Penn State yet again fell victim to the ailing economy last week, when Gov. Ed Rendell took back another $3.2 million in state funding. This reduction comes just a few months after another cut the same size.

Penn State's total appropriation is now $316.1 million. But when Penn State President Spanier goes to the state Legislature next month, he will ask for $347.1 million for next year.

The gap between what we're getting from the state and what we're asking for each year seems to be getting bigger and bigger. But with the economy as sluggish as it's been recently, it's hard to find an easy enemy.

The cuts are necessary to the financial situation of the state, but officials should realize the more they take from students in Pennsylvania, the less likely it is those students will want to remain here post-graduation.

If the goal is to keep people in state, the state should give people a reason to want to stay. College students are prime for jobs and can breathe fresh air into the economy.

The Penn State administration should also be wise about deciding what this cut will affect. We're pleased to hear the university won't be using a mid-year tuition hike, as other states have done. That would be very detrimental to students.

University extension programs, while important, should be something taken into consideration for cutting before other things. But the sad result of trimming these areas is that some Pennsylvanians will see less of the great work that goes on here every day. And it's these programs, besides football and ice cream, that should show state residents how Penn State "makes life better."

Universities are the reason Pennsylvania's youth can go out into the state and improve it. Don't take away the opportunities students receive from Penn State and other schools each year. Pennsylvania, in the end, will truly be the one to suffer.