The 19th Assembly of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) met Wednesday to pass six pieces of legislation.

Following a report from President Zion Sykes, the assembly moved into new business. 

New Business

First up was Resolution #06-19: Consideration of 19 Credit Surcharge Course Exemption. In this resolution, UPUA stated that due to the negative impacts of the 19-credit student surcharge policy, adjustments to the policy must be made. This included exemptions for undergraduate research, teaching assistantships, music ensembles, resident assistant courses, and any credits earned through student organizations.

UPUA recommended the university create a system where students can petition for exemptions from the surcharge, ensuring that the student body has an established outlet to improve the policy.

Resolution #06-19: Consideration of 19 Credit Surcharge Course Exemption passed unanimously. 

Next up was Bill #27-19: Funding for Refreshments for Mental Health and Wellness Fest Planning Meeting. This bill provided funding for UPUA to purchase refreshments for its Mental Health and Wellness Fest planning meeting. Mental Health and Wellness Fest is a day dedicated to showcasing the abundant mental health resources available at University Park, with collaborations from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Campus Recreation, Gender Equity Center, and more. 

This meeting is set to take place in the UPUA office located in the HUB and aims to gather organizations from across campus to plan and outline the goals for the Mental Health Wellness Fest. With refreshments included, UPUA hopes to create a comfortable atmosphere where organizations can discuss ideas for how to creatively raise awareness about the mental health resources available at Penn State. 

Bill #27-19: Funding for Refreshments for Mental Health and Wellness Fest Planning Meeting passed unanimously.

Following this was Bill #28-19: Establishment of the Fall 2024 Late Drop Awareness “Know Your Academic Rights” Campaign. This bill aimed to provide funding for an Instagram post to raise awareness about late-drop policies as part of UPUA’s “Know Your Academic Rights” campaign. 

Course drop is the period when students can drop a class without receiving an academic penalty. For late course drop, students can still drop a course but will have a notice on their academic records. The UPUA-sponsored post emphasized how students have the ability to late-drop a course from the first calendar day after the regular course drop and before 80% of the duration of the course has passed. 

Bill #28-19: Establishment of the Fall 2024 Late Drop Awareness “Know Your Academic Rights” Campaign passed unanimously. 

Next was Bill #29-19: Sponsoring the South Asian Student Association’s 2024 Diwali Celebration. This bill allowed UPUA to sponsor the SASA 2024 Diwali celebration by purchasing a photo booth for the event. Diwali is a festival marking the victory of good over evil in the Hindu culture. The five-day event is often celebrated through lighting candles and firecrackers, as the word “Diwali” translates to rows of lighted lamps. 

SASA plans on holding a Diwali Celebration later this fall, set to feature live entertainment, Indian cuisine, and lighting of the traditional diya lamps. UPUA aims to support the Penn State student body in celebrating cultural identity and hopes this sponsorship will further strengthen the connection between the SASA and UPUA. 

Bill #29-19: Sponsoring South Asian Student Association’s 2024 Diwali Celebration passed unanimously. 

The second to last bill of the night was Bill #30-19: Mr. Burgundy and Gray Pageant. This bill provided funding for UPUA to co-sponsor the Alumni Hall room and projector rental for the Mr. Burgundy and Gray Pageant. Hosted by the Beta Lambda Chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, this pageant is set to take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, at Alumni Hall.

The event seeks to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital by highlighting men across campus who emulate the values of love, respect, and unity at Penn State. The selected candidates will showcase their talent and scholarship to compete for the titles of Mr. Burgundy and Grey. 

Bill #30-19: Mr. Burgundy and Gray Pageant passed unanimously.

The last bill of the night was Bill #31-19: Light Up Night UPUA Tabling. This bill allowed UPUA to buy materials for creating stuffed animals to hand out during the Light Up Night Event, set to take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 21. Held in MLK Plaza on Fraser Street and the 100 block of Allen Street, the festive event has a slate of holiday activities, from live reindeer to hot beverages and the lighting of the Allen Street evergreen tree. UPUA seeks to distribute stuffed animals to attendees throughout the event. 

Bill #31-19: Light Up Night UPUA Tabling passed unanimously.