After much debate among the 10 ASUA senators at last night's meeting, senators decided to keep the required amount of signatures candidates needed to run in the 2004-2005 ASUA elections the same as last year's numbers.

Candidates for ASUA president will still have to collect 500 signatures, candidates for the two vice president positions will need to collect 400 signatures and senators must have 200 signatures in order to be eligible for the primary election.

Senators were divided over the issues as some wanted the numbers to be increased because candidates should be challenged while others wanted the numbers to remain the same in order to encourage students to run.

But after hours of debate, senators decided not to increase or decrease the required amount of signatures.

Senators also voted to allow campaigning on the Mall, something that had been prohibited previously because polls had originally been located on the Mall.

Nick Lander, hall director of Kaibab-Huachuca, spoke to senators about changes with regards to the residence assistant application process.

RA's are responsible for building communities in residence halls, assisting first year students, enforcing safety and security guidelines, and following community standards.

One change will be holding the individual interview before the group interview in order to immediately eliminate candidates.

Returning RA's now must go through a smaller application process where they will have to write about what they want to get out of the

position.

Lander said that they are looking for returning RA's in order to have people with experience in the new residence halls.

Alistair Chapman and Nick Green, student lobbyists, spoke to senators about the application process for the student regent position available next year on the Arizona Board of Regents.

Applications for the position will be available Monday for students to pick up at the ASUA offices.

The application is demanding, with six essays and numerous reference letters, Chapman said.

Applications are due on Feb. 9 so that students will have adequate time to complete the application during winter break. Applicants will then go through interviews. Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano will pick the student regent from three finalists.

Students can also fill out an application at www.asua.arizona.edu.

Jack Jewett of the Arizona Board of Regents spoke to senators about changing direction, tuition and student fees.

Jewett said that the regents have recognized the differences between the three Arizona universities and is now working on aligning policies that acknowledge the distinctions. He said in a few years students will see the UA's admissions policy becoming slightly stricter.

He also said that with tuition increases, financial aid would always increase accordingly. Jewett said that 800 more students received financial aid this year than last year.

In addition, the regents will be working on getting more aid from the state government, Jewett said.

The state contributes 0.2 percent of financial aid, or $1.5 million.

"Federal government hasn't provided in key areas in financial aid that they should and could," he said. "If the federal government isn't going to assist in high education then they should stay out altogether."

He said that the government starves universities of public funding.

Senator Blake Buchanan asked Jewett about differential fees, whether he supports them or not.

Jewett said he does not support fees because they would bump up against tuition financial aid.

Jennie Collins, club events coordinator, announced that the UA Habitat for Humanity is November's club of the month.

The club was selected based on their work building homes for needy families and continuing to help the families by buying them household items and toys.

Moreover, the organization, mostly composed of females, was able to construct homes and install electricity and other necessities for a household.