1. THE UNIVERSITY PARK UNDERGRADUATE ASSOCIATION
The Pennsylvania State University
16th Assembly
2021-2022 Session
Bill #04-16
August 19, 2021
Be it decided by the Assembly of Student Representatives,
having been brought to the floor by the Committee on Justice and Equity,
a
BILL
Funding for COVID-19 Resources
Nature of the Situation:
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The COVID-19 pandemic stands to be one of the most challenging situations that has affected
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our generation. Globally, the pandemic has infected over 200 million people and claimed the
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lives of 4.3 million.1
Additionally, the pandemic has wreaked havoc on public health, economic
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well being, human mobility, and supply chains of countries around the world, leading to vast
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disarray and disruption of the status quo.2
Universities have had to respond to the public health
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crisis with transitions to remote learning, redefined public sanitation guidelines, and strict
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management of student activities; all of which have had a profound impact on students.3
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The Pennsylvania State University--University Park, as a massive public institution, will face
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many challenges in the management and mitigation of COVID-19 among its student body of
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over 40,000 students as the university prepares to return to full in-person instruction, as well as
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resume student activities, for the Fall 2021 semester. With only 62.48% of students at University
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Park having received at least one dose of a vaccine, and the politicization of vaccines, masks,
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and pandemic guidelines, a sizable portion of University Park and the surrounding State College
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community will continue to be at risk for an outbreak of COVID-19.4
Additionally, the quickly
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spreading, highly infectious Delta variant of COVID-19 further decreases overall confidence in
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1
https://covid19.who.int/
2
https://www.who.int/news/item/13-10-2020-impact-of-covid-19-on-people's-livelihoods-their-health-and-our-
food-systems
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https://www.rand.org/multimedia/audio/2020/03/31/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-the-us-education-system.html
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https://news.psu.edu/story/665968/2021/08/12/campus-life/student-results-covid-19-vaccination-survey-
released
2. Penn State’s preparedness to protect students from the virus.5
It is the University Park
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Undergraduate Association’s prerogative to contribute towards the protection of the most
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vulnerable populations amongst our student body.
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Recommended Course of Action:
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The University Park Undergraduate Association hereby funds the purchase and distribution of N-
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95 masks as well as surgical masks to the University Park community. Special care will be given
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to the promotion of N-95 masks to target students that are immunocompromised or unable to
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obtain a COVID vaccination.
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Masks will be distributed in sets of four (4) with guidance on mask rotation and usage as to
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maximize the efficiency and longevity of masks. Mask rotation information can be found in the
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footnotes.6
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The Department of Communications will be responsible for creating and distributing graphics
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notifying students on the availability of the masks, as well as creating graphics detailing the
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proper use, storage, and rotation of N-95 masks to maximize their effectiveness and longevity.
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Distribution of N-95 masks will occur in the UPUA office.
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Bill 04-16 Funding
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Item Cost Quantity Total
Bielcor B201 N95 Mask (Pack of 20)7
$24.99 40 $999.80
Total $999.80
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Amount remaining in Type-40: $XX,XXX.XX
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Respectfully submitted,
Steven Zhang
At-Large Representative
Annmarie Rounds-Sorensen
At-Large Representative
Aarathi Kallur
Chair of Justice and Equity
APIDA Representative
5 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/delta-variant.html
6
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7161499/
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Authentic N99 and N95 Respirator Masks | BIELCOR
3. Committee Vote: 6/0/0
Assembly Vote: Y/N/A
Speaker of the Assembly ________________________________________________
President of the Student Body ________________________________________________
The University Park Undergraduate Association
Erin E Boag
