Twelve weeks into the semester and Associated Student Government (ASG) is already looking to fill five positions: two seats in senate, two cabinet seats in Resident Hall Association (RHA), and one executive cabinet seat in ASG.

While ASG says this change is not uncommon, it will make an amendment to their bylaws more necessary.

Secretary for On-Campus Affairs Brendan Buholzer said this change is both a good and bad thing for them.

"It's difficult because these are people we have been working closely with and planning with over the semester but it's good because we'll be getting some fresh ideas and adding to our team," Buholzer said. "The end of the semester is a good time for them (to resign) though, because we've done well and accomplished most of the things we planned to this semester."

Buholzer said that resignations at this time of year are not necessarily unusual.

"We've had it happen in previous years due to people not completely understanding what they are taking on," Buholzer said, making reference to the time and effort it takes to serve in RHA.

One of the two resigning senators, senior Lauren Jones, cited a heavy class load as her reason for leaving while the other, junior Annie Casper, also worried about her many responsibilities, including class during ASG's meeting times.

"This is a pretty common thing to have happen at this point in the semester," said Brian Alexander, president of ASG. "As with any organization, you're going to lose one or two people due to time commitments and class loads."

Alexander said that the spots could be filled by any interested students, whether they are currently involved in student government or not.

"Anyone can come before the student senate to petition for those spots," Alexander said.

Alexander said that the loss of these individuals does not significantly impact ASG.

"Nothing critical is going on that will be affected," Alexander said. "There will just be senators with one less person on their committees."

The secretary to the executive cabinet position on ASG's executive cabinet, which the former secretary vacated for personal reasons, will be a little harder to fill. Originally, the ASG president appoints someone to this position during the previous academic year. ASG is currently in the process of introducing and debating an amendment to their bylaws, which would allow senate to nominate and appoint a new secretary to the executive cabinet.

At this point in the year, while replacing the spot is a priority for ASG, it is not the highest priority.

"(That) position is more of an advising position," Alexander said. "Her big duties are planning our beginning of the year ASG event, which is already done, and working on the end of the year transitioning for next year's cabinet."

After the amendment passes and an individual is nominated, the spot can be filled. He is confident the position will be filled in a few weeks.

"The senator positions will be filled eventually but we're really not worried about it," Alexander said. "We try and be as open as we can be and let people participate in the capacity that they can at that time. We also ask that they plan their class schedule around that Tuesday night meeting since (it is always at the same time)."

Also needing to be filled are two RHA positions. Sophomore Sara Werst, current RHA vice president, will be studying abroad next semester and junior Tom Shelley, the technology director, cited personal reasons in his resignation.

The ASG constitution states there must be an election process to fill the positions, something senate is hoping to do after Thanksgiving.

"We're asking any candidates to submit a letter of intent by Nov. 17 and then we'll have the elections Nov. 27," Buholzer said. "They're open to anyone who wants to undertake the responsibility."