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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
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