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UPUA Passes ‘Know Your Rights’ Initiative For ICE Actions

The 19th Assembly of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) met on Wednesday to discuss three informational reports and pass three pieces of legislation.

The meeting opened with three presentations. First up was Penn State Transportation with a presentation by Special Projects Manager Jason Thomas, who spoke about the new initiatives occurring within the department. Thomas spoke about the new temporary daily parking reservations for students and employees, the enhancement to the parking deck to display parking availability, and a new digital payment parking option on campus called HONK.

He ended the presentation by detailing the inclusion of a new Red Link bus on campus and urged students to use the campus shuttle as a free method for getting around campus, as well as the university ride-sharing platform called RideON.

Next up was Kevin Schuyler, who presented information about being a student trustee at Penn State, and urged UPUA to consider applying to be a part of the Penn State Board of Trustees. Schuyler discussed how in his role as the student trustee he can network with his fellow trustees and work together to review and approve projects and budgets throughout the university.

Following this presentation, the UPUA presented a video welcoming the fifth UPUA President, Christan Ragland, back to campus. Ragland’s time as president included landmark changes regarding sexual assault prevention on campus, the implementation of diversity roundtables, and the establishment of the CATA Bus. He shared his words of wisdom with UPUA about how they should always put community first in their work at Penn State, and the impact UPUA has had on the rest of his career.

Following reports from Zion Sykes and Rasha Elwakil, the assembly moved into Old Business. 

Old Business

First up for old business was Informational Report #04-19: E-Scooters at Penn State. This informational report details the safety concerns regarding scooters on campus and the negative impact of these transportation devices on the community. The report also laid out the current state and local laws regarding e-scooters which state that they are prohibited on public sidewalks, and must have registration and equipment standards.

In terms of discussion, the assembly brainstormed what steps Penn State should take to address e-scooter safety on campus, including enforcing stricter laws and improving infrastructure on campus. In a poll following the discussion, the UPUA assembly voted to improve infrastructure to safely integrate e-scooters on campus and agreed that the UPUA should write a formal resolution to enforce the ban on e-scooters on campus.

Report #04-19: E-Scooters at Penn State passed unanimously.

Next up was Informational Report #05-19: Talks with Takac. This report detailed the audience response and overall event takeaways from the Talks with Takac event held on Thursday, October 10, featuring a representative of the 82nd District, Paul Tackac. The report detailed how there was a lack of attendance from the general student body, and how students found the post-event one-on-one discussion with Tackc more engaging than the event’s Q&A segment.

Areas of improvement were also identified within the report, which included more promotion for the event, diversifying the questions being asked, and improved coordination within the planning for the event. In terms of discussion, the assembly discussed how the UPUA can facilitate more student engagement with this event, how they can alter the Q&A format, and what methods the assembly should use to gather feedback from attendees. 

Informational Report #05-19: Talks with Takac passed unanimously.

The last piece of Old Business was Information Report #06-19: Insights from the Identity Roundtable Discussions. This report detailed feedback from the two roundtables UPUA hosted on Monday, November 18, and Thursday, November 21, regarding diversity and student identity group resources on campus. The report provided discussion questions regarding UPUA’s connection and accessibility to identity organizations across campus. The assembly deliberated about how they can increase the engagement for these roundtables, and help student identity organizations easily obtain needed resources across campus.

Report #06-19: Insights from the Identity Roundtable Discussions passed unanimously.

New Business

First up for New Business was Resolution #16-19: Protecting Student Rights and Well-Being: Know Your Rights Initiative for ICE Actions. This resolution states UPUA’s intention to promote student awareness regarding constitutional protections in the face of the series of executive orders that have led to deportations without judicial review. UPUA will be handing out cards from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, February 3, and Tuesday, February 4, in the HUB. These cards will list the rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution to allow students to defend themselves. 

Since U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was recently granted the right to go to sacred places across the country, including schools, churches, and hospitals, UPUA wants to help support students who are fearful of being a target and provide the proper resources. The cards will give steps on how to act in a situation with an ICE officer and also list Penn State’s free student legal service. 

Resolution #16-19: Protecting Student Rights and Well-Being: Know Your Rights Initiative for ICE Actions passed unanimously. 

Next up was Bill #52-19: Co-Sponsoring Latino Caucus’s 2025 Noche Latina. This bill provides funding for UPUA to sponsor the Latino Caucus Noche Latina event in the form of purchasing their entertainment equipment. The Noche Latina is a pageant dedicated to celebrating the Latino community at Penn State and passionately highlights the vibrant culture and traditions of Latino students. Throughout the event, attendees can expect a wide variety of performances, music, and food, as well as a scholarship pageant. 

 Bill #52-19: Co-Sponsoring Latino Caucus’s 2025 Noche Latina passed unanimously. 

The last piece of legislation was Bill #53-19: New Year Still Me. This bill provides funding for crafts, pins, snacks, and Jersey Mikes catering for a “New Year Still Me” event hosted by UPUA, Paul Robeson Cultural Center, and Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPOC). The event is set to take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, January 31, at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center in the HUB.

Students will be able to partake in a variety of crafts, from creating their own stuffed animal keychain and string beading to free pins representing different cultures and LGBTQ+ identities. This program is created in response to the recent threats to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the hands of the United States government and will showcase the importance of providing a safe space for students to be welcomed and supported in the Penn State community. 

Bill #53-19: New Year Still Me passed unanimously. 

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About the Author

McKenna Murphy

McKenna is a third-year agricultural science major from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Her red flags include being a ginger, a Disney adult, and a chronic yapper. In her free time, she enjoys reading books and curating oddly specific playlists. You can follow her on Instagram @mckenna.murph or email her at [email protected].

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