The University Park Undergraduate Association opened its weekly meeting with Taylor Hiester giving a special presentation on outreach for the spring semester.
In his presentation Hiester highlighted the need to “generate functional cooperation between UPUA and other student organizations,” according to a PowerPoint.
Hiester also focused on “accountability and documentation.” His presentation stressed the need for a Google calendar that would be available to all assembly members in order to foster more accountability and organization.
Following Hiester’s remarks, UPUA President Courtney Lennartz gave the president’s report.
Much of the report focused on the State Patty’s Day Task Force and UPUA’s efforts to minimize the student-created holiday. Lennartz (senior-health policy and administration) said the first part of a student leader video was filmed today.
The video aims to deter students from participating in State Patty’s Day activities.
Lennartz said there was a need to take an aggressive stance against State Patty’s Day. She also said that much of the damage caused by State Patty’s Day activities is caused by students who do not attend Penn State but come to State College for the holiday.
The Interfraternity Council presidents voted to ban parties on State Patty’s Day, Lennartz said. She said she anticipates the Panhellenic Council will follow suit.
Following the president’s report, the assembly heard liaison reports.
Despite the discussion on State Patty’s Day weekend, the meeting focused on several pieces of new business and legislation.
The assembly voted by secret ballot to confirm 7 new members to the assembly.
Newly sworn-in Off-Campus Representative Nick Anderegg said he was excited to be a part of UPUA.
He was looking for a way to get more involved and represent the student body since he transferred to University Park from Penn State Beaver , Anderegg (sophomore-computer science and linguistics) said.
New Off-Campus Representative Ted Ritsick said he already had goals to accomplish this semester regarding new students that transfer to University Park.
“One of the things I want to accomplish is a better orientation process for off-campus students,” Ritsick (sophomore-international politics) said.
Following the vote, the first piece of legislation, Policy 11-07: Provisions for Digital Records, seeks an amendment to the UPUA constitution.
Dray Krishnan , Chair of Internal Development, said the legislation “charges the department of records in UPUA to come up with a new system for record keeping.” The legislation also seeks to “ensure documents are sent to the university archives,” Krishnan (sophomore-accounting and economics) said.
The legislation seeks to put more responsibility on the secretary and executive board and less on the general assembly, Krishnan said.
The legislation passed with a vote of 35-1-0.
Policy 12-07: Addition of Assembly Outreach Coordinator sought to create a new position in the assembly. With a vote of 30-1-4, the legislation passed, creating an assembly position designed to organize outreach, Krishnan said.
After the vote passed, a secret ballot was conducted to confirm Taylor Hiester as the new Outreach Coordinator. The vote passed 33-2-0.
“I’m very impressed with Taylor…” said At-Large Representative Elias Warren
A secret ballot was then taken to confirm Garuth Acharya as a new justice on the Board of Arbitration. The vote passed 35-0-0.
The meeting ended with reports from the committee chairs and a recap of Encampment, which was held last weekend.
