Ridge's budget disappoints PSU

By AMY OAKES
Collegian Staff Writer

University President Joab Thomas is calling on anyone who has an interest in Penn State to contact legislators in Harrisburg.

After Gov. Tom Ridge released his proposed budget plan for 1996 fiscal year last week, University officials were left disappointed. According to the plan, the University will receive the same amount of money it did last year, which is $23 million less than requested. The state's allocation is about 17.9 percent of the University's budget, Thomas said.

"I am very disappointed in it. Primarily, it gives us very little money," Thomas said. "Our budget is essentially flat."

It will be important for anyone concerned about public higher education to contact as many legislators as possible and urge them to support the University, Thomas said.

"I hope everybody who has an interest in Penn State will join us," he said.

Until the budget is finalized, it is difficult to tell how it will affect the University, Thomas said. "We've been having to make cuts for the last several years. Obviously that will have to continue," he said.

Executive Vice President and Provost John Brighton also expressed disappointment with the proposed budget.

"It's going to make things a little harder," he said.

The University faces increased costs this year that it did not face last year, Brighton said. The state will require the University to allocate more financial support for the employee retirement plan.

Ridge's proposed budget plan will also affect several other programs within the University. One reason for requesting more money from the state was to support various academic programs, Brighton said, adding that the money would have allowed the University to hire more faculty.

"Most colleges need more faculty. This would reduce section sizes, while keeping up with enrollment," he said.

The budget will also hinder the University's plan for faculty and staff pay raises, Brighton said.

Although the University may not receive more money from the state, it will get additional funding through the tuition challenge program. The program gives Penn State money if it keeps in-state tuition increases below 4.5 percent. But this year the University will receive only half as much as it did last year.

"The state will allocate $100 per student. Last year, it was more than double that," Brighton said.

Like Thomas, Brighton said it was important to persuade legislators to put the needed increases in the budget.

"We will have a budget hearing with legislators and continue to make requests to the governor," he said, adding that right now it is important to work with legislators. University officials will meet with members of the state Senate on March 28 and the state House of Representatives on April 3.

In line with Thomas' request for support, the Undergraduate Student Government will hold letter-writing campaigns for registered student voters and will obtain signatures for a petition to be presented to Ridge.

USG has already started its efforts with Government Awareness Day. "We want to focus on students contacting their home legistlators," said USG President Mike King.

With the support of all the Commonwealth Campuses, there is a potential for a massive grass roots network for student lobbying, King said.