At UPUA’s meeting tonight at 8 in 302 HUB-Robeson Center, representatives have two pieces of legislation that could be voted on. One regards a new UPUA website and the other is for funding of Mental Health Awareness Week.
If both are brought to the floor with a two-thirds vote or the assembly’s unanimous consent, representatives will be able to vote on each piece.
The University Park Undergraduate Association has been in contact with CrossedClouds to redesign the website for a total of $2,400.
“It looks great as is, but it’s not as interactive as we want it to be,” UPUA Chief of Staff John Zang said.
The new website would be redesigned in an effort to increase communication between UPUA and the student body.
“The whole idea is just a matter of improving communications. Communication has proven to be key,” Zang said.
CrossedClouds is made up of Penn State students and costs less than using other web designers.
“We looked at a lot of different options and we liked CrossedClouds because they were Penn State students and because of the prices,” Zang (senior-international politics) said. “They’re able to do the work at a much better cost.”
From start to finish, the new website would be finished in about month, Zang said.
The second piece of legislation deals with funding for Mental Health Awareness Week. Throughout the week, a table in the HUB will feature information on a different theme each day.
The themes include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Day, OCD Day, Anxiety and Stress Day, Suicide Prevention and Depression Day, and Eating Disorder Day.
It was organized by UPUA’s Student Life Committee and will take place from Nov. 12 to Nov. 16.
“I wanted to help students to realize there are ways to help themselves or help their friends,” Off-Campus Representative Hannah Kendig said. “I wanted students to realize that a lot of people struggle with mental [health] issues, so they’re not alone.”
The weeklong event has a budget of $1,300, and organizers worked with Active Minds and Counseling and Psychological Services to create it, Kendig (senior-political science and economics) said.
Tonight’s UPUA meeting will also feature a special guest presentation from the Centre Area Transportation Authority Marketing Manager Jacqueline Sheader, who will speak about various projects UPUA and CATA have established together.
“We will talk about the different projects we have worked on with UPUA such as the bus tokens that are available at the commons desks and the late-night white loop service,” Sheader said. “I want to express our gratitude for getting to work with UPUA.”
Sheader said CATA and UPUA are discussing the idea of adding electronic signs at bus stops downtown.
“We are looking into the possibility of putting real-time information signs downtown with UPUA, but no concrete plans have been made,” she said.
Sheader said she is looking forward to CATA’s continued collaborations with UPUA and feels speaking to the assembly during the meeting will be beneficial.
“I am looking forward to getting input from such a great group of students, and I think it will be a great experience,” Sheader said.
Collegian Staff Writer Lauren Blum contributed to this report.
