On Wednesday night, UPUA will hold a slightly extended open student forum in order for students to voice their opinions regarding upcoming legislation in Harrisburg that could raise fines for alcohol-related crimes in State College.
The University Park Undergraduate Association meeting will take place in the HUB-Robeson Center on the first floor by the Penn State Computer Store.
Bills have passed through the state senate to increase maximum fines for underage drinking violations and public drunkenness across Pennsylvania, especially in college towns.
One of the bills would increase the maximum fine for underage drinking violations and public drunkenness to $1,000. The other would add a $100 fee to any alcohol-related offense that occurs in a municipality that is home to all or part of a university or college and for municipalities that also have alcohol-prevention units, according to Pennsylvania’s legislature website.
“We want people who are curious to stop in,” Chairman of the Assembly Spencer Malloy said. “UPUA wanted to give more information to people who may not know about the violations and get people to speak or ask us questions if they want.”
One piece of discussion at the meeting is UPUA’s efforts to help out with projects on campus for Constitution Day on Sept. 17.
Constitution Day is a federal observance that celebrates the adoption of the United States Constitution.
“The one thing we are going to help out with are the writing blocks, which are 3-D blocks with chalkboard paint where they set up questions that are relevant to Penn State students such as the Voter ID law or the upcoming election,” Malloy (senior-philosophy and agroecology) said.
The writing blocks are set up throughout campus in accessible areas such as the HUB, where students can write insight on how they feel about the topics, UPUA President Courtney Lennartz (senior-health policy and administration) said.
“UPUA is making both efforts to be as open as possible and get students involved,” UPUA Vice President Katelyn Mullen (junior-supply chain and information systems) said.
Other discussions will include a few additions to the executive board that require assembly confirmation.
