The 18th Assembly of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) met on Wednesday to pass two new bills and confirm a policy change.

The meeting opened with two special presentations. First, Executive Director of Internal Inclusion and Support Shelby Corbett and Chair of Campus Operations Fletcher Port spoke about proper email etiquette. The pair presented methods and tips for crafting professional emails, including common mistakes to avoid and how to address potential employers.

Following this, representatives from the Lion Caucus spoke about Capitol Day, which is Penn State’s largest day of student advocacy and is slated for March 18. The Lion Caucus shared how participating students can speak directly with Pennsylvania legislators in Harrisburg and urged students to apply for the opportunity.

Following reports by President Nora O’Toole and Vice President Giselle Concepcion, the assembly moved into new business.

New Business 

First up was a policy change regarding the judicial decision of allotting the ACCESS Community Group Representative Seat to the Disability Alliance at Penn State. Chief Justice Hayden D’Elena shared his excitement about the addition of another community group seat and how the seat will ensure disabled students have a voice on campus.

The Community Group Representative Seat policy change passed unanimously.

Next up was Bill #52-18: Establishment of the “Know Your Academic Resources” Campaign. This bill supports sponsored Instagram posts to highlight the available academic resources for students on campus. Resources include those provided by the Pattee and Paterno libraries, the Bank of America Career Services Center, and other free campus career tools. 

It will enable UPUA to bridge the gap between the academic resources offered through Penn State and student awareness while demonstrating how to use the given resources effectively.

Bill #52-18 passed unanimously.

The last piece of legislation presented was Bill #53-18: Funding to Support PSU Votes Debate. This bill aims to fund a debate between the College Republicans and the College Democrats at 5 p.m. on February 13 in the Freeman Auditorium. The debate will be centered around the issue of immigration in America and will aim to raise student interest in future elections while promoting increased voter turnout.

The debate will be a catered event and will host other organizations associated with the PSU Votes initiative to encourage voter registration.

Bill #53-18 passed unanimously.