Undergraduate Student Government (USG) members say the administration's lack of consultation over normal aspects of student life is a problem.

It's a problem that administrators and University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) presidential candidates say UPUA may help solve.

Felicia McGinty, associate vice president for student engagement and future adviser to UPUA, said she anticipated UPUA will have the opportunity to be "at the table" for some discussions on administrative policies.

"Whatever group is the recognized student voice needs some attention from the administration," she said.

Nick Stathes, USG president, has raised issues with the lack of "defined" power UPUA has. He said he would like to see students have more specific decision-making powers, rather than just the ability to "advocate" to the administration.

McGinty said she agreed student power was a "real issue" and had discussed it with others in Student Affairs. However, she said students should not expect to have the final word.

"Just because you're given a voice doesn't mean you're going to totally change the decision," she said.

All three UPUA presidential tickets said they would try to increase communication with the administration.

"We will be continuously talking to the administration," Michael Hines, a UPUA presidential candidate, said. "Our big goal is to get the bonds together."

Hines said he would discuss proposed resolutions with administration members before they were passed to determine if a solution is feasible.

"What they're always looking for are the numbers," he said, adding that he would consider using surveys and other data to back up proposals to the administration.

Both Hines and his vice presidential candidate, Harry Saylor, said they had worked with administrators while serving on the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments and student government at Penn State-Berks. Christopher Brink, Jay Bundy's vice presidential candidate, said he and Bundy would establish credibility and legitimacy with the administration.

"We need to prove to them that we're equals," he said.

Brink said he and Bundy wanted to make sure the administration considered student reaction when making policies.

"It's not like [Penn State President Graham Spanier] wakes up every morning and is like, 'Should I call Nick Stathes about this?,' but Jay thinks he should," Brink said.

Bundy saud that he has served on Penn State's social awareness committee and has also worked for the city government in Newark, N.J.

Jay Chamberlin, the final UPUA presidential candidate, said he also hoped to establish a "working relationship" with the administration.

"I would hope that they would be interested in consulting with us before they go and do a policy change," he said.

However, Chamberlin said advocacy groups often do have a "reactionary" role.

Chamberlin said he had worked with administrators while serving as alumni relations chairman for the Blue and White society. Mitchell Witmer-Belding, Chamberlin's vice presidential candidate, said he worked with the administration as treasurer for East Halls Residence Association.