Official campaigning for the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) elections started yesterday at 5 p.m.

Elections are Oct. 11.

"I thought our turnout was pretty decent," Katie Vogel, UPUA elections commissioner for candidates and campaigns, said. "Since it's new, we knew it wasn't going to just explode onto the scene."

Presidential candidates are Jay Bundy and vice president Christopher Brink, Jay Chamberlin and vice president Mitchell Witmer-Belding, and Mike Hines and vice president Harry Saylor.

Vogel said there are still a few positions open for on- and off-campus representatives and at-large spots.

"Once everyone is in office, these slots will most likely be filled," she said. "When people are elected, this will be taken care of by the officers."

At the 7 p.m. stamping session yesterday, candidates put the red UPUA elections commission seals on their flyers via rubber stamp.

"If we see a sign on campus with no stamp, we can track it down and see who violated our elections code," head elections commissioner Ashley Hill said. "This is a way of validating their material."

Presidential campaigns are allowed a budget of $600 that includes money for flyers and other campaign materials. Candidates are responsible for giving all campaign-related receipts to the commissioners for verification, as outlined in the elections code.

Bundy has already violated this code by campaigning before yesterday evening. As of the stamping session, a decision had not been made regarding his pending punishment.

Bundy said his violation will not affect his campaign.

"The train is moving," he said. "Get on board or get out of the way."

Each of the flyers stamped last night expressed how the candidates feel about UPUA.

Bundy has more than 1,000 fliers that say "UPUA...The New Pink," and he is the "Best Jay in Town."

"Pink is my favorite color," he said. "There's nothing better than leaders who are comfortable wearing bright colors."

Sporting a pink shirt, Bundy also said his dog is a major part of his campaign as his flyers explain, "It's puppy love."

The dog, however, was not stamped.

"She will stay with me. We feel Diana is a mental health tool for the campus," Bundy said. "Dogs make people smile."

After meeting his opponents, Hines said he is excited to start his campaign.

"I can't wait," he said. "I like talking to people and this seems like a good way to get out there and talk to students."

Hines said that his experience as a representative from Penn State Berks for the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments would help him lead UPUA.

"I just feel like there's a lot of good opportunities this year," he said. "I wanted to get involved because I've been a part of good student governments in the past."

Chamberlin was not available for comment.

Also getting stamp-happy last night was prospective liberal arts college representative Arquimides Leon who invited students to "Mark it Arq" and join him for free Canyon Pizza.

"This is a little nerve racking," he said. "I'm a freshman and I need to get more upperclassman support."

Underclassmen applicants were not uncommon, Vogel said.

"There were quite a few applicants who are not seniors," she said. "We feel that's good because we will have more people with experience within the organization to keep it going."