The Graduate and Professional Student Association, heard a request from representatives of the Penn State College Democrats and Republicans to assist in funding for the Great Debate, an event that brings speakers from the national political scene to Penn State.

Executive Vice President of the Penn State College Democrats Mark Sideck, asked GPSA for $4,000 to offset the cost of speakers. GPSA allocated $2000, the same amount they gave last year.

GPSA Secretary, Anne Whitesell previously attended the event and said it went over well with Political Science graduate students. Sideck (senior - finance and accounting) said he wanted get more distinguished speakers this year.

Other members questioned Sideck about the amount of graduate students who attended the event in the past. Sideck (senior - finance and accounting) said when tickets were handed out, the level of education wasn’t recorded.

Mohamed Wahba, at-large representative for the College of Engineering and a vocal critic of the resolution, asked if Sideck had contacted other political organizations like the Green Party for additional funding.

“Had they asked other groups for money I’d be OK giving them money,” Wahba (graduate - mechanical engineering) said. “Also with all the current problems you don’t know if they’d bring someone we’d agree with.”

According to Penn State’s Student Organization Directory, no official Penn State Green party exists. Sideck also offered the GPSA a voice in planning the event. Wahba abstained from the vote.

Speaker of the Assembly, Brian Conway said he wanted to get more funding for the event, but settled for the $2000.

“It matches the past amount and funding we give to similar events, like TEDx and State of State,” Conway (graduate - chemistry) said.

The largest bill GPSA voted on last night was the budget for Grad Cup 2017. James Fan Delegate to the assembly for Smeal College of Business, presented the proposed budget for the Grad Cup. Fan (graduate - Supply Chain and Information Systems) highlighted the levity the event brings.

“Graduate students gather for a series of outdoor activities to compete in teams against one another and relax,” Fan said.

GPSA members approved a $10,000 dollar budget for this year’s Grad Cup, a $2,000 increase from last year’s.

The GPSA membership spoke with Canvas coordinators at the meeting. Canvas project

co-chairs Terry O’Heron and Kate Dominco, alongside Tony Anderson, Canvas project manager, answered questions and gave a report about the transition from Angel.

“Currently 74 percent of courses use Canvas,” O’Heron said.

GPSA members wanted some features of Angel on the new system, specifically the ability to track student’s IPs when they take quizzes in order to aid in catching cheaters.