Jay Bundy, the recently disqualified University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) presidential candidate, asked the administration yesterday to intervene in the UPUA elections commission's decision to disqualify him.

On Sunday night, the elections commission disqualified Bundy, who won the popular vote, because it said he had exceeded his campaign spending limit. It named runner-up Jay Chamberlin president instead.

Bundy met yesterday morning in Old Main with Vicky Triponey, vice president for student affairs, and Felicia McGinty, associate vice president for student engagement. He asked them to issue a statement saying the administration would not recognize UPUA until democratic elections were held.

Triponey said the administration would not intervene in the election or hear an appeal.

"We have no authority in this matter," she said. "The only authority the president [Graham Spanier] has is to determine which group is going to represent our students."

She added the administration's decision "has nothing to do with how that group is run, how that group is managed. That's up to our students."

Triponey said there were other areas in student affairs where she had a clearly defined authority, but the UPUA elections code indicated that the commission holds the final decision-making power.

McGinty expressed concern during the meeting that Bundy was not getting enough sleep.

The meeting lasted about 15 minutes, after which McGinty left with Bundy to have a "personal conversation" in her office.

Bundy said he had no comment when asked later about the meeting.

When Triponey was asked after the meeting if she was concerned about Bundy's statements that he would have tried to earn "the lowest approval rating in history" as UPUA president, she said, "I think everyone was concerned."

However, she said she still would have worked with Bundy if he had been certified as president.

Triponey said whoever was elected would have to prove himself to the administration, but she said she anticipated the UPUA president would have input on more decisions.

"I want to see our students have a credible voice," she said.

Triponey said she had already received an e-mail message from Chamberlin and hoped to meet with him this week.

Christopher Brink, Bundy's UPUA vice-presidential candidate, said Bundy had informed him of the meeting in Old Main, but Brink chose not to attend because he had a class.

He said he would like someone to hear an appeal, whether it is the administration or other students.

"I think there has to be somebody to hold an appeals board for what they've been doing to me and Jay Bundy," he said. "When you intentionally make the rules not work for one team, it's kind of unfair."

Brink said he planned to release a statement soon about his final conclusions from the process and what he plans to do next. He said he hopes to become the UPUA representative for the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

Brink said he will probably not continue to work with Bundy.

"I don't see working too much more with Jay Bundy if he continues to act like he is," he said.

Nick Stathes, Undergraduate Student Government (USG) president, said while he considers Bundy's disqualification an "absolute disgrace," he would still work with Chamberlin when it was in the interest of the students.

"Whether it's USG or UPUA that takes the lead, it's going to benefit students if we quit the arguing and start working together," he said.