The council met Friday and made a list of questions about important issues concerning the 40,000 students of the Commonwealth campuses and colleges. Questions included concerns about overpopulation, proposed tuition increases and equality issues.

Spanier said he had already received many e-mails from concerned students about a rumored 5 percent tuition increase.

"We haven't approved any tuition increases yet," Spanier said. He added the proposal is in the process of being approved but the outcome won't be known until the Penn State Board of Trustees meeting in July.

Another issue CCSG discussed with Spanier was the quality of teaching in contrast to the quantity of research.

"If you want to learn from the creators of knowledge, come to Penn State. If not, go to a school that is known strictly for teaching," Spanier said, adding although faculty is expected to be doing research, teaching should always be the No. 1 priority.

"But we are here to learn," said Jake Paparelli, Northeast Caucus director for CCSG, expressing his dissatisfaction with Spanier's responses.

Jon-Michael Roman, CCSG president, touched on a sensitive subject when he asked Spanier if he believed a Commonwealth student to be equal to a University Park student.

"Sometimes it seems we are Penn State second-class citizens," Roman said.

Spanier responded with his own feelings on the subject.

"It hasn't been my experience that any of our students are second-class," Spanier responded. "We operate as one university."

Some CCSG and central staff members believe differently.

"I don't really think he knows who we are," said Lance Marquardt, Student Government Association president at Wilkes-Barre Campus.