More and more and more.

Despite enrollment exceeding 80,000 students statewide and classrooms filled with more than 300 students on a regular basis, Penn State officials are embarking on a new marketing campaign to bring more -- mainly in-state -- high school students to the university.

On the surface, officials say the marketing pitch is intended to polish the luster of the Penn State name and to influence prospective students to apply to Commonwealth Campuses that are closer in vicinity to their homes. Penn State should be given kudos for its efforts to keep the name of the university among the elite of the nation's colleges. And by placing importance on the maturation of the Commonwealth Campuses, Penn State will only make its overall institution that much stronger. But at what cost do we have to achieve such means?

The campaign calls for placing 30-second commercials on cable networks such as MTV, Comedy Central and ESPN2 -- channels that are likely to attract a large number high school viewers. Billboards, posters and radio advertisements are also being employed.

However, how much money, time and manpower will such a large-scale public relations operation entail?

When class sizes are growing at an alarming rate and available housing continues to become an issue, the need for more applicants becomes less desirable at University Park. Penn State would be better served to continue to improve on the institutions it has in place, such as faculty and classrooms, rather than dishing out money to an attractive marketing campaign. That way, a prestigious, valuable education will become a drawing point all to itself.

Should a university that prides itself on being a top-notch public institution have to drum up so much enthusiasm, especially when nearly 86,000 prospective students are applying to Penn State each year?

Also, the university should consider that the more students it tries to attract, the higher the enrollment could rise. If enrollment rises, and state appropriations continue to plummet, the amount of money given by the state per student will fall even further. Penn State already ranks dead last in the Big Ten in state funding per student.

While it is admirable that the university is concerned with keeping Penn State a sought-after commodity for high school students, the focus should be shifted toward improving current institutions.