Gov. Mark Schweiker has given us yet another reason to question his priorities in spending state funds. On Jan. 6, the governor went to Harrisburg High School to announce a $12 million grant for the creation of a technical school in the state capital. Harrisburg Polytechnic Institute is expected to open in Fall 2005 at a cost of about $150 million and will serve about 2,500 students.

This present to the Harrisburg Polytechnic Development Corp. came a month after the state announced a budget freeze across the board, including $270 million from Penn State, about 1 percent of the state's appropriation.

This year's 13.5 percent tuition increase followed a $10 million cut last year, which was about 3 percent of Penn State's appropriation.

The school in Harrisburg is expected to offer degrees in math, science and technology fields, while Penn State offers more than 160 majors in various fields.

How can the state justify taking money from Penn State in an attempt to make up its revenue shortfall and then turn around and give money to a school that will serve a more limited purpose and fewer people?

Penn State enrolled more than 74,000 students systemwide in Fall 2002. An institution that serves this many people, with the vast majority being Pennsylvania residents, should receive more support from the government. The state should devote resources to making a Penn State education more affordable instead of contributing money to a private college that will charge high tuition.

We wonder if the lobbying power of the private school had an influence on the gift.

It is clear that Schweiker's administration does not see Penn State as the top priority it should be for state funding. We hope Gov.-elect Ed Rendell will be more of an ally to Penn State when he is sworn in next week and will not continue to make Penn State students pay for the state deficit.