The 19th Assembly of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) met on Wednesday to swear in two representatives and learn about the initiatives of the Department of Internal Inclusion and Support.

The meeting opened with two special presentations. First, the president and the UPUA representative for the Penn State Black Caucus shared information about the caucus’ mission and overall goals. The pair shared how the organization will be more engaged this year with the study body and will hold a variety of group discussions to engage the Black community at Penn State. At the end of the presentation, the president urged any interested UPUA members to attend the caucus’ bi-weekly meetings.

Next, three representatives from the Department of Internal Inclusion and Support (IIS), led by executive director Shelby Corbett, shared how each department member will improve UPUA inclusion initiatives. From describing the importance of mental health to explaining the various support systems embedded within the assembly, the IIS representatives emphasized how they are resources for all UPUA members.

Following reports from President Zion Sykes and Vice President Rasha Elwakil, the assembly swore in two representatives.

Elections/Swear-Ins

The only swear-ins of the night were for Parliamentarian Asyfa Nizam and APIDA Caucus Representative Shostika Mishra. The pair pledged their dedication to UPUA and promised to uphold the assembly standards in their new positions.