The University Park Undergraduate Association met Wednesday night in the HUB for a meeting that was cut short by technical difficulties, which prevented Student Affairs Communications Manager Shea Bracken from presenting to the assembly about new updates to the Student Affairs website. She’s expected to give it another shot at next week’s meeting if the projection system is remedied.

The only legislation of the night, Resolution 23-12, supports funding for Counseling and Psychological Services through the Student Fee Board. This year, CAPS is requesting to maintain its allocation of a little more than $800,000, or $9.75 per student per semester.

Through increased funding over the last year, CAPS has been able to hire 14 new positions, increase services provided across the board by 20-25 percent, increase psychiatric services by 75 percent, implement several web and application-based services, and complete the active rescue of one student who was in distress.

The resolution supports Student Fee Board members approving this allocation, and commends CAPS for its stewardship of student fee dollars and increases in services provided through the funding. It passed unanimously.

President Katie Jordan highlighted the university’s change to its responsible action protocol, which is basically Penn State’s own medical amnesty policy. In addition to protecting the student who calls for help from disciplinary action related to alcohol or other drugs, the policy now also covers the person in need of medical attention.

UPUA passed a resolution supporting this increased protection at the end of last semester. The resolution was a big stride for the Jordan-Shockley platform initiative to advocate for increased medical amnesty in Pennsylvania, and allowed representatives to work with Student Affairs and the Office of Student Conduct throughout the policy amendment process.

Jordan also said she’s working on the next step in this initiative to advocate for similar changes to Pennsylvania medical amnesty laws by reaching out to other schools around the state to sign a joint letter of support.

With only seven meetings remaining for the assembly, UPUA’s Elections Commission is already hard at work organizing this year’s election. The first information session for students interested in running for the 13th Assembly is scheduled for 6-7 p.m. next Wednesday, February 7 in 233 HUB.