MSU’s Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered and Straight Ally Students has only two members to its fill seven leadership positions.

With social relations junior Natalie Furrow as the chairperson and general management senior T.J. Jourian as the external vice chairperson, the group is left without an office manager, a treasurer, a special events coordinator, a public relations officer or an internal vice chairperson.

After elections spring semester, all seven positions were filled.

But over the summer, five members decided not to be part of the group’s leadership this year.

“There were some personal reasons and some time-management issues,” Jourian said.

Jourian attributed the lack of leaders to the Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Ally College Conference, which was held at MSU in March. Although the conference attracted more than 800 students from 12 states, alliance members who worked hard for the conference were exhausted and needed a break, Jourian said.

But whatever the circumstances, Jourian said the group needs volunteers to assist in the events planned for this year.

“This is going to be a huge year for the alliance,” she said, adding that National Coming Out Day is in October.

Despite lacking leadership, Jourian said membership is strong and freshman interest has increased - and the alliance is willing to work with new faces.

“We need a good, diverse group of people to spearhead this,” Jourian said. “To be a part of what I like to call history for the alliance.”

Sean Kosofsky, director of policy for the Detroit-based Triangle Foundation, suggested the alliance look within their own group for leaders.

“One of the best things the organization can do at Michigan State is develop leaders within its own membership,” he said. “Investing in existing talent would be very helpful.”

Despite the talent Kosofsky said he knew existed at MSU, he said he understood the difficulty in finding leadership when students are constantly graduating from MSU.

“Students are so centered on academics and their jobs, sometimes extracurriculars suffer,” he said. “I know that student organization is a very big challenge for almost any movement.”

Students who are interested in applying for the available positions can visit the alliance’s Web site at www.msu.edu/~alliance/ or attend one of its weekly meetings at 7 p.m. Sundays in room 441 of the Union.