The 17th Assembly of the University Park Undergraduate Association met on Wednesday night over Zoom for its first general assembly meeting of the summer.

The meeting began with an individual report from UPUA acting President Sydney Gibbard. Gibbard provided insight to assembly members regarding UPUA President Najee Rodriguez’s temporary leave of absence and encouraged meeting attendees that this would “in no way slow down the progress” of the 17th assembly. Shortly after, she moved into a discussion of goals and initiatives for the upcoming school year.

Following a five-minute caucus breakout, the assembly moved into new business.

New Business

The first item on the agenda was the election of a Movin’ On Liaison. None of the assembly members motioned to nominate a candidate, so Gibbard postponed the election.

Next, Gibbard moved into the re-confirmation and swearing-in of five UPUA Associate Justices. Hayden D’Elena, Jake Lemler, Taran Samarth, Larry Corridoni, and Micaela Zelinsky each provided a one-minute speech, answered several questions, and were ultimately sworn in.

The first piece of legislation on the agenda was Bill #04-17, Funding for Red Zone Action Week. Red Zone Action Week is an annual, week-long event that aims to raise awareness and education on sexual violence and prevention. The bill proposed that UPUA provides $461.41 to finance stress balls and supplies for necessary tabling throughout the week.

Bill #04-17 passed unanimously with a vote of 30-0-0.

The group then began discussion on Resolution #02-17, Support of PSU Votes 2022 Programming for Mid-Term Election. The resolution proposed that UPUA supports PSU Votes’ programming events intended to increase student voter turnout in the 2022 mid-term election. Events include voter registration training, HUB tabling, and debates, among other events.

Resolution #02-17 passed with a vote of 28-0-1.

The next piece of legislation on the agenda was Resolution #02-17, Funding for PSU Votes 2022 Mid-Term Election Drive. The bill proposed that UPUA fund $1,148 to be used to promote PSU Votes’ Mid-Term Election Drive on both September 20 and November 8.

Resolution #02-17 passed unanimously.

The assembly meeting moved along into its final piece of legislation on the agenda, Resolution #03-17, Supporting the Passage of the Respect to Marriage Act Resolution. The resolution proposed that UPUA outwardly supports the passage of House Bill 8405, the Respect for Marriage Act, which is currently awaiting a vote in the United States Senate. This resolution charged UPUA with providing resources for Penn State students to contact their House Representatives and Senators, as well as openly backing the bill.

If passed by the Senate, the Respect for Marriage Act would codify same-sex relationships, same-sex marriages, and interracial marriages into federal law.

The resolution passed unanimously.