University students made their voices heard at the state Capitol and on Capitol Hill through writing letters yesterday in response to Gov. Tom Ridge's proposed budget cuts and the U.S Congress' "Contract with America which may reduce student loans. The Undergraduate Student Government Federal Lobbying Department organized a letter-writing campaign in the HUB Ballroom called Government Awareness Day.

"We're just trying to not let students be passive about the cuts because they are going to have an effect on student loans. And get rid of student apathy," said Doug Eroh, a member of the lobbying department.

Students could sign their names and then choose from four different types of letters previously written -- the types included a liberal, conservative, neutral and liberal/conservative stance, said Melissa Richards, director of the federal lobbying department. The letters concentrated on federal and state higher education issues.

One student, Daniel Washco, signed a letter because he was interested in trying to increase the availability of student loans.

"Everyone should be able to afford an education, and a school like Penn State -- a state funded school -- it should even be easier to get a loan," said Washco (junior-health policy and administration).

Richards said a report was written in October on the federal student loan program versus the federal work study program. She explained the goals for the writing campaign yesterday.

"It's an incentive to encourage students to write legislators and try to balance things out so students can have an option in regards to their funding for a higher education," Richards said.