The financial director for The Lion WKPS-FM (90.7) insisted once again Friday that the recent cap of University Park Allocation Committee funding on media production and equipment purchase at $1,800 would not be sufficient for the station's minimum operating budget.

Financial director Tom Shakely addressed the university's student activity fee board during the meeting's opening public comment period, but despite a second plea to the board this semester, the financial future of The Lion WKPS-FM (90.7) remains unclear.

"Not to help us along this path would be a detriment to the student body," Shakely said.

University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC) chairman Greg Heleniak brought the station's concerns to the board to get the members' opinions on if an exception should be made to accommodate The Lion's situation, but no formal conclusion was reached.

"I sort of have a standard -- and it's been a standard for awhile -- is that we don't make exceptions," Heleniak told the board. "We feel that if we start making exceptions, then every group across the board is going to start wanting exceptions."

He indicated that the Lion might be able to apply for UPAC funding under a different category with a higher cap.

Shakely expressed frustration after the meeting. "We still don't have an answer," he said. "$1,800 from UPAC just doesn't cut it."

Also at the meeting, Vicky Triponey, vice president for student affairs, mentioned the completion of a new study that shows Penn State lacking in recreation facilities.

The board agreed with Triponey that discussion of recreation needs should be a priority. The findings of the study will be presented at the board's next meeting on Jan. 26. Triponey expressed concerns about the university turning away intramural teams who wanted to compete this fall."That's physical fitness we ought to be providing," she said.

If Penn State receives the amount of money requested from the state government, the university expects to raise the activity fee by $10 for 2007-2008. Starting at January's meeting, the board will begin to deliberate about what to charge for the activity fee for 2008-2009.