Eric Covener's claim ("Spending, not state, causing tuition hikes," Feb. 4) that there were no cuts in state funding during the years we experienced recent tuition increases is deceitful. Penn State experienced five budget cuts from the state during recent history.

There were three mid-year cuts by Governors Tom Ridge, Mark Schweiker and Ed Rendell, and a permanent cut to start the 2002-2003 fiscal year. The 2003-2004 appropriation also had an additional cut in funding. Cumulatively, these five cuts add up to a total loss in state funding for Penn State of $43.5 million in a three-year period. Mr. Covener, why do you want to mislead Penn State students on this issue?