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Spanier's trips to Harrisburg relevant to students' daily lives

Not a day goes by in State College when someone isn't complaining about parking on campus, temporary housing, tuition increases and a plethora of other problems within the University.

Why can't the University just build a new parking deck? Why can't they build new dorms? Why is my tuition going up? The answer is simple, money.

"But alas, Spanier is one man and he cannot do it alone."

Each year, University President Graham Spanier travels down Route 322 to Harrisburg in search of more funding from legislators in the state capitol. About 35 percent of the University's budget comes from the state.

Gov. Tom Ridge has appropriated $299.1 million for the University in his proposed 1998-99 state budget. Spanier asked for $314.3 million, which he said is needed to cover basic needs of the University.

Spanier spoke with confidence and was complimented by members of the state Senate Appropriations Committee last Monday, when he answered questions about the University.

But alas, Spanier is one man and he cannot do it alone. At University Park there are close to 40,000 students attending classes. These 40,000 students are also constituents to state senators and representatives. Each student can write his or her legislator and support the increase in funding for the University.

We know students can be vocal. Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon proves this point every year. University Professor Emeritus Julian Heicklen and the Penn State chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws prove it at noon every Thursday.

Now is a good time for students to use that ability to speak out and get more funding for the University.

College is about more than classes. Every day we complain, we let the opportunity pass us by to learn outside the classroom. Every day we complain, our tuition increases, more parking tickets are issued and more students are ushered into temporary housing.

In the end it is simple. More money means less complaining, more action means more money. Somewhere a parking ticket is being issued and students are still living in temporary housing.

Will those complaining students help Spanier or will they continue to complain?