Though several vacancies exist in the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Senate, USG President Nick Stathes said the empty seats are completely unrelated to the upcoming transfer of power from USG to University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA).

"Not one person has communicated to me that they would like to leave USG to join UPUA," he said. "Frankly, I don't think anyone will."

The current vacancies include three East Halls seats, one town seat and one representative from Eastview Terrace/Nittany Apartments.

"East Halls is tough to fill because you have to want to live in the area you represent," USG senate president Brock Coleman said.

The two governments -- the future student government, UPUA, and USG -- were represented at the involvement fair last week, exposing students to two sides of student advocacy.

USG will be reduced to club status following the UPUA elections Oct. 11. UPUA was formed last year as a result of a proposal by former USG President Galen Foulke to make the student government more advocacy-based. The Administration has endorsed UPUA as the official student government.

"There has been media coverage that merits each one and what each one entails," Coleman said.

Kate Rowe (freshman-labor and industrial relations) said she has chosen UPUA over USG.

"It is important for people to join in the decision-making that affects their lives," she said. "Whether it's running for a position or merely voting, everyone should be involved in the governing body that makes their decisions."

Other students have ruled out running for any organization, regardless of its representational influence.

"No. I wouldn't run. They always have problems, and nothing gets accomplished," Jeremy Moore (junior-chemical engineering) said.

Coleman said about 100 students had already signed up for USG.