The 19th Assembly of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) met on Wednesday to pass multiple pieces of legislation.

The meeting opened with a presentation from Ben Liscum, president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The SAAC acts as a liaison between the student-athlete community and the Penn State athletic department, making sure that the athletes are well-represented, taken care of, and able to voice their concerns. The SAAC helps to speak out for the athletes and pick up any slack with potential inefficiencies across the athletic programs.

With a new era of college athletics on the horizon because of NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals, the SAAC recognizes that it is important now more than ever for student-athletes to have people representing their community. Two to three athletes from each of the 31 programs on campus serve on the SAAC to represent their team with 78 members serving on the committee.

Following reports from President Zion Sykes and Vice President Rasha Elwakil, the assembly moved into Old Business.

Old Business

The first and only policy for old business was Policy #05-19: Revising the UPUA Bylaws. The revision of the UPUA Bylaws included lengthy discussion surrounding many of the articles being altered and possible amendments.

After the assembly reached consensus on every article, Policy #05-19: Revising the UPUA Bylaws passed unanimously.

New Business

First up for new business was Bill #65-19: 2025 National Agriculture Day Funding. Penn State is rooted in agricultural tradition since its original founding in 1855 as Farmer’s High School. The university continues to carry on its legacy in the agriculture industry through its leading research in the College of Agricultural Sciences, but the average American is still extremely uneducated on the impact farming has on everyday lives.

Collaborating with the College of Agricultural Sciences, UPUA is funding a National Agriculture Day Celebration from noon to 2 p.m. on March 18 in the HUB. The day will offer information for students that stresses the importance agriculture has on our daily lives as well as highlighting the work the College of Agricultural Sciences does.

Bill #65-19: 2025 National Agriculture Day Funding passed unanimously.

Next was Bill #66-19: Funding for Neurodiversity Celebration Week Tabling. The term neurodivergent includes people who have Dyslexia, DCD (Dyspraxia), Dyscalculia, Autism, and ADHD. The UPUA will set up a table from March 17 through 21 to educate the student body on what it means to be neurodivergent and to honor Neurodivergence Celebration Week.

Bill #66-19: Funding for Neurodiversity Celebration Week Tabling passed unanimously.

The last piece of legislation of the evening was Bill #67-19: Women’s Empowerment Night. With March being Women’s History Month, the UPUA looks to honor the progress of women’s rights while acknowledging the gender gaps that still need to be closed.

The UPUA’s Justice and Equity Committee will be holding “Women’s Empowerment Night” on March 18 in the Lion’s Lair in the HUB. The evening will include multiple women’s groups around campus, fun activities, and food for students, with female empowerment presentations and speakers.

Bill #67-19: Women’s Empowerment Night passed unanimously.

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