The Moxie in Waring Commons last night contained students playing video games, vigorously studying, just hanging out and, in the back corner, an empty green couch sat in front of a television airing President George W. Bush's address.

Friends gathered around a table would pause occasionally to listen to the president's proposals, but their main reason for being in the Moxie was just to hang out.

"I'm surprised Penn State didn't make a big deal about it," said Robert Payne III (junior-English).

However, Payne and his friends were aware of some initiatives Bush had proposed during his beginning weeks in office.

A key initiative of Bush's plan includes a $1.6 trillion tax cut over a 10-year period to stimulate the economy.

"I'm skeptical about the tax-cut plan. It's positive, but that's some (money another) program is going to lack," Payne said.

In addition to the skepticism of the tax-cut plan, the students were also unsure of the speech in general because the ideas seemed unoriginal.

Neil Whisler (junior-computer engineering) disagreed with a lot of Bush's views.

"It seems like promises he can't keep," he said.

Also doubtful with Bush's tax-cut plan, Jared Cram, vice president of Penn State College Democrats, said the plan "was not what people need at this time."

Cram said the plan heavily favored the rich and also caused cutbacks in vital programs such as the justice department and other law enforcement programs.

Contrary to negative opinions on tax-cuts, Brendan Holloway, vice chair of Penn State College Republicans, said the plan decreases all taxpayer brackets.

"Democrats argue that the rich do better, but the poor do as well," Holloway said.

Another key initiative that dealt with matters of rich and poor was education.

In his speech, Bush restated his policy on education that would allow families from lower economic areas whose schools perform poorly to be allocated money so that children can attend private schools.

Cram said $1,500 to an average American family would be unable to provide the private education Bush refers to as an option in his policy.

On the other side of Bush's education initiative, Holloway said the president's decision to localize the education issue on a state-by-state basis was necessary in order for it to improve.

Despite different views on tax-cuts and education, both the Republican and Democratic Party members commended the president on his public speaking abilities.

"I think for presenting himself, he did an excellent job," Cram said.

On top of strong speech manners, Holloway commended Bush's recognition of various political figures, specifically Mayor John Street.

"For the mayor of Philadelphia to be there, Bush is reaching out to democrats, but to minorities as well," he said.

Regardless of conflicting views on Bush's policies, there is no question about the president's final thought on cooperation.

Aside from bipartisanship, the president emphasized, all political figures must come together and "do our duty."