HARRISBURG -- About 150 students filled the steps of the Capitol Building yesterday to petition legislators for more state appropriations for Penn State.

Bridget Daly, Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG) president, spoke on behalf of all the Penn State Commonwealth Campuses and called on legislators to provide higher appropriations not only for next year but also for years to come.

"This is so crucial to develop, not just for us, but so our brothers and sisters won't be left with the debts we have," Daly said.

Students from University Park, Commonwealth Campuses and other state-related universities stood behind six state representatives who spoke on behalf of funding higher education.

Rep. Michael Sturla, D-Lancaster, said Pennsylvania ranks second or third in the country for its number of institutions of higher learning.

"The real crime here is that we are not funding higher education," Sturla said.

Rep. John Yudi-chak, D-Luzerne, a 1993 Penn State graduate, said rising tuition has become a personal concern.

"This is not just about tuition dollars. This is about the future of Pennsylvania," Yudichak said.

During his address to legislators, Undergraduate Student Government (USG) President Galen Foulke said students are often "caught in the middle" between the legislators distributing money and universities in need of funding, and they have to bear the brunt of high tuition.

Foulke added that although the organizers did not reach their goal of 600 students, he was pleased with the "physical and symbolic" number of people that represented Penn State.

"The steps were full, and the dual presence of students and legislators was very effective," he said.

Rep. Lynn Herman, R-Centre, another speaker at the rally, said the funding Penn State receives will depend on the economy and available revenue.

Herman added he is very optimistic that more resources will be available for higher education.

Throughout the day, students met with their senators and representatives to inform them about the rally and ask for their support.

CCSG Vice President Wendy Flynn met with her state representative, Merle Phillips, R-Northumberland and Snyder, and they discussed the importance of opening a dialogue between students and legislators.

Phillips said in 25 years, Flynn was the only student that ever visited him about tuition concerns.

"If nobody tells me, I won't know," he said. "There is not a legislator that would not make time for his constituents, especially a student."

Flynn said meeting face-to-face with legislators is a vital part of lobbying.

"[President] Spanier or a professional [lobbyist] can speak to the House or the Senate, but they aren't the ones directly affected by it," she said. "This way they can put a face to it."

USG and CCSG representatives ended the day meeting with Secretary of Education Francis Barnes.

Barnes said until the economy improves, it will be difficult to increase state appropriations.

He added Gov. Ed Rendell has focused on elementary and secondary education, and hopefully, more attention will be given to higher learning in the next year.

CCSG Governmental Relations Director Kathleen Streaker, who helped organize the rally, said one of the most important moments of the day was seeing legislators listen to student requests.

"It was a very positive day," she said. "I am very optimistic for the future."