Update 8:49 PM: Karn has resigned from his position. He was not present at the meeting. UPUA President Christian Ragland read his statement, found here.
According to the Daily Collegian,
Newly appointed UPUA Student Life and Diversity Chairman Noah Karn has come under fire for racial and gay slurs posted on his Twitter page.
Onward State has acquired the screenshots in question, found after the jump.
The Pattee Mall between Old Main and Willard Building has been busy with construction over the past few weeks. It's not just some routine maintenance by OPP, as the workers have been busily completing the seating area that makes up an important part of the 2009 Senior Class Gift.
Today, the restored Old Main Bell was put in place at the new site. The next step in the process is for OPP to finish the concrete walkways that surround the seating area. The gift will be dedicated on Friday, April 23rd at 10:15 AM.
In attendance at the ceremony will be President Spanier, Martha Jordan (Volunteer Chair for the Office of Annual Giving), and Avery Peechatka (2009 Senior Class Gift Communications Overall). As part of the event, they will ring the bell and say a few words. At the same ceremony, the completion of the 2005 and 2008 Senior Class Gifts will also be recognized.
Read on for a statement from the Assistant Director of the Penn State Office of Annual Giving.
When Kevin Salwen's daughter was 14, confronted by the existence of tremendous wealth next to abject poverty, she convinced her family to sell their home, move into a smaller one, and donate the proceeds to charity. Now, three years later, Salwen is on campus today talking about the need to re-examine the "relationships you make in life -- with both people and your 'stuff'-- and on the power we each have within us to trigger positive change."
Niko Kovacevic, one of the students in the CAS 100H class responsible for the speech, said, "We're bringing him to Penn State because his philosophy concerning ethics, specifically the ethics of justice, wealth and charity, applies directly to the material our class is studying."
Read more about this talk after the jump.
After serious disagreement over a subsection of a Faculty Senate resolution, Christopher Mullin of the College of Agricultural Sciences used the last option at his disposal. With no time limits on the debate and not enough votes for cloture, Mullin just started talking... and talking... and talking... for the next 24 hours. His filibuster, which lasted from Tuesday night to Wednesday, concerned a specific provision of the Faculty Senate resolution establishing a Faculty Senate Music Festival.
The overall resolution has widespread support in the Senate, but the provision in question has raised the hackles of many Senators. It seeks to have the Festival in the Fall, instead of the Spring, the traditional Penn State Music Festival season.
The mission of the FacSen Music Festival (its working title) is to spread awareness about the role of the Faculty Senate on campus. Often referred to by students as "the UPUA but for old people," the Festival seeks to correct such misinformation. While the Festival is an example of wasteful spending, which puts it right up UPUA's alley, Senator David Babb of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences was quick to note that "we actually do a lot of important stuff too." When pressed to divulge some of what those things were, Babb just scratched his head.
For more details on this measure, read the full post.
After two years of hard work, the University Park Undergraduate Association Office of Student Legal Services is set to open in 135 Boucke Building today. UPUA President Gavin Keirans said, "Last year, we went through a year long process with the student activity fee board to establish funding for this service. This year I have co-chaired the search committee for the selection of the director."
Under the guidance of Attorney Carolyn M. Larrabee, the office will be able to mount a legal defense for students on a variety of issues, including landlord-tenant complaints and minor criminal offenses. Interestingly enough, the office will not be able to represent students in cases against other students or against the University.
When asked about the best part of the new office, Keirans noted, "The great thing about legal services is that it will not just be advice, but rather actual legal representation. You are going to have an advocate and attorney in your corner."
After the jump: Thoughts on the Office of Legal Services from the UPUA presidential candidates.
Yesterday afternoon, President Gavin Keirans and Vice-President Hillary Gupta announced their unequivocal endorsement of Christian Ragland for UPUA President and Colleen Smith for Vice-President. Citing Christian's relationships with both student leaders and the administration, as well as Colleen's work on advancing student interests in local and state government, Keirans called the duo "the best choice to lead".
The endorsement went on to compliment David Adewumi on his charisma and passion, but noted his lack of experience as a distinct disadvantage. Ragland said, "It is an honor to have both Gavin and Hilary endorse us as together they have accomplished a lot." In addition to Keirans and Gupta, the campaign has also received the endorsement of numerous other individuals and organizations.
Read on after the jump for Adewumi's heated response to Keirans's endorsement of Ragland.