After a two-and-a-half hour meeting highlighted by extensive debate, UPUA's proposed constitutional revision ended with the controversial document's return to a committee for additional review.

The meeting began with statements during open forum by former University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) presidential candidates Gavin Keirans, Peter Johnson, Daniel Hadas and Ricardo Torres.

"The constitution itself does not do anything," Hadas said. "It's not that important."
Hadas challenged the assembly to "stop playing" a game, stand behind UPUA President Hillary Lewis and "cut the bull----," referring to debate over the revision.
"The egos need to go from here," he said, raising his flattened palm above his head, "to here," he said, lowering it.

He later clarified the statements he made during open forum during a short recess.
"Basically, what I said before, arguing ... that's what I'm talking about as far as playing games," he said. "Instead of arguing ... discuss the issues students bring forth."

Keirans stood behind the proposed resolution, asking the assembly to "actually act for students."

Torres, who resigned from the post of chief of staff this summer, said it "breaks my heart to see all of this criticism."

"It's up to you to sit down and say 'yes, we're here to serve students, not to bicker,' " he said.
He later said he was planning to get involved again with UPUA.

"It's very frustrating to know I can't just step up and talk ... because this is ridiculous and unacceptable," he said.

Throughout the meeting, the resolution's creator, College of Engineering representative Ralph Crivello, and the internal development committee chairman Jay Chamberlin openly debated the resolution's constitutionality. Since the resolution and its 36-page supplement call for the assembly to bypass a "special committee," it violates UPUA constitutional procedure. The special committee reviews all constitutional changes.

Last spring, attempts to amend the constitution failed after the special committee, composed of five faculty members, only approved one article out of a proposed 17.

"Can the internal development committee be the special committee?" Chamberlin asked.
"That would be unconstitutional, Jay," Crivello answered from across the room.
Lewis warned her assembly to "keep language light."

Addressing the constitutional revision that could potentially dissolve the organization on the grounds of a constitutional violation, Lewis said, "two wrongs don't make a right.
"We have to do this the right way."

At the end of the meeting, when the resolution was sent back to Chamberlin's committee, Lewis declined to comment, saying only, "I'm tired; I'm going home."

Some attendees of the meeting said they felt the debate prolonged a vote that would eventually need to come to the floor.

"I think that there was a debate that didn't add up to anything," facilities chairman Pat Gordon said. "We have a lot more to do this year..."

Safeguard Old State director of advocacy initiatives and former UPUA member Tom Shakely called UPUA "a three-ring circus."

"If [the Undergraduate Student Government, the student government formerly recognized by the university] was called a failure, what does this make UPUA?" he asked. "This was filled with childish, petulant politics."