- The Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity is the only office paid by student fee that offers graduate specific programming and support.
- The State College Borough has approved a representative for Graduate Professional Students specifically and an application will be sent out shortly. That representative will meet with the Borough regularly and be there when ordinances are being discussed.
- The University is encouraging students to get tested before they go home for Thanksgiving Break
- Resolution 70-11 Constitutional Amendment (Track Changes in the Constitution) was passed which proposes creating a procedure for recording changes to the constitution and bylaws of GPSA.
- Resolution 70-13 ByLaws Amendment (Speaker Election) was passed which proposes that the GPSA adopt the following amendment to the GPSA Bylaws to reduce repetition; taking out a part of at-large delegates picking the speaker in one section as it repeats what another section says.
- Resolution 70-14 ByLaws Amendment (Removal of Article XI) was passed to omit article XI from the by-laws which contradicts and restates what is seen in another section of the By-laws.
- Resolution 70-15 Climate Action for a Cleaner Penn State was passed and is a conjunction of multiple student governments to better the climate sustainability plan Penn State is currently following.
- Resolution 70-16 Constitutional Amendment (Articles XI and XIII) was tabled to next week since it is a constitutional amendment.
- Interest forms/applications will go out soon for a new climate action sub-committee
- This week is the last week of the Grad Cup
The Assembly began with a special presentation from Brian Patchcoski, Director, Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity. He discusssed LGBTQ issues in the state of Pennsylvania that influences the work they do to help at the university. They are also trying to forward this heath across the commonwealth. Their mission is based on education, outreach, and advocacy. He discussed how the pandemic has escalated the view of how the healthcare system are struggling to properly take care of marginalized students. High proportions of LGBTQ+ students in the US have higher risk of facing basic needs, academic, and financial-related challendings during COVID 19. With student fee, they have been able to offer paid undergraduate and graduate associate positions. They plan to have increased graduate focus in their goals for this year. The only office paid by student fee that offers graduate specific programming and support.
In Executive Reports,President Alex Zhao said there will be a list of courses that will be posted about which ones can not do wellness days, being linked to mainly labs. More student facilities are being planned to be added to the HUB-Robeson Center in the upcoming years. The State College Borough has approved a representative for Graduate Professional Students specifically and an application will be sent out shortly. That representative will meet with the Borough regularly and be there when ordinances are being discussed.
Vice President, Julia, discussed how the university is encouraging students to get tested before they go home for Thanksgiving Break. Faculty Senate, Star, discussed that the University is pushing everyone to vote or to have a plan to vote if not here in-person. The faculty is anticipating just as much burnout as everyone else, and are in support of wellness days.
In Unfinished Business, Resolution 70-11 Constitutional Amendment (Track Changes in the Constitution) was passed which proposes creating a procedure for recording changes to the constitution and bylaws of GPSA.
In new business, Resolution 70-13 ByLaws Amendment (Speaker Election) was passed which proposes that the GPSA adopt the following amendment to the GPSA Bylaws to reduce repetition; taking out a part of at-large delegates picking the speaker in one section as it repeats what another section says. Resolution 70-14 ByLaws Amendment (Removal of Article XI) was passed to omit article XI from the by-laws which contradicts and restates what is seen in another section of the By-laws.
Resolution 70-15 Climate Action for a Cleaner Penn State was passed and is a conjunction of many student governments to better the climate sustainability plan Penn State is currently following. Some of the recommendations include reducing greenhouse gas emissions as rapidly as possible, setting a specific date between 2030 and 2040 for reaching net zero emissions, Reallocating a portion of the existing student fee towards sustainability initiatives, Recognizing climate change has exacerbated systemic racial, social, and economic injustices. Therefore, Penn State should maintain plans to reflect on the diversity of our campus and follow initiatives we previously outlined in Resolution 70-12 (Racial Justice-Black Lives Matter) and more. Once passed to get the initiative rolling of recognizing the climate problem, more specific actionable items with dates will be made.
Resolution 70-16 Constitutional Amendment (Articles XI and XIII) was tabled to next week since it is a constitutional amendment.
In reports, the Speaker of the Assembly announced that a climate action subcommittee that interest forms/applications will go out soon. In the Professional Development Committee, they are planning to run a pilot buddy/mentorship program in 2 or 3 colleges first before running it university-wide. The target is to launch this Spring. This week is the last week of the Grad Cup, and the Red Cross Blood Drive is Nov.2 and people can sign up themselves or ask Katy Gerace about it.