Funding for the planned "water feature" across from the HUB-Robeson Center is not connected to future tuition increases, representatives from the university and the Office of Physical Plant said.

Because plans for the feature and other aspects of the HUB Plaza renovations were announced about the same time as plans for a tuition increase, some people on campus expressed concern for a possible connection between the two.

The feature, which is not a fountain, will be located in front of Osmond Laboratory. It will be a rock surface, 45 to 50 feet long and 4 to 5 feet high. A small amount of water will trickle down the front, be collected in the bottom and be recycled back to the top.

Paul Ruskin, OPP spokesman, said money for the feature and all other aspects of the HUB Plaza and Pollock Road renovations was set aside four or five years ago, before talk of a tuition increase.

"If we had done this a few years ago, people wouldn't be linking this to tuition in their minds," Ruskin said.

Tysen Kendig, university spokesman, said construction funding does not come from tuition money.

"As far as tuition money, that's completely separate from any construction costs, and a lot of time people don't realize that," Kendig said.

The cost for the entire HUB Plaza renovation project is $1.3 million. Ruskin said he did not know how much of this cost the water feature accounts for.

"We were trying to keep costs down and the water feature was less expensive than other designs," Ruskin said.

Ruskin said he hopes the feature will become a meeting place for students. He said he thinks it will be a good place for students to do homework or to sit and relax to the sound of running water.

"The purpose of the feature is to enhance the overall environment of the HUB Plaza and to add a focal point to the HUB Plaza," Ruskin said. "It will become the front porch of the university."

Some students don't agree with this plan for enhancement, however.

Tim Radio (sophomore-psychology) doesn't see the need for the water feature.

"If Penn State has the money, even if it's in a building fund or something like that, then it's still money Penn State has. They can be using it for better things -- like lowering tuition," Radio said. "I'm sure we have much bigger needs on campus than studying to the sounds of running water."

Radio also pointed out that because of the climate of Pennsylvania, the water will not be able to run in the feature for a large portion of the year.

The feature will only have water in it for about half the year, Ruskin said. He added, however, that it is designed to look good without water.

Construction on the feature will begin after spring commencement and is expected to be completed by Aug. 1.