Students and staff made the effort to bridge the gap last night when Penn State President Graham Spanier participated in the Undergraduate Student Government Senate's question-and-answer session to discuss issues concerning the university.

The meeting dealt with prominent and, to some degree, controversial themes ranging from the riots and protests of the past, to the governmental student involvement of the future. Even the ramifications of last year's highly publicized Sex Faire were discussed.

Town Sen. Mike Fazio set the tone for the meeting's focus on current campus events by addressing the prison suicide of Timothy Kulp and its connection to the mental health facilities that Penn State provides.

"Our health and mental services are not up to par," Fazio said. "The Ritenour expansion was taken off the construction plans. We can not take care of those in need of mental health help. How will we get this plan back?"

Spanier answered that in the future he hopes for the health center to be expanded, but in regards to how the university treats its patients, Spanier was positive.

"We do a pretty good job at mental health," he said.

Spanier continued to explain that in recent years, the demand for mental health assistance has gone up.

"The number who sign up for mental therapy right away is significant," he said. "No one who says to Ritenour that they have an immediate health problem will be put on a waiting list for treatment."

With already 20 therapists employed at Penn State, Spanier said that he would like to do more, but how much that will increase university tuition is always a concern.

Eric Ives, USG legal affairs, then questioned the president about the overwhelming number of police around campus as a result of the riots last year, and what the future would hold for events like the Arts Festival.

"One of the main reasons we have not had disturbances is the increase in law enforcement," Spanier said. "We had three riots last year and don't want to see it again."

He explained that the university wants to talk about what happened in the past and have educational programs discussing such issues. Although police presence might make some feel uncomfortable, Spanier said that he thought it is necessary for keeping ordinance.

In addition to the riots from last year, other events from the past were brought back into the light.

USG Supreme Senate Chief Justice, Michael Fluhr asked how Penn State was repairing the damage with Harrisburg, alluding to the controversies of Sex Faire and Cuntfest.

Spanier agreed that both events caused a certain amount of damage in Harrisburg. However, he added that certain elected officials in Harrisburg, before and since the controversies, have been supportive of Penn State.

"Even though appropriations were debated, in the end, they were passed," he said. "I've had to work very hard to repair some concerns. Everyone has to keep things in perspective."

Spanier explained that one out of any two homes in Pennsylvania, has someone involved with Penn State.

"Relationships are delicate and we have to be sensitive and officials have to be sensitive to what their constituents have to say," Spanier said.

Carrie Tendler, associate justice, added to Fluhr's point by questioning whether restrictions would be put onto school organizations as a result of the sex events.

"We are interested in them (restrictions)," Spanier said. "We are covering a whole range of interests and there are policies in place. I think that the university should be given the opportunity to at least have the benefit of us giving our feedback. Maybe then some organizations could be a bit more sensitive, but still so as to get their point across."

Spanier continued that it is most important for students to realize that they are a part of a huge community where actions effect everyone.

"If for whatever reason we don't get appropriations, then we loose a few million," Spanier said. "Anything anyone does matters."

When asked about 865-WALK, Spanier said that it is not in high demand, but if it were there would be more adequate funding.

"I'd like to see calls go out," he said. "I go out until one, two, or three in the morning just to get a feel of what's going on."

The session concluded with a question from USG president Justin Zartman regarding what Spanier learned from the protests at the HUB-Robeson Center last spring.

"I learned that many students are concerned with the right thing," Spanier said. "The university welcomes student issues. But some of us felt like we were in the hot seat. We were frustrated when our abilities to pay attention to some issues were criticized or ignored."