Penn State student leaders have united to plan a rally in response to Gov. Ed Rendell's budget proposal, which listed a $20.3 million cut in appropriations to the university and excluded Penn State from the Pennsylvania Tuition Relief Act.
Just hours after the proposal was announced, student leaders contacted each other and began planning a public rally to be held at noon Monday on the steps of Old Main, University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) President Gavin Keirans said.
"Obviously we're not pleased," Keirans said of the budget proposal. "I didn't expect that he would propose any plan to the magnitude that he did."
Keirans said he contacted Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG) President George Khoury, and they've begun reaching out to other student organizations.
"By not including us in that aid when it's the most critical time when students need it, it's basically spitting in our face," Khoury said. "[The rally] is in reaction to what Rendell is proposing and how ridiculous it is."
The event is spreading quickly through word of mouth among student leaders, Khoury said.
"It will show support from the students that we want to see more on the part of the Governor," Keirans said.
Keirans said it was great Rendell put a focus on education, but the Pennsylvania Tuition Relief Act -- which legalizes video poker to raise funds for financial aid -- does not support Penn State or other state-related schools. However, the act would support state-system universities and community colleges.
Some of the organizations whose members will be attending the event include the Penn State's NAACP, the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils, the Graduate Student Association and Safeguard Old State (SOS), Khoury said.
"I'm hopeful that we ought to have one consistent message from the student body on this issue, and that is what hopefully Monday can provide," SOS Executive Director Tom Shakely said.
Shakely said Penn State will not receive the funding it wants because of its state-related status.
Penn State spokeswoman Annemarie Mountz said the administration is aware of the student event and supports it, adding administrators are still deciding whether to attend Monday's event.
"It's a really great initiative for them to focus on for the benefit of themselves and their fellow students," Mountz said.
But the rally is just the first of three upcoming events student leaders are organizing as state lawmakers and Penn State administrators finalize budgets and tuition.
UPUA Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Samantha Miller said she's planning Tuition Awareness Day for March 4. At the event, speakers will discuss state appropriations, donations to Penn State and ways the university can cut costs.
"Rallying everyone together Monday will get a good momentum started," Miller said. "If [the budget] passes through, we're going to be hurting very much next year. We shouldn't be left out in the cold."
CCSG Governmental Affairs Director Kathryn Mattes said this semester's Rally in the Rotunda, which will be held March 18 in Harrisburg, has gained new importance because of the possible budget cuts. Mattes said it is "infuriating" Rendell's budget excludes Penn State and other state-related schools from the financial aid plan.
"Now more than ever we need to increase our advocacy," Mattes said. "Our primary focus will be to increase the student voice louder than ever."
