It’s that time of the year again, folks. The University Park Undergraduate Association has a new president: rising senior Erin Boas.
Boas won the election uncontested with her running mate, rising junior Najee Rodriguez. She will kick off the organization’s 16th Assembly when UPUA returns virtually.
To learn more about Penn State’s next student body president, we virtually sat down with Boas.
Onward State: How and why did you first get involved with UPUA?
Erin Boas: I, like many freshmen, went to the involvement fair. I remember weaving through all the tables, and on the outskirts, UPUA had a table set up. As I was leaving, there was somebody shouting out from the UPUA table, “Do you want the chance to better at least one life of a fellow Penn Stater?,” and I thought that was a sign that I should listen.
Over the past year â and since the pandemicâs beginning â Penn State has experienced various coronavirus cases surges within the State College region and on its University Park campus.
At the end of March, The New York Times labeled State College as one of the highest metropolitan areas in the country for coronavirus cases. The announcement came after President Eric Barron reported Penn Stateâs first case of coronavirus variant B.1.1.7.
With increased coronavirus cases in the State College area, student Hannah Nelson said she feels bad for the community members who experience the aftermaths of âstudent recklessness.â
Nelson (senior-history and digital and print journalism) said most community members lack the opportunity to leave the area when coronavirus cases increase exponentially â unlike the students â so they are being âput in jeopardy.â
UPUA members reflect on 2021 virtual election, new assembly psu.edu - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from psu.edu Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The University Park Undergraduate Association released a statement Tuesday regarding the hate speech and racial slurs an Indian international student encountered on Sunday. This is not only unacceptable, but also traumatizing for the student, UPUA said in the statement. This may not be the first instance of discrimination on the basis of race here at Penn State, but we surely do want it to be the last.
The time and location of the incident was not shared in the Instagram post by the student.
According to the statement, the UPUA and the International Student Council have made joint efforts to support international students at Penn State and call the university to action.
Discussions, workshops, speakers, arts offered on theme of Conquering Distance through Empathy
Image: Gender Equity Center at Penn State
Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention Week events to be held April 5-14
April 06, 2021
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. April is nationally recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) which is marked annually by various programs, workshops and events to educate the Penn State community and raise awareness. At Penn State, in recognition of SAAPM, the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) is collaborating with the Gender Equity Center and other campus partners and student organizations to host the annual Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention (SVAP) Week. This year, SVAP week is scheduled for April 5 through April 14, the theme of which is Conquering Distance through Empathy.