During election season, politicians from Pennsylvania make it a point to tell students that education is a top priority.
And maybe that's true for some of them, but judging by how state legislators are handling appropriations for state-related universities -- Penn State included -- one should question whether or not education is very high of a priority.
In fact, those state-related schools are specifically designated as "non-preferred" when it comes to priority in receiving state appropriations.
It's embarrassing and shameful that appropriations for Penn State and the other three "non-preferred" state-related schools being affected -- Pitt, Temple and Lincoln -- are being put on the back burner because of our legislators' inefficiency at balancing the budget.
University officials have said that if Penn State doesn't receive appropriations money in time for the spring semester billing cycle, starting Nov. 13, tuition will have to make up for what appropriations money can't cover.
Penn State's appropriations are contingent on the legalization of table games, an issue that will take an indefinite amount of time to resolve.
Legislators seem to be forgetting something. By leaving students in the dark without funding, they are forcing students -- the future of the state's economy -- to be left with an even higher debt after school.
Not to boast, but how can anyone think of placing Penn State into a "non-preferred" category? With about 94,000 students alone spread out across 24 campuses statewide, one would be foolish to think our university deserves funding less than, say, a state system school with 7,000 undergraduates.
That's not to say small state system schools are undeserving of appropriations, but the point remains that 94,000 Penn State students may be under a lot more financial stress after graduation because our legislators are behind on balancing the budget.
And keep in mind that number is just a fraction of the combined 158,000 students who attend the state's three other state-related schools.
The simple fact is that if tuition keeps rising and appropriations keep lacking, students unfairly suffer.
If education were truly a high priority, you would think our legislators would make sure to quickly and adequately fund Penn State, one of the highest enrolled universities in the country.
