The votes in today's Undergraduate Student Government (USG) election will determine the next executive and Senate positions, naming the students responsible for revamping the organization.

Students can vote for presidential and vice presidential candidates, as well as their area representatives, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. online at vote.psu.edu.

Head elections commissioner David Gelpi said this election has been a "tame season," and he doesn't expect today's events to get the recognition past elections have fostered.

Despite the lack of recognition and participation, those involved are hoping for a significant voter turnout in today's online election.

Gelpi and the elections commission has used its limited time and resources to advertise the election and expects about 2,000 votes compared to almost 7,000 last year.

Deputy of voting and publicity Andrew Smith has been urging the candidates and the campaign teams to get students to vote in general, as well as to advocate their platforms.

"There just weren't enough people interested this year," he said. "People kind of got scared off."

Smith and Gelpi attributed this deficit to the recent issues regarding University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) -- a proposed student advocacy group that the administration could choose to replace USG as the recognized student representation on campus.

Gelpi said publishing the UPUA refer-

endum questions before the USG election swayed the student body away from the already dwindling USG.

"It's caused the students to hesitate," he said.

The pair elected today could be the first USG executive team forced to lead an organization not recognized by the university if the proposed UPUA is implemented.

According to current USG President Galen Foulke, Penn State's administration is still considering the possibility of instating UPUA for next semester.

"It really isn't a wonder to me why there's such widespread apathy," presidential candidate Nick Stathes said.

Stathes, along with other executive and senate candidates, recognizes the obstacles USG now faces and realizes that the problems could continue to grow in the future if certain actions are not taken.

Vice presidential candidate Daniel Ward said he expects the next USG to be able rise above the current problems.

He added that although USG would be better off as the sole student representation, if necessary, the organization could benefit from working with UPUA.