The 20th Assembly of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) met on Wednesday to swear in six representatives, and pass three bills and one resolution. Following reports from President Rasha Elwakil and Vice President Noah Youcheff, the assembly moved into confirmations and swearing-ins.  

Confirmations & Swearing-Ins

At the swearing-in ceremony, Lauren Thomas, Nathaniel Wanzer, and Samuel Hasson took their oaths as Associate Justices, while Caitlin Munsky, S.M. Marie Mahfuz, and Suri Phung were sworn in as At-Large Representatives by President Elwakil.

New Business

Bill #59-20: Funding and Support of Solidarity Rising Town Hall: This bill would support conversations at a town hall with the PRCC liaison board. Students for Justice in Palestine has received a spot on the liaison board, which UPUA works closely with, and the town hall would include all members, supporting conversations supporting intersectionality, specifically to make space for Palestinian students. The speaker expanded that the town hall is to support minority groups and pressing issues surrounding international students, including ICE.

Bill #59-20: Funding and Support of Solidarity Rising Town Hall fell 12-17-5.

Bill #56-20: Funding for Capital Day Charter Bus: This bill allocates $2,000 to cover a charter bus for Capital Day. It comes down to $1,809 for the bus and $191 for any unexpected costs, making sure that students can travel easily from the HUB to the Pennsylvania State Capitol and back. This funding helps boost accessibility and encourages student activism for Capital Day.

Bill #56-20: Funding for Capital Day Charter Bus, passed 25-0-2.

Bill #57-20: World Day of Social Justice Tabling: This bill provides $53.98 for a tabling event to promote World Day of Social Justice. The funds will be spent on two cookie platters to attract students and make the event fun while raising awareness about social justice issues. Plus, it’ll highlight campus resources, student organizations, and advocacy efforts that support equity and student well-being.

Bill #57-20, World Day of Social Justice Tabling, passed unanimously.

Bill #58-20: Know Your Rights – ICE Response Tabling: This bill sets aside $82.94 to help fund a “Know Your Rights: ICE Response” tabling event put together by the Justice and Equity Committee. The money will go towards stickers, a flag banner, and cookie platters to draw people in. They’ll also hand out red “Know Your Rights” cards in various languages. The aim is to educate students about immigration enforcement, make information and campus resources more accessible, and raise awareness of equity and safety for everyone at University Park.

Bill #58-20: Know Your Rights – ICE Response Tabling, passed unanimously

Resolution #12-20: Support for a Single-Use Plastic Ban: This resolution aims to cut down on single-use plastics at Penn State to deal with environmental issues, public health concerns, and rising costs related to recycling contamination. It calls for measures like making plastic straws available only by request and switching to compostable alternatives. The goal is to lower plastic consumption, cut contamination fees, and help Penn State reach its carbon emissions reduction targets by 2035. By minimizing plastic use, this proposal aims to lower landfill waste and boost sustainability around campus.

Resolution #12-20: Support for a Single-Use Plastic Ban, passed unanimously