"Get up. Stand up. Stand up for your rights."

Bob Marley, Burning

While students hustle and bustle through the last few weeks of the semester, the "forces-that-be" are busy working on plans to raise the University's tuition for the 23rd consecutive year.

Unless students become more aware of their rights and take a stand against more tuition increases, the opportunity for affordable higher education will soon become obsolete.

Millions of students are losing financial assistance because the federal and state budgets are sorely lacking in funds for higher education. Now University President Bryce Jordan has threatened to cut programs if next year's 6 percent tuition increase does not provide enough money.

Cut programs. Does this ring a warning bell?

Not only is it going to cost more money to attend Penn State, but there might be less to show for your money as well.

If the University does not receive adequate federal and state funding by this summer, it will have no other recourse but to begin cutting its budget.

Inevitably, as the University trims its budget, programs might be eliminated that affect your academic career at Penn State.

However the University should not be the only one blamed for this situation.

This year the University asked for a 12.7 percent increase in state funding. Gov. Robert P. Casey answered the University with a miserly proposed increase of 2.8 percent.

To make matters worse, President George Bush's proposed education budget failed to provide increased funding for any financial aid programs for the 1991-92 academic school year.

Clearly Casey and Bush must illustrate their dedication to education by increasing funding for both financial assistance and universities.

But regardless of who is making the decision, the people most strongly affected by the outcome are students.

Don't let government officials make these choices without letting them hear your voice first. If enough people write to their representatives, it may make all the difference.

This is an election year in Pennsylvania and the power of the vote is a strong tool. Find out the stance of your officials on these issues and make them accountable for their decisions.

Remember, an affordable education is your right. Stand up for it.