Only three applications have been received thus far for the 11 open positions on Student Senate, leaving the governing body with a third of its seats vacant.

Positions remain open in all three districts, Joe Robbins, speaker of the senate, said Thursday. Five on-campus positions, five off-campus positions and one at-large position comprise the 11 open seats. At-large representatives can reside both on and off campus.

Applications are currently due to Robbins by 3 p.m. this Wednesday, and he said if not enough applications are received, there is a small chance he may move the deadline.

“It’s something I really don’t want to do,” he said.

Robbins said he believes enough applications will be received since last year 24 applications were received for the 10 to 11 open positions by the time the deadline came.

“They flooded my mailbox,” he said.

Robbins said he has been trying to get applicants by having the Student Relations Committee put out flyers and signs and talking to students.

But he said there have been openings every semester since he has been involved in Student Senate.

Even though the senate began last fall with all 30 seats filled, he said some members resigned leaving seats empty that needed to be filled by the application process.

Student Body President Hugh O’Hara said the most applications come in the last two or three days before the deadline.

“I’m not worried about filling the seats at all,” he said.

However, if 2:30 p.m. Wednesday rolls around with no applications turned in, then he said he would be worried.

If the seats remain empty, the biggest impact will be on individual senate committees, because with fewer members, it will be harder to get committee work done, Robbins said.

Senate legislation and other activities may or may not be affected by the vacancies, Robbins said, noting that new senate members are usually more timid, and don’t write legislation.

Interviews will be held next week, Robbins said. And those chosen need approval by the senate.