With Rally in the Rotunda a little over a month away, organizers are aiming for a larger student turnout than last year.

About 200 students filled the steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol last year to rally for more state funding. They were successful in their cause -- an additional $10 million was granted in state appropriations to the university.

But only four of the students attending were from University Park.

Undergraduate Student Government (USG) President Galen Foulke called last year's attendance a "travesty."

"If we are not complaining, they will probably presume we're fine," Foulke said. "We've got to let them know it's not the case."

At the March 15 rally, students will be standing on the steps of the Capitol Building in Harrisburg to lobby legislators for lower tuition rates and larger state appropriations for the university.

"It is really important that all of us [at Penn State] make a showing -- just to show we are all united and just to show there is more political clout if there is many of us," Kyle Metzgar, USG governmental affairs director, said.

He said that while University Park might not receive the requested amount of funding, last year's rally helped increase the state appropriations.

"[University Park] is requesting $17.6 million to bring tuition back to a steady 5.5 percent increase, which is a normal raise," Metzgar said.

To achieve that extra impact, this year's rally aims for 600 students, Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG) Governmental Affairs Director Kathleen Streaker said.

To prevent last year's low turnout, Streaker said she is working with USG representatives to promote the event.

"The reason the rally has not been promoted or advertised yet is because of [the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon]," Streaker said.

To publicize the event, CCSG is planning to post flyers, send mass e-mail messages, air a radio broadcast with Streaker and have weekly information sessions to educate people on how to lobby state legislators.

USG Public Relations Director Jacqueline Berchielli said she has contacted the College Democrats and College Republicans to get on-campus political groups involved in the rally.

"I think it's essential that students from University Park do attend this year, because we are the largest campus of Penn State," College Democrats President Megan Green said.

College Republicans chairman Andy Banducci said equal attention should be given to administrators as well as state legislators.

"We should pay equal attention, but all the emphasis is being placed on blaming state legislators," he said. "Last year we got more [state appropriations] than we expected to get, and frankly that hasn't had any impact on the tuition."

To ensure a higher student turnout, Metzgar said he is hopeful that the University Faculty Senate will recommend that students should be excused from classes on the day of the rally.

Faculty Senate Chair Kim Steiner said it is up to faculty members to excuse students, and it has always been that way. Though it is not an official excused absence, students should take an interest in the rally. The more students, the greater the impact, she said.

"What we're trying to do is bridge the gap with Commonwealth Campuses and University Park," she said. "No matter what campus you are, tuition is an issue."