A proposal to increase room and board charges for next Fall Semester is one of many issues on the agenda for the University's Board of Trustees March meeting today and tomorrow at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

According to the board's informational docket, the need for increasing the cost of room and board corresponds to the University's increased operating costs. The docket is distributed to board members several days prior to the meeting and a copy is available in Pattee.

Ken Martin, Graduate Student Association president, said he is not able to divulge the actual dollar figure, adding that he would have trouble calling for no increase in room and board charges.

"Some increase is fair and I can only comment on this year's amount after it has been officially released," he said.

Student Trustee Christina Henke further defined the increase by saying the amount is close to the rate of consumer inflation. She said she believes the amount is not an unfair burden on students' shoulders.

"I've been most satisfied with Housing and Food Services because the increases have never been more than inflation," she said.

Unlike tuition increases, Henke said, room and board cost increases allow students to see where their money is going. Henke mentioned the fruit bar offered at breakfasts in University dining halls as a concrete example of how Housing and Food Services implements their money.

"But before I give my complete backing to the increase, I need to see some further justifications," Henke said.

Henke said Gail Hurley, director of residence hall programs, and William McKinnon, assistant vice president for Housing and Food Services, explained the increase to a select group of student leaders Wednesday night over dinner in Simmons Hall. Undergraduate Student Government President Seth Williams, former Association of Residence Hall Students President Dominic Mattioni, Commonwealth Campus Student Government representative Brian Donaldson, Martin and Henke received invitations and attended the meeting.

Henke said the two representatives from Housing and Food Services provided a detailed packet of facts and figures to justify the increase. Although she said she did not know the opinions of the student leaders present, Henke said they seemed to understand the reasoning behind the rising costs.

"It's really refreshing to see Housing and Food Services handle the issue like this because it's not seen in too many other areas of this University," she added.

Martin said room and board increases are not new to the University, adding that he can document yearly increases since 1979. The information in the docket states increases in wholesale food prices and utility rates as reasons for this year's rise, he added.

Other items on the trustee's agenda include:

-- William C. Richardson, executive vice president and provost of the University, will present an informational report on the vice provost for equal opportunity search and the Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity.

-- A proposal will come before the board to employee the firm of Michael Baker Jr., Inc. for additions and alterations to Beaver Stadium.

-- University President Bryce Jordan will report on the activities of the Corporation for Penn State.

Scheduled committee meetings are:

-- Friday, March 17:

10:00 a.m. -- Special Advisory Committee on Affirmative Action.

10:45 a.m. -- The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Advisory Committee.

2:30 p.m. -- Committee on Educational Policy.

-- Saturday, March 18:

8:30 a.m. -- Committee on Physical Plant.

9:30 a.m. -- Committee on Finance.

11:00 a.m. -- Board of Trustees.

All meetings will be held at the University Fitness Center at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.