Page 2 EDIT 0 RIAL W~ Z C.C. Reader chives Page Stard►annl Government Notebook By Dave Nilluaoff SGA Senator .We are only a few days away from the November 15th rally at the State Capitol. This is your chance to show your legislator that you want him/her to act responsibly and pass the legislation needed to fund our university. None of us can afford to sit back and watch what happens. Tuition and academics will be affected if the legislature does not act now. Please ask your friends to take part. Get them involved. Everyone on this campus has a part to play, whether they be students, staff, or faculty. Ignoring this problem won't solve anything. Make a commitment for higher education in Pennsylvania. Those of you who don't think we should group together for political action should pay attention to what is happening at Temple. Classes may close before students graduate, faculty and staff won't receive paychecks after December Ist, and the school's entire future is in doubt. Our situation isn't that bad now, but when and if those things happen in the future, I'm sure those of you who sat back will want to The Rally: What It Can Mean By Gary Reneker Staff Writer By now it should be common knowledge that the state General Assembly has failed to provide funds for the opera tions of state related "non-pre ferred" universities. This inclu ded Capitol Campus. To remain functional, these institutions are forced into the money markets for needed funds. Lenders have their price, like anyone else, and their price (i.e., interest) is presently costing Penn State $4OOO each day. Prices like that can be paid for just so long, and then something has to crack. Temple University has already cracked. They are on the verge of losing their medical school accreditation due to a cut in essential programs - a cut that was made because the money wasn't there. According to sources at Temple, their employees' last payday was in fact their last payday, unless a budget is soon approved, because the school may be forced to close as of Nov. 12. The students of Penn State are a bit more fortunate than their counterparts at Temple, as it is unlikely that our doors will be closed this semester. However, the costs of keeping the doors open will have to be passed on to the students in the form of higher tuition (possibly $500) and fees in future semesters if the legislators don't react positively, and soon. A rally is being organized by the state-related universi ties as an effort to convince the legislators that the situation is much more crucial than they realize. As of now, the legislators have done nothing about the problem. Despite the headlines, when we talk to the secretaries who type the do something. Unfortunately, by then it may be too late. This rally can be the beginning of, an effort to get the citizens of this state behind higher education. Our position has deteriorated the past few years and we must stop the downward momentum. Ask members of the faculty what they plan to do on the fifteenth. If they support us, tell them you appreciate it. If they are unwilling to help, find out if you can make up any work you miss or if they are willing to work with you on an individual basis. The faculty should have an interest in what the students of this university plan to do. Buses will be provided for transportation to the Capitol. Watch for details on when the buses will arrive and depart and how you can get a seat. Sign up on the rally sheet so that organizers know what to expect and how many people will attend. Further specifics will be provided by your student organizers. If you have any questions, ask the people in the SGA and the C.C. Reader office for answers. Watch posters and the round table for developments as they occur. paperwork and the clerks who file and/or distribute it, it appears that nothing is happening. The Republicans want the issue to continue into 1978 (an election year), and then use it as a springboard to regain the majority in both houses. Most Democrats are in favor of the proposed budget, which would allow a slight increase over last year's budget (as far as P.S.U. is concerned). There are other Democrats, however, that want no increase at all, because they're afraid it will require higher taxes and higher taxes mean less votes. Actually, all it calls for is a proper allocation of funds and resources. These few Democrats, along with the Republicans, hold the majority against the current budget proposal. In effect, they're playing games with your future. The demonstration men tioned earlier, along with simultaneous lobbying efforts, is intended to persuade legislators to go our way (an increased budget). Actually, the lobbying efforts are intended to persuade them. The rally is intended to dissuade them from going against our better interests by a show of potential vote power. That's one thing they do understand! Each campus of U. of Penn, Pitt, P.S.U., Temple, and Lincoln U., now has a Rally Coordination Committee to organize students on their respective campuses. The State Rally Coordination Committee is currently comprised of four Capitol Campus students; Gary Reneker - promotion and general coordination, Ed Perrone - media and public relations, Carol Andress - security and logistics, and Linda Weaver - speakers and November 10, 1977 inter-campus communications. The rally is to held on Tuesday, November 15, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. on the Capitol Building front steps. Absenteeism from classes will be overlooked by most profes sors that day. Coordinators are attempting to make arrange ments for bus transportation from Capitol to the Capitol. Those who prefer not to pay $5OO for tuition, sign up for the buses to Harrisburg at the round table (front lobby - main bldg.) and participate in this crucial program. While your at it, offer to assist your campus coordinators in their efforts. They can't do it all plus go to school, and this situation is just as much your problem as it is their's. Very Non- Preferred By Ray Martin Benjamin Franklin and I share a few things in common. (I wish we shared more, but I digress). Among the items we share are being transplanted Pennsylvanians, a chunky physical appearance, a certain wit of phrase. (I'm still in the bush leagues on that, but I digress again), and finally an amused cynicism on the matter of governments. However the longer I have remained a Pennsylvanian, the less amused my cynicism has become. Part of my misspent youth was misspent in a dark and odorous low-level. management position with the last Shapp campaign (we all make mis takes. it's just that mine are real winners). I define "lowlevel management" as high enough see page 4
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers