Student government groups are planning to lobby legislators to lower next year's tuition, but they have conflicting platforms on one major issue.

The Undergraduate Student Government and Council of Commonwealth Student Governments are organizing lobbying trips to Harrisburg with the goal of keeping Penn State's appropriations up, thus keeping tuition costs down. But the USG Senate Political Action and Lobbying Committee has a platform that supports the Tuition Challenge Grant, while CCSG has a platform against the TCG.

"This whole situation has caused us to shift our focus to lobbying against a program that another group is lobbying for," said CCSG President Kristopher Ankarlo. "It's really interesting, but it's really sad, too."

The TCG program would make part of Penn State's appropriation dependent upon the university keeping increases in tuition and fees low. If Penn State increases in-state tuition by less than 4.5 percent, the university would receive more money. If tuition goes up beyond that limit, money would be removed from the appropriation.

However, this plan is usually accompanied by higher appropriations, and the budget Gov. Mark Schweiker proposed last week includes a cut in funding for Penn State rather than an increase.

"The combination of some Tuition Challenge Grant with the decreased funding the governor has proposed for Penn State would be truly devastating," Rodney Erickson, Penn State's executive vice president and provost, said in an e-mail.

PALC has scheduled a lobbying trip for next Wednesday, a week before Penn State President Graham Spanier will go before the state legislature to answer questions about how the university will use state funds.

"To me the administration does not seem willing to make the necessary budget cuts. . . . They're just trying to mortgage the university on the backs of the students," PALC Chair Rick Smith said, explaining why he thinks student lobbying is necessary.

Following the appropriations hearings, lawmakers will continue to debate the state's budget. CCSG plans to lobby legislators during the time between the hearings and the final vote on the budget.

USG Senate voted to support the TCG. Town Sen. Jason Covener, speaking in support of the TCG at a senate meeting, said it was the only proven way to keep tuition costs down. CCSG's opposing position is that the program will lessen the value of a Penn State degree by taking money from the university, leading to a diminished ability for it to provide quality education.

Rep. Lynn Herman, R-Centre and Clearfield, said students encouraged him to not support the TCG, so he will not do so. He also said it is unlikely that such a program would be enacted in a recession year.

"We've spoken to many legislators that have heard from PALC on the whole Tuition Challenge Grant, and in many cases we've changed their minds," Ankarlo said.

USG Senate and CCSG share platforms of keeping tuition down through increased appropriations and the passage of a bill making students eligible for Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency grants during their fifth year of higher education.

Geoff Grivner, student member of the Penn State Board of Trustees, said the political power of the combined Penn State community of students and alumni is very powerful, but not often realized.

"It's a matter of contacting your local representatives," he said. "We have the largest number of alumni by far."

After the appropriations hearings on Feb. 26 and 27, USG Senate will change focus and contact members of the Board of Trustees, who will decide on the final university budget and tuition rates for next year.

Both student government lobbying trips are open to all interested students. USG Senate's PALC meets at 7 p.m Sundays in 111 HUB-Robeson Center.