It doesn't take a genius to figure out what cuts in state funding for Penn State will mean for students.

Last year, the university received a 1.2 percent increase in state appropriations but increased tuition by 5.9 percent.

Considering that, it's actually a bit frightening to think what kind of tuition increase could result from the the 13 percent cut in Penn State funding put forth in Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed budget.

It's disappointing to see Rendell propose such a drastic cut for the state-related schools but not entirely unexpected.

State budgets all over the country are in serious trouble right now, and it's clear that if the state loses or spends money in one place, it will have to cut in another place. The governor has not made giving Penn State its requested increase in appropriations a priority, so it's not surprising

to see that area be among the first cut, along with libraries, museums and mental health services.

Though the proposed cut has not been finalized yet, it's a safe bet to say Penn State won't be receiving any sort of increase in appropriations.

That said, when the Board of Trustees meets on July 10, it must strongly consider where it can make cuts in Penn State's budget.

It's not acceptable to simply pass the state's failure to produce expected funds on to the students in the form of tuition increases.

We understand that some tuition increase is inevitable, but the board must attempt to minimize it.

Just as Penn State faces cuts to its budget, families and students paying for their own education face the financial crisis in their own budgets.

They don't have extra money to throw at the university, and the board must be mindful of this.

We know the rationale behind campus construction projects -- they obviously increase the value of the university and the education it provides -- and we're well aware that most of the cost is covered by donors. But maybe it's time for the university to start pushing donors more toward tuition-relief funds and away from capital projects. This is a tough situation, there's no denying that. But at its heart, Penn State is a state school, and it needs to be affordable.

All we ask is that the board keep this in mind, now more than ever.