Penn State President Graham Spanier, along with three representatives from the other commonwealth universities, discussed concerns with the Pennsylvania Senate Wednesday in Harrisburg.

The presidents of Temple University, Lincoln University and the chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh joined Spanier at the hearing to request additional funding.

"I believe you represent some of the finest institutions in the country," Sen. Edwin Erickson, R-Chester and Delaware, told the panel at the hearing.

Erickson asked each representative how the Senate could help reduce each of the universities' costs.

"Public higher education has not been a sufficient priority in recent years," Spanier said. "We have to be a higher priority."

Temple President David Adamany agreed with Spanier.

"This is a human business. We talk about numbers, but it's really about students," he said.

Mark Nordenberg, chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, said the issue expands beyond economics.

"It's really about students and the lives you change," he said.

Sen. Joseph Scarnati, R-Jefferson, agreed with the university officials and said the universities' needs have not been met.

"We have to make you a higher priority," he said.

Sen. James Rhoades, R-Schuylkill, said when cuts in appropriations were being taken, there was a lot of talk about the state's financial situation.

"Somehow we have to come together on this," he said.

Spanier said Penn State serves the entire commonwealth, and if the university does not have the appropriate funding, it will need to make up for it by increasing undergraduate tuition.

"We don't just exist for the purpose of undergraduate education, but our public service is extensive," he said. "We can't make up for budget cuts with undergraduate tuition."

Another concern the Senate raised regarded athlete recruitment.

Sen. Jay Costa Jr., D-Allegheny, asked the panel about their individual recruiting policies. Costa said he has seen universities use extravagant recruiting methods, such as providing potential student athletes with nicer accommodations than other students when visiting campus.

Spanier said the actions at other universities astonish him.

"We would not accept any of that at Penn State," he said. "It's time for university presidents to stand up together and say we can't have this."

Spanier said he has made it clear that any coach would be fired if they did not maintain Penn State's "integrity."

"We don't want to put an athlete in a penthouse or fly them around in corporate jets," he said.Visiting athletes sleep on cots in regular dorm rooms with Penn State athletes, Spanier said.

"We give them the same thing they would receive if they were a student here," he said.

State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, who was present at separate hearings in front of the state House of Representatives Wednesday, issued a statement yesterday urging the House to consider raising state aid.

"The governor has offered the university a budget increase of 2.5 percent, but the university would like to see something closer to 5 percent -- I think this is something we can work on and work towards," he said in the statement.