The 21st Assembly of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) met Wednesday for three special presentations, three representative swear-ins, and to pass three bills, including one resolution.

The meeting opened with the first special presentation, where President Kat Hogan and Vice President Maria Lopez Vera discussed a new way to track initiatives to maintain accountability and transparency throughout the assembly.

The next presentation was by the University Park Fee Board, where two members discussed where the Student Initiated Fee goes.

“When students come to Penn State, they should know where their money is going,” Chief Justice Jude York said.

The First Year Council gave the last presentation and discussed the excitement freshmen have about joining UPUA.

Confirmations & Swearing-In

The meeting then moved to the new representatives section. It began with the swearing-in of three new representatives.

Declan Goldhawk was sworn in as deputy director of sustainability. Emmery Soroka was sworn in as director of sustainability engagement. Bersabeh Hailegiorgis was sworn in as director of the student sustainability network.

There were no new confirmations.

An information report was then given on the use of Flock cameras, specifically on the history of the technology at Penn State and how students and media have been reacting to its use.

The UPUA plans to post a survey for the undergraduate student body by October 6 to obtain student opinions on the matter.

New Business

The UPUA introduced three new bills and one resolution.

Bill #14-21: Domestic Violence Prevention “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” Campaign proposes to display posters throughout the campus to help spread awareness of domestic violence.

The posters will include a variety of designs, including a QR code linking to resources available to help students. UPUA hopes that the posters will be a physical reminder of the importance of addressing domestic violence on campus.

Bill #14-21: Domestic Violence Prevention “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” Campaign was passed unanimously.

Bill #15-21: Increasing Midterm Election Awareness proposed a Ballot Buddy Block Party and tabling in various housing areas on campus to help promote voter registration and celebrate National Voter Education Week.

The goal is to help students learn about the resources needed to register to vote, including a page listing the candidates running in Pennsylvania and surrounding areas.

The tabling events will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. from October 6 to 9.

Bill #15-21: Increasing Midterm Election Awareness was passed unanimously.

Bill #16-21: Light Up Night Fall 2026-2027 proposes funding the purchase of UPUA-related merchandise to distribute during Light Up Night. The event is the annual celebration of the start of the holiday season downtown State College.

UPUA plans to hand out teddy bear plushies with customized shirts. They will be handed out on November 19 at MLK Plaza on Fraser Street and the 100-block of Allen Street in downtown State College from 5 to 8 p.m.

Bill #16-21: Light Up Night Fall 2026-2027 was passed unanimously.

Resolution #02-21: UPUA proposed extending Pattee and Paterno Library hours to a 24-hour schedule during the week of final exams and the week prior.

UPUA also proposed to extend regular hours of operation from closing at 12 a.m. to closing at 2 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday, excluding the first week of classes.

Under this proposal, students would have to use their student ID to enter the library after 12 a.m. Students would also be allowed to enter the library only via the Curtin Road entrance and would have access to the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Global News Center only after 12 a.m.

The expansion of operating hours would allow “an extra resource that can reduce barriers to academic success, all while ensuring that costs of operations do not become excessive to the University.”

Resolution #02-21: UPUA Extended Library Hours Resolution was passed unanimously.