The Tuition Challenge Grant (TCG) is a hotly contested topic at Penn State. The problem is that most students do not know all the facts about the program. The TCG is a politically crafted program that gives the impression that Penn State's students will pay less in tuition but continue to attend an institution of high quality. The reality of the matter is that the TCG does not benefit students.

The TCG is not a new idea. The plan is to make a portion of Penn State's state funding dependent on a total increase of tuition and fees of less than 4.5 percent. The program was in place from 1989 until 1996. During that time period, Penn State was forced to cut faculty and programs vital to the interests of students while continuing to raise out-of-state tuition and implement new fees. One has to look no farther than the very heart of why this institution was founded — the agricultural sciences — to see how this program pulled the rug out from under Penn State. In the College of Agricultural Sciences alone, 123 faculty and staff were lost as a direct result of this program in 1995. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania admitted that the program backfired. To recover they allocated the 1995-1996 TCG dollars exclusively to agricultural research and cooperative extensions with no money going directly to defray the costs of tuition.

Penn State is seen as one of the most efficient universities in the country. U.S. News and World Report's America's Best Colleges for 2001 ranks Penn State 14th against other public institutions and 46th overall; however, Penn State ranks 188th in faculty resources and 81st in financial resources. These numbers say one thing — Penn State is doing much more with much less. Furthermore these numbers come from an independent neutral party and not Old Main. Penn State spends the least amount of money per student in the Big 10. The University of Michigan spends $25,829 per student while Penn State spends $12,502 per student; although Michigan spends twice the amount per student our degrees are considered to be of comparable esteem. Penn State also receives the least amount of money from state appropriations in the Big 10, an average of $3,410 per student.

Tuition is an investment. It should not be seen as a straight cost, but rather an investment into the future. A Penn State education is a low-risk high-yield investment, a paradox as uncommon in the economic marketplace as two-ply toilet paper on campus. It is an investment that allows students to have access to all of the programs and services offered by the University. We cannot allow politicians to interfere in the processes of this University for the good of their name, at the sake of our student services.

Application of the TCG will most likely be met with cuts in the services that students depend on everyday. Penn State students cannot afford to have their services cut any further. University Park is already home to an inadequate health center and insufficient services for students with disabilities. How can we ask students to endure cuts in their already lacking services? The TCG will find its biggest victim not in any program at the University that is over funded, but instead at core student services that students depend on for out-of-classroom experience.

Given the current economic climate how can the state possibly promise to keep their end of the bargain? Last Friday, Governor Schweiker froze an additional 2 percent of Penn State's budget bringing the grand total to a 3 percent rescission, or more than $10 million dollars. How can anyone possibly expect this university to operate if they cut both sides of our revenue base, appropriation and tuition, which is the grand plan of the TCG?

Hypothetically speaking, a group of friends go out to their favorite bar and instead of the normal $2 cover they are only charged $1. Elated at first, these people are happy to save that extra dollar until they discover that they have been deceived. Instead of the normal selection of ales and spirits they only have one choice, Natty Ice. To make it all the worse there is a new DJ that only owns one record, Kenny G. Under the TCG everyone at this university can expect Penn State to transform into a skeleton of its former prominence.

Instead of pushing for this program, Penn State students should work together to change the attitude in Harrisburg that public higher education is not a priority. In order for the state to prosper, Pennsylvania must invest in the young minds that will become the leaders of tomorrow. Penn State should not endorse nor get involved in a program where the only winners are the politicians of Harrisburg who can claim political victory while students are shortchanged.

The full report can be found on the USG Web site at www.clubs.psu.edu/usg