This article is disgusting. To criticize UPUA like you have, and provide absolutely no recommendations or ideas yourself, is pathetic to say the least. I am not going to repeat the words that my peers have already said, but to say UPUA does not make Penn State a better place is a fallacy.

While it is true that UPUA has a limited scope of power, we are after all, an advocacy group at this time. Our, “scant authority” can be attributed to the administration’s reluctance to give students any real authority over the University. After USG disbanded, the administration was able to take all the Student Government’s authority and give to UPUA what it deemed necessary. UPUA is still young. It is working to legitimize itself in order to gain more authority within the University, however, articles such as this are not helping to give STUDENTS a voice.

While I cannot speak for every representative in the assembly, I can speak on behalf of the Academic Affairs Committee. To say that UPUA’s policies only seem impressive and have no real impact is just showing how ignorant you, Devon, actually are. If you had done your research, you would have found that UPUA was able to work with the University Registrar to implement the course watch system, the extended drop-add period, and provide a detailed scope of eLion so that the Registrar can make changes/updates that students want and need.

If you had done your research, you would have known that the subsidized test-prep proposal was awaiting approval and signatures from Christian, The Princeton Review, and Student Affairs in order to be offered. We cannot publicize a contract has not yet been approved by all parties involved. If you had attended the last general assembly meeting, you would know that it will be up and running after spring break. And, if you had any real experience working with the University, you would know how slowly it actually moves with projects.

If you had done your research, you would know that UPUA has formed a Student Advisory Group with the University Libraries. The libraries considers this a valuable asset to have because of the lack of student opinion in it’s expenditures in the past. This committee has seen the Knowledge Commons Plans (Library Renovations) and provided input on the technology students want implemented, the type and placement of study rooms and furniture, updates to the CAT, installation of a book drop box in the HUB, as well as future marketing plans for the Library. While YOU may not see the Library as a valuable resource for your studies, the majority of the students here do.

You have also failed to mention several successful events of UPUA such as Finals Frenzy (which is held the Friday before finals week each semester), Encampment, the Annual Academic Council Conference, the White Loop Extension, the placement of a Student Representative on the Angel Replacement Board, and (to come to assembly this week) Student Representatives on the IT Fee board.

The focus of this article should not be on what UPUA has and has not accomplished. The focus should be on motivating students to care and take action in the University that they are paying so much to attend. I don’t spend hours at Faculty Senate, ACUE, general assembly meetings, committee meetings, office hours, or read/write Academic Policies because I have nothing better to do. I spend my time doing all these things because I care about my constituents and the future of Penn State. I do not do all these things so that people like you, Devon Edwards, can sit behind a computer screen all day and blog about things you know little about. It is people like you who will never make a difference for the students here at Penn State.