Representatives of UPUA will vote on a piece of legislation to fund an event that will give tips to students on how to buy textbooks in a meeting at 8 p.m. in 302 HUB-Robeson Center.
University Park Undergraduate Association’s Textbook Advocacy Group, or TAG, was formed to research ways students can save money on textbooks. TAG created the TEXTBOOKS SUCK campaign to get student input on the cost of textbooks, said UPUA Secretary Julia Schrank (junior-French and Spanish).
The TEXTBOOKS SUCK title is being used to more easily draw attention to the issue.
“I wanted to make a catchy campaign angle for a much more serious group,” Schrank said.
The event, called “Operation Lollipop,” will take students’ thoughts and experiences from buying textbooks in the past in exchange for a lollipop or highlighter. The lollipops and highlighters include information on how to find out more about TEXTBOOKS SUCK. The lollipops will also have a textbook-buying tip attached to them. In total the event will cost $479.98.
Students can also nominate professors who they believe provide reasonable textbook prices for a “Textbook Heroes” campaign.
The legislation will also help raise awareness of Operation Lollipop and Textbook Heroes, Schrank said.
In addition to the legislation that will be voted on, nine names from the Office of Student Conduct Judicial Hearing Board will be endorsed in order to maintain a good relationship with the Office of Student Conduct.
UPUA recently entered a partnership with the Office of Student Conduct where UPUA representatives are sent to help them screen resumes and conduct interviews, said Spencer Malloy (senior-philosophy and agroecology), UPUA Chairman of the Assembly.
“It’s going to bring a great student perspective to work with Judicial Affairs,” UPUA Board of Arbitration Chief Justice Ryan Thomas said.
Malloy and Thomas sat with the Office of Student Conduct Student Services Associate Kathleen Shupenko to determine who should get an interview for a Judicial hearing board member position.
With the 2012 election soon approaching, Centre County Commissioner Michael Pipe will also be in attendance to give a presentation on what students can expect for Election Day and how they can prepare for it.
“It’s going to go through what students will need when they vote in November, and I’m going to talk about what it’s going to look like on Election Day at the HUB,” Pipe said.
By giving UPUA representatives a better understanding of how the election is held, they can have the information readily available to pass onto their peers, Pipe said.
