The Executive Board of the University Park Undergraduate Association continues to work on defining the role and official procedures regarding the Chief of Staff. You’ll recall the tense situation two weeks ago when President Christian Ragland appointed Dustin Dove to the position without approval of the Assembly.

UPUA has not met as a whole since that episode, and the Executive Board met last Saturday to discuss this and other issues. President Ragland expressed concern about not being allowed enough discretion by the Assembly to appoint someone to a Chief of Staff role. He said he may veto legislation calling for Assembly approval for the Chief of Staff’s appointment. Internal Affairs Director Benjy Lombard is currently drafting Executive bylaws in an effort to prevent a repeat of two weeks ago. Tonight’s general meeting should be interesting.

Other items of note that the Board discussed:

• Campus safety continues to be a big issue. UPUA’s Commission for Safety is talking with University Police about related safety topics.
• In that same vein, UPUA will be holding a town hall meeting November 2, centered around safety, and “knowing your rights.”
• Efforts continue to form a Pennsylvania Student Association, joining the student governments of all the state’s public colleges and universities.