Low hopes

Spanier doubtful University will get more state money

University President Graham Spanier has his first chance to request more University appropriations from the state legislature this morning -- he is going to the state Senate to talk about the University's financial needs.

Spanier will stress to the Senate that the 2 percent increase proposed by the government for the University does not cover the spending needs in teaching, research and outreach, said Christy Rambeau, University news bureau manager.

"While we do appreciate the 2 percent, we really need more because that's not going to cover our basic costs," she said.

Some priority funding Spanier will provide for the Senate to consider includes more funding for University faculty positions, Rambeau said. This request follows Spanier's desire to create 50 new faculty positions to lower class sizes and improve the quality of education.

Spanier said he is asking for a basic increase in funding to keep up with inflation, including funding for pay raises and increased costs of employee benefits.

But the likelihood of gaining an increase in spending is small, Spanier said.

"The Governor (Tom Ridge) has proposed a 2 percent increase for us, and we will try to persuade them to go higher than that," he said, adding that he will have to be "very persuasive."

Other appropriation requests include more support for the School of Medicine, increased funding for agricultural research and cooperative extension service, he said.

The University has a responsibility to deliver quality education, which is one of the reasons the state should allocate more money for University costs, said state Sen. J. Doyle Corman, R-Centre.

"I think Penn State is considered as one of the better institutions in Pennsylvania," he added.

Some students like Undergraduate Student Government President Sharon Entenberg, USG Vice President Ed Kilpela and possibly other USG members, will go to show student interest, Entenberg said.

"I think it's always important to have a student perspective in these types of issues," she said.

Issues they will be addressing in discussions with legislators will include the need for improved technology and funding for more instructors, she added.

More student government leaders will attend the March 3 hearing in front of the state House of Representatives, she added.

Although Corman will not be at today's budget hearings, he said he supports an increase in appropriations for the University.

"It's the oasis of the central part of the state," he said.

Anyone involved with the University who wants to show support of more appropriations should contact their local legislator to gain support from all over the state, Corman said.

"The healthier we keep Penn State, the healthier it is for all of central Pennsylvania," he said.