ASUA senators are questioning their election commissioner's decision to extend the deadline to commit to running in this year's ASUA elections, saying it might violate the ASUA constitution.

After only nine candidates signed up to run for the 10 ASUA Senate positions, and only one candidate for the executive vice president position, elections commissioner Dan Suh decided to allot more time for students to get into the race in order to create a more competitive election.

But Ben Weiss, ASUA senator, said it's possible the senate will file a complaint against Suh's actions.

"The senate is not a rubber stamp; the rules we make are there for a reason, and they can't be changed on a whim," Weiss said.

Suh said he decided to change the deadline because students might have been scared off by ASUA's earlier elections timeline and by its emphasis on the need for candidates to educate themselves about their platform.

J.P. Benedict, ASUA president, said a number of people who considered running for ASUA positions decided to apply for lower-level positions instead to gain more experience. Now he hopes these students reconsider.

Senator Morgan Kisler said she wished Suh had come to the senate first before making the decision, even if the change in deadline didn't need the senate's approval.

Some senators were not even aware of the change until yesterday.

The ASUA Elections Code states the elections commissioner has the right to take steps necessary to ensure the campaign runs smoothly. The elections commissioner also has the right to issue the final interpretation of the Elections Code.

But if the senate decides to submit an official complaint against the ASUA Elections Commission, the ASUA Supreme Court could review the decision, according to the Elections Code.

Suh said the ASUA constitution and bylaws granted him the power to change the deadline The elections commissioner is appointed by the newly elected ASUA president after each election and is approved by the ASUA Senate.

At last night's ASUA Senate meeting, eight of the 10 senators approved the Appropriation Board's consent agenda from Monday for $552.00 Campus Crusade for Christ received $162.70 for their "Real World" staff conference on Feb. 6 in San Diego. The funding will pay for one person to attend the conference. Their original request for $175 was adjusted to fit the amount of the airline ticket more accurately.

Greek Venture received special funding for $390 for their greek life retreat from Feb. 6 to Feb. 8. Greek Venture originally requested $675 for a 15-passenger van and two member's conference dues of $100.

ASUA administrative vice president Victoria Ruan spoke to the 10 ASUA senators about the progress of the organization's programs and services.

She told senators about Sexual Responsibility Week, running from Feb. 9 to Feb. 12.

ASUA Pride Alliance will be holding its awareness week from Feb. 16 to 20. It has planned a Freedom to Marry day on Feb. 16 and Gay Olympics on Feb. 19.

Ruan also updated senators on SafeRide's new computerized dispatch in which a computer program now logs all calls and then computes statistics automatically.

That is all done in a fraction of the time it used to take when dispatchers had to write everything by hand.

She said the senators could preview the program by contacting Jonathan Wilson, the SafeRide director who spearheaded the project.

She also mentioned that SafeRide has bought a new golf cart for on-campus use so that cars can spend more time doing the off-campus drives.

Use of the golf cart has dropped response time from eight minutes to five minutes.

Statistics from last semester showed that SafeRide has already carried 18,000 passengers.

The Student Health Advisory Committee will be holding a blood drive tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Santa Rita Room of the Student Union Memorial Center.

The American Red Cross will be conducting the blood drive.

"You can make a big difference in a person's life," said Rachit Kumar, SHAC director.

He also said that you never know when you or a family member may be in need of a specific blood type.

Students are advised to drink plenty of water before donating blood. They should also eat a snack two to three hours before donating, preferably one that is low in fat.