Most students remember them as the protesters who pitched tents on Old Main lawn last spring — Students for Accountability and Reform. Labeling itself as university watchdog, STAR is an unofficial group of students who led several protests in the past year, namely about sweatshop conditions in factories that make university apparel.
Most recently, STAR brought forth evidence of the administration's attempt to "rig" the Advisory Committee on Apparel Manufacturing, which considered Penn State's membership in monitoring organizations.
While it is refreshing to see a student group that is willing to stick its neck out there and grab the administration's attention to make leeway on issues, the most recent development suggests the issue is becoming personal, especially given the weak evidence that STAR offered.
While improving conditions in the apparel manufacturing industry is a noble cause and STAR's efforts are commendable, there are other student and community needs to which STAR can redirect its efforts.
Tuition:
Every year, the Board of Trustees brings students the same bad news: The state will not come through with the full amount of necessary appropriations. Students fit the bill through tuition increases that have been averaging 4 percent per year.
The other state universities, University of Pittsburgh and Temple University, get about the same amount of appropriations as Penn State even though they are a small fraction of our size.
Textbook prices:
For students of many majors, textbook shopping adds up to $500 per semester. Last year, STAR petitioned the university to make its textbook list public, so that other businesses could compete with the three bookstores in town.
This issue seemed to fall by the wayside, but it may be worth it for STAR to take this issue back up, look into some of the bookstore practices and find more opportunities to lower prices for the struggling student.
Parking:
It seems like an issue that has plagued Penn State since the first automobile cruised down College Avenue, but nothing seems to get done about parking, despite the annual promises.
Parking is a problem downtown and especially a problem on campus, with shrinking student lots and faculty lots disappearing on the West Campus. The lack of spaces is not only inconvenient but costly, as it inflates prices through supply and demand.
Student housing:
The results of the new lottery system are in, and 800 students did not even get one of the 1,200 supplemental housing contracts for next year.
While plans for new graduate housing may possibly open up beds for undergraduates, these spaces would not seem to meet the demand demonstrated last week when students were notified about whether they will be back in the dorms next year.
It is widely known that Penn State has not built an undergraduate dormitory since the 1960s, when the student population was considerably smaller.
The student housing shortage is not only causing people into off-campus living situations they do not want, but it is also driving up apartment prices, again by the lack of availability.
Send an 