Penn State President Graham Spanier lobbied in Harrisburg for more state funding for Penn State twice during the last two weeks in February. Today, it's the students' turn.

Students will fill the steps of the rotunda at the state Capitol building in Harrisburg at 1 p.m. today for the Rally in the Rotunda. The rally is an annual event organized by the governmental affairs committee of Penn State's Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG), aimed at increasing state appropriations for higher education.

For the fifth year, rally participants will attempt to catch the eyes and ears of state legislators to let them know the importance of funding and its impact on tuition.

"That's been our main goal going down there -- not just for Penn State, but for the four state-related schools," CCSG President Kathleen Streaker said.

Students from Temple University, Lincoln University and the University of Pittsburgh will be rallying alongside Penn State students, although it is uncertain how many will attend, Streaker said.

Jim Vomero, a member of CCSG's governmental affairs committee, said he is hoping for an overall turnout of about 500 students.

"That should more than fill the steps of the rotunda," he said.

State Reps. John Yudichak, D-Luzerne; Tom Killion, R-Chester and Delaware; and Lynn Herman, R-Centre, are scheduled to speak at the rally, along with Streaker and Galen Foulke, Undergraduate Student Government president.

Streaker said she would tell her personal story during her speech -- how tuition payments have affected her and other students.

"That's why the students go down there: to say that there's really people who are dealing with this," she said.

Foulke said his speech would emphasize the significance of Penn State and its graduates to the welfare of the commonwealth.

Students rallying in Harrisburg today have also been encouraged to schedule face-to-face meetings with legislators from their home districts, Vomero said.

"Throughout the year, we've been mailing postcards and sending letters with our personal stories and statistics," Vomero said. "But we find that the most powerful message comes when we're able to tell our personal story, especially face-to-face."

Most state legislators who advocate for more state support of higher education like to know how legislation affects people in their home district, Vomero added.

Unlike last year's rally, there will be no bus transportation provided for University Park students wishing to travel to Harrisburg, Streaker said. Vomero said that some Commonwealth Campuses would be sending buses of students to this year's rally. Last year, 15 University Park students signed up for a 90-seat bus sponsored by USG and the Interfraternity Council.

"We decided it would be better this year if we would just car pool," said Kyle Metzgar, USG's governmental affairs director for the executive branch.

Metzgar has been promoting the rally to members of the Political Science Association, College Democrats and College Republicans.

Asked if the rally will result in increased appropriations, Foulke said, "We can hope."