Undergraduate Student Government (USG) representatives lobbying for a higher state appropriation in Harrisburg on Tuesday were confronted by legislators who are concerned about the possible move of Penn State's Dickinson School of Law to University Park.

Many legislators expressed opposition to the move, and Rep. Lynn Herman, R-Philipsburg, speculated about the financial consequences the university could face as a result, said Frank Camarota, USG executive governmental relations director.

Herman said he thinks the state senators and state representatives from the Carlisle area, where the law school is located, would be very upset with its movement to any other location.

"Small matters like these can mushroom to the point where it could jeopardize Penn State's funding," Herman said. "I think considering the fact that Penn State has not received its state appropriation, an announcement of this magnitude is very poor timing."

Herman said he hopes this news will not cause state senators to continue to delay passing Penn State's appropriation. "On one hand, Penn State wants to have their state appropriation passed and, at the same time, newspaper articles indicate that they can readily build a $60 million building for a law school," Herman said. "If they claim they are short of state funds, where is this money coming from?"

Camarota said Herman has a valid point. "For us to come out and say we have this extra $60 million lying around, it leaves confusion and speculation in legislators' minds," he said.

Camarota said other legislators voiced their concerns about moving the law school from its historic and traditional location. Many felt that the school's close proximity to Harrisburg provides students with a better opportunity for internships, he said.

Sen. Robert Thompson, R-Chester, chair of the Senate's appropriation's committee, said very few members of the General Assembly approve of moving the law school.

"There could well be someone who might put an amendment into the final appropriations bill stating that these monies are contingent on the law school not moving to University Park," Thompson said.

Thompson and other legislators plan to write a joint letter to Penn State officials expressing opposition to the relocation of the law school. However, Dickinson's Board of Governors will make the final decision, he said, despite what he and other lawmakers may say.

Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said any discussion about moving the law school is "premature," but noted arguments for relocating the school. "If you look at law schools around the country, the really good ones tend to be located in close proximity to the core part of their university," he said.

Mahon said Dickinson's Board of Governors will meet this weekend to discuss the future of the law school.

Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre, said he would like to see the law school move to University Park if a relocation is in the best interest of the law school, but he does not think such a decision would have an effect on the university's state appropriation. "If it's a local decision made by the Board of Governors, you certainly can't blame Penn State as a whole and affect their state appropriation for doing that," Corman said.