CAPITOL CAMPUS READER
Vol. 7 No. 5
PASS THE BUCK!
Rally
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. --A statewide
rally of students from Penn State,
Pitt, Temple, Drexel, and Lincon
Universities, and the University of
Pennsylvania will be held on Tuesday,
November 15, 1977 on the Capitol steps
in Harrisburg. The rally is to protest
the failure of the Pennsylvania State
Legisalature to enact legislation
funding these schools for the current
fiscal year. The rally will begin at 11:00
a.m., and consist of a march and a
program of speakers. While the rally is
going on, students from each
legislative and senatorial district in the
state will distribute letters and
petitions from constituents to the
various legislators.
The rally is being organized by
committees of students at each
university involved. The State Rally
Coordinating Committee is presently
composed of four students at Capitol
Campus: Gary Reneker, promotion and
general coordination; Ed Perrone,
media and public relations; Carol
Andress, security and logistics; and
Linda Weaver, speakers and inter
campus communications.
As of now, most specifics are still
tentative. A meeting is being held at
Capitol Campus this weekend for the
coordinators of each of the universities
to finalize the plans.
On Tuesday, November 1, Capitol
Campus Rally Coordinators and SGA
leaders met with Grant Ackerman,
SGA President at University Park,'
who was in Harrisburg that day
lobbying for the passage of the budget.
Ackerman gave his support to the
rally, and stated that he would return
to Capitol on Saturday for the
statewide coordination meetings.
The Rally Coordinators are
estimating a turnout of between 2,000
and 4,000 students. Temple University
--whose medical school is in danger of
losing its accredidation due to cutbacks
in essential services - already has 700
students signed up to attend.
Estimates from other schools are not
yet complete.
Capitol Campus' Rally Committee is
being headed by Dave Nikoloff, an
SGA senator. He said that some Penn
State branch campuses, as yet
unnamed, may be forced to close down
because of physical plant difficulties
which may violate state regulations.
Temple University, almost forced to
shut down last week due to lack of
funds, may close by November 12.
According to one source, the faculty
and staff at Temple received a notice
with their most recent paycheck that it
would be their last.
Capitol Campus Penn State University
WHO TO CONTACT
CAMPUS COORDI NATORS
David Nikoloff
Rally Committe
Larry Ranieri
Student Organizations
Joy Edmondson
Volunteer Scheduling
Linda Weaver
Petitions and
State Communications
Peg Hartzell
Branch Campuses
Pat Cliffard
Alumni Coordinator
Randy Goshert
Transportation
STATE COORDINATORS
Ed Perrone
Media Coordinator
Gary Reneker
Promotion
Carol Andress
Security
SGA
C.C. Reader
Here at Capitol, Nikoloff said, the
Maintainence and Physical Plant
Departments have been cut back to the
"bare bone." The next cuts, he said,
may well be in faculty and staff.
The tuition at Penn State for next
term is being increased because of the
present money situation. The exact
amount of the increase has not yet been
released, although most estimates
center around a final figure of ;500. If
the problem is not resolved soon, one
source stated recently, the tuition next
•
OFFICES
year could be anywhere between $650
and $l3OO per term.
Rally coordinators are urging all
students and faculty to attend the
rally. The crisis, they say, affects
everyone connected with the campus,
not just students.
Sign up sheets for the rally will be at
the round table, just inside the
entrance to the Main Building. Anyone
interested in assisting in any way is
urged to stop in the S.G.A. Office
(W-100) • or call 787-1663.
r!!=1
944-1663
944-4970
WUnM
November 3,1977
Vote
By Ed Perrone
Editor-in-Chief
The deadlock in the State
Legislature over a tax incease to fund
Pennsylvania's state related univer
ities continues, even as the already
serious finanical plight of those
universities worsens.
Until now, budget allocations from
the state to these- universities have
been withheld, pending the passage of
a probable tax increase to pay for
them.
According to Mr. Dick Willey, of
the staff of the House Appropriations
Committee, the legislation which
actually appropriates the money to the
schools has already been passed by
both the House and the Senate. It has
not been sent to the Governor for his
signture however, because the nessary
funds are not available.
According to Mr. Willey, the
appropriations bill (which spends the
money) and the tax bill (which raises
the money to spend) are each
considered separately. In this case, the
bill giving the appropriation was passed
but an impass was reached regarding
the bill to raise the revenue. It is this
deadlock which is keeping the money
from the schools.
The Universities most affected by
the money crunch are Penn State,
Temple University, Lincon University,
and the University of Pittsburgh.
According to Mr . Richard Dario, of
the Legislative Budget and Finance
Committee, the University applies for
its appropriation in this manner.
In August of the year preceding the
fiscal year for which the appropriation
is desired, a request is sent to the
Governor for a certain amount of
money. In late January or early
Febuary, the Governor makes his own
recommendations to the Legislature
regarding the University's request. In
March, the Appropirations Committee
holds hearings to determine the
amount of money it will recommend to
the full House. The House then acts
on this proposal.
In August, 1976, Penn State
requested an allocation from the state
of $153,500,000 in fiscal 1977-78. The
Governor's recommendation ' to the
legislature was $109,761,000. The final
appropriation passed was for
$108,894,000.
In fiscal 1976-77, Penn State
received $106,759,000. Mr. Willey said
that the Legislature approved the
appropriations bills in advance "to
indicate (their) support for the
universites," even though they were
aware at the time that the necessary
funds were not yet available.