In response to "UPAC, despite flaws, is still best system" (Nov. 17), columnist Ryan Pfister condemned attempts by The LION 90.7fm (WKPS) and the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) to achieve financial stability, and thus institutional independence, through an annual, line item funding allocation from the university.

Of all the student organizations at Penn State, The Daily Collegian as the student newspaper, The LION 90.7fm as the student radio station, and the UPUA as the student government are the most similar in terms of their public mission to serve the interests of the entire campus and wider community.

The Daily Collegian, though, is the only of these three central student groups which receives annual, guaranteed funding, to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars for daily subscriptions to the paper, from the university. If the student newspaper requires a guaranteed annual subsidy from the university to serve its mission, is it so absurd that the student radio station and student government require similar independence?

If Ryan Pfister genuinely believes that unregulated student allocators "remain the fairest, most efficient way to allocate student funds," perhaps The Daily Collegian should be denied annual funding as well.

Thomas A. Shakely

junior-political science

president and general manager-The Lion