Although University administrators claim the HUB/Robeson expansion project ranks at the top of its requests for state funds, for more than three years it has remained stagnant, with the money still stuck in the governor's office.

The state Senate approved $21 million in Dec. 1992 to move the Paul Robeson Cultural Center to the HUB, but the money was never released by former Gov. Robert P. Casey.

"The HUB/Robeson expansion has been high on the list for the last two or three years," said University President Joab Thomas.

In the meantime, Casey released more than $225 million for University projects during his term. Some of these include building the Paterno addition to Pattee, the Bryce Jordan Center, the Classroom/Office Building, telecommunications infrastructure and the Penn State Harrisburg library.

William Asbury, vice president for student affairs, said the expansion was tied three years ago for first priority with the Harrisburg library. The University has raised $4 million in private gifts and funds for the HUB/Robeson project and is hoping to get the additional money from the state.

But the state money for the Penn State Harrisburg library came first, although the funds are frozen until Gov. Tom Ridge and Budget Secretary Robert Bittenbender can review Casey's funding choices.

John Taylor, deputy press secretary in the governor's office, said Ridge has not had the opportunity to review the HUB/Robeson expansion.

"The legislature approves far more than can ever be funded," Taylor said. "Until priorities are set, I can't say what action (Ridge) will take."

Thomas also said he has not yet talked to Ridge specifically about the HUB/Robeson request and cannot predict Ridge's reaction.

"I don't have a clue what his response will be," Thomas said.

Last year, a high-level University committee strongly recommended that telecommunications funding be pushed, Thomas said. Many other groups and committees also "strongly felt an urgency" for the telecommunications money, he said. Casey released $15.8 million for the telecommunications infrastructure in November.

Fund raising for the HUB project has been a "quiet initiative," so it would not compete with the Bryce Jordan Center or the Campaign for the Library, which raised more than $10 million to expand Pattee, Asbury said.

The tentative 1997 completion date that was set in 1993 was "just a guess," Asbury said. "It really is dependent on the state and how lucky we are."

And Thomas said it would "probably be pressing it some" to have the expansion completed in two years.

The Paterno library's completion date is also slated for 1997, Thomas said. The funding for the library is already available and the plans have been approved. Architectural plans for the HUB expansion cannot be completed or approved until the funding is available, Thomas said.

"It's usually a lengthy process, unfortunately," Thomas said.

Thomas said the expansion is probably at the top of the priority list now. The University Board of Trustees sends its budget request to the state every September, when the request list of project priorities is also sent.

Undergraduate Student Government President Mike King said because the Democrats lost power, the lobbying philosophy might have changed because the party is looking to cut spending.

"We're looking for the new Republican administration to establish its position on funding for HUB/Robeson and will respond appropriately from there," King said.

While Casey was in office, King said USG's strategy was writing letters to key lawmakers and although the strategy might change, USG will continue pushing for it.

"HUB/Robeson needs to happen and it needs to happen soon," King said.