Lately I've been bothered by the issue of the University budget problems. It was recently announced that President Thomas has created a committee to look University-wide for budget reductions and to find areas where initial resources can be reallocated. Committee Chairman John Brighton said that some degree programs may be eliminated. He also declared that enrollment size and graduate opportunities all play a role in what will be eliminated. The University also announced that it has instituted a hiring freeze and has begun a program that asks academic and non-academic sections to return 1 and 1.2 percent of their 1991-92 budgets respectively.

Be it through reduced library hours, tuition hikes, computer lab hour cuts, or a reduced number of course opportunities, the bottom line is that the students will be asked to bear the brunt of these budget cuts.

Before the committee does anything, let me make one thing clear. This University exists for the students -- not the alumni. Or at least that is the way it should be.

It's ironic that we have no problem raising $15 million for the extravagant Nittany Lion Inn renovation project that "boasts" a solid cherry wood bar and a health spa. Hey, no expenses spared here. I also decided to check out the opportunities that this renovation would provide to students.

While talking to a woman named Patty, I learned that not all of its frivolous renovations are available to students, as Jim Purdum made it sound in last Monday's Collegian article. For instance, students can spend their money at the cherry bar until 2 a.m. on weekends or 1 a.m. on weekdays. After all, students will have the time to go since the library closes at 9 p.m. on weekends and 12 p.m. on weekdays. For those of you who don't remember, we had to tighten our belts last year also, and cut library hours. I'm sorry but I can't help but think how far that same $15 million could have gone if it had been applied to other more important areas.

Then there is the issue of the $20 million Sports Arena and Convocation Center. Oh, I'm sorry, that's the Convocation Center and Sports Arena. I wouldn't want to give anyone the crazy idea that its primary goal is actually a sports arena that would rival other Big Ten schools. Besides, it's much easier to swallow the $20 million price tag by tacking the Convocation Center label to it.

Maybe I'm mistaken or just too conservative in belief, but I honestly feel that something is wrong here. Unfortunately, it's the students who are suffering. I always thought that the primary goal of a university is to provide a education, but now I'm not sure that this is true, especially of this University.

My point is that if the University can raise $15 million for renovations to an inn that boasts cherry bars and health spas, then why can't they do the same for the students?

Open your eyes committee members! I don't think that you have to look too far to see where past and current priorities of this University have led us. Instead of hiring freezes, enrollment limits and tuition hikes, cut out the extravagant and unnecessary projects. Or at least try making your bars out of pine, its much cheaper.

Well, I better go, it's Friday and I have to go quickly to run off to campus to type this letter before the computer lab closes.