In a unanimous decision, the Undergraduate Student Government's Academic Assembly and Senate passed a resolution addressing the state government's need to increase its yearly academic funds to Penn State.

The proposal stated the groups' request for the legislature to support an increase at or above Penn State's request in the annual subsidy it extends to the university on a yearly basis.

Senate made the decision Tuesday night at their weekly meeting after extended debate and consideration.

One of Senate's main concerns was Penn State is a land grant institution and, according the Morrill Act of 1862, land grant universities should provide a guarantee that anyone who can benefit from an education will have access to one.

According the resolution, "Penn State, in being such an institution, is therefore responsible for providing education for residents of the state of Pennsylvania."

"Students are leaving because they can't pay tuition and that's not what a land grant institution is supposed to do," said Town Sen. Justin Zartman. "The commonwealth does not give enough money."

The resolution said the current amount of funding granted by the state's legislature, adjusted for inflation, has been consecutively decreasing since 1971.

"Penn State, as a state university — the state better be willing to support it. Organizations won't run out of money, organizations like UPAC won't run out of money," said Town Sen. Mike Fedor.

Fedor stressed how increasing tuition at Penn State is increasing student debt as well.

"Debt shouldn't be associated with a state university or a land grant institution," Fedor added.

Senate discussed the strong possibility of an increase in tuition and how it will affect students' enrollment.

"In order to meet the proposed budget of 2000-2001, the Pennsylvania State University will be increasing tuition for Pennsylvania residents in between $192 and $286 per credit for students who are taking over 12 credits" stated the resolution.

"It's increasingly getting harder to pay for college," Fedor said.

Senate believed the unanimous decision of both the Senate and Academic Assembly would have a big impact on the effect of the resolution, as both groups are comprised of students.

"I think of all the things we do as the Undergraduate Student Government Senate, as representatives of over 35,000 people, this is the most important. I don't think there is one student who would vote against this," said East Halls Sen. James Meashey.

According to Penn State's Non-Returning Students Report for Spring 1998 to Fall 1998, 29 percent of University Park students and 21 percent of Commonwealth Campus students find more affordable education elsewhere.

"Many student cannot afford to go here. We are losing a lot of first generation college students, a lot of bright individuals, a lot of out-of-state students as well," Sen. President Mike Fazio said. "We as student representatives need to protect the interests of the undergraduate students — not only the students, but parents as well."

"We are tired of being underfunded year in and year out," Fazio said. "Every year we lose a great crop of students, Pennsylvania is losing a large crop of technologically advanced college students. I think the state is shooting itself in the foot with this issue," he said.

Senate hopes to send this resolution to Harrisburg with USG President Matt Roan when he travels there for the appropriations hearings later in February, when the amount of funding Penn State receives is determined.