improvement as well.

Together they want to create an internal review committee of students to evaluate the organization, similar to a platform of Stathes and Daley.

Kevin Ward also said they want to stop USG infighting by opening lines of communication and linking USG to its members, students and other organizations.

"We'll be good people there," he said.

Their Web site, www.personal.psu.edu/
drw211, is currently available to provide more information and a more in-depth copy of their platforms.

In addition to reforming USG, the Wards intend to support publicizing results of the Student Rating of Teaching Effectiveness (SRTE) for student availability.

Another team running for the executive ticket consists of John Fabian (junior-political science) and Meron Yemane (junior-political science).

Fabian said they decided to run after attending a USG Senate meeting and determined that they wanted to change it -- actually "save" it.

Their slogan, "United We Can," represents their different viewpoints, Fabian said.

Fabian said he and Yemane have different stances on a variety of issues, including politics, which will help them hold the executive position.

"We have very different viewpoints," he said. "We think we had a lot of angles to speak on."

Fabian and Yemane also want to help incorporate more minorities into the USG system.

"Our overall goal is to make student government more acceptable, accountable and credible," Fabian said.

Another platform for the pair is to increase lobbying at the state level and enforce Penn State President Graham Spanier's efforts to gain more state appropriations.

Their Web site, www.unitepsu.com, will be available soon as an additional resource.

Head Elections Commissioner David Gelpi said that he has met with all of the executive candidates. He added that he finds them all well suited for the position.