The 19th Assembly of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) met on Wednesday to pass multiple pieces of legislation and revise the UPUA Constitution.

The meeting opened with multiple presentations, starting with UPUA Benefitting THON. They presented their THON Weekend recap, thanked their dancers and executive board, and announced their impressive final total raised for THON this year, $10,091.

The second presentation came from the Department of Internal Inclusion and Support, which shared a brief video from THON Weekend that featured UPUA members over the 46-hour period.

The last presentation of the evening was from the 2025 UPUA Election Commission, which spoke on the upcoming UPUA election. It defined the election positions available and the rules for running and announced that registration opens on March 3. It went over the timeline for running, the campaign period, endorsement rules, and poll times. More information about student elections can be found here on the UPUA website after registration opens.

Following reports from President Zion Sykes and Vice President Rasha Elwakil, along with the swearing in of a new Lion PRIDE representative, the assembly moved into new business.

New Business

Opening up New Business was the lengthy revision of the UPUA Constitution. After almost four hours of careful examination and discussion of the new articles and amendments, the improved constitution passed as well as a new set of election laws to fit the new constitution.

First up for the multiple bills presented was Bill #63-19: Funding to Support Penn State Votes Debate. The UPUA will hold its annual debate between College Republicans and College Democrats on Tuesday, March 4, in Freeman Auditorium. The debate allows students with differing viewpoints to share their feelings about the current political state of the country, with questions about key policies from President Donald Trump’s administration like immigration, tariffs, and the Department of Government Efficiency. The debate will follow a rigid structure and will be monitored in a nonpartisan manner by the UPUA.

Bill #63-19: Funding to Support Penn State Votes Debate passed unanimously.

Next up was Bill #64-19: Funding for Know Your Local Politics Campaign Spring 2025. Although political discussions were widespread last semester in the midst of the presidential election, local politics are not covered nearly as much on campus. Local government agencies devote countless resources to students, but many students are not aware of the impact they have on their everyday lives.

The UPUA moves to implement a new social media campaign that will highlight information surrounding local policies and politicians. They will also have a table in the HUB from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, March 7, to distribute pamphlets with similar information surrounding local government. The goal of this program is to encourage more student engagement in politics in the State College area.

Bill #64-19: Funding for Know Your Local Politics Campaign Spring 2025 passed unanimously.

Following that, Bill #65-19: Purchasing of Supplies for Narcan Distribution was introduced. In efforts to create a safer environment for students, the UPUA is collaborating with the four Greek councils to execute a Narcan distribution and training program. Through a state grant, the UPUA has in its possession 1,200 doses of Narcan plus strips that test for fentanyl and xylazine.

To ensure that students are properly informed and trained, there will be two training sessions that chapter presidents and executive board members will attend and then receive the medication for their respective chapters. The training and distributions will occur from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25, and at the same time on Thursday, February 27, in the Forum building.

Bill #65-19: Purchasing of Supplies for Narcan Distribution passed unanimously.

Continuing on, Bill #66-19: Establishment of the Spring 2025 Exam Conflict “Know Your Academic Rights” Campaign encourages students to know their rights in the classroom. Faculty Senate policies are in place to give students rights in the classroom that professors cannot take away, including policies like the right to only have an end-of-semester exam that is worth more than 10% of the final grade scheduled during the final exam period.

Although these Faculty Senate policies are available at all times on the University Faculty Senate website, they are often hard for students to understand or access. To remedy this, the UPUA is implementing a social media campaign over the course of a few days that will help students understand the standards their professor must comply with, and encourage them to be aware of the rights they carry.

Bill #66-19: Establishment of the Spring 2025 Exam Conflict “Know Your Academic Rights” Campaign passed unanimously.

The last bill of the evening was Bill #67-19: Funding for Ride Safe Lyft Subsidies. With State Patty’s weekend approaching, there will be an increased number of students downtown and out on the roads. To discourage impaired driving, the UPUA is collaborating with Penn State Transportation to provide Lyft subsidies to students this weekend.

With the code “SAFERIDE2025,” a $15 Lyft coupon will be given to any students hoping to be picked up and dropped off anywhere within a 3-mile radius of Old Main. While the UPUA does not condone excessive or underage drinking, they hope the bill will limit harm and encourage safe transportation practices this weekend.

Bill #67-19: Funding for Ride Safe Lyft Subsidies passed unanimously.

Rounding out the meeting, Resolution #25-19 Support for Upzoning of the Urban Village District deals with one of the zoning districts in the State College Borough. The Urban Village District, a district near the west side of campus, offers the opportunity for more student housing and economic growth in the borough, all while preserving the historic aspect of the district, but current codes keep the area from being developed.

The UPUA recognizes the need for more student housing in State College. By re-zoning the area to get rid of restrictions, like the restriction of more than one residential property on one plot in the district, development can occur in this area and alleviate the housing crisis.

Resolution #25-19 Support for Upzoning of the Urban Village District passed unanimously.