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Doug Lavenberg
CCSG Contributor
Let me tell you a story about
a friend of mine that went to
a commonwealth location.
Elizabeth Vandale*, an
extremely intelligent girl; first
in her class in high school;
and is the first in her family
to ever attend college.
She started her Penn State
career the same summer as
me, studying diligently in her
one true passion: architecture.
She chose Penn State because
the in-state tuition gave her a
chance for a quality
education, at a price that her
parents could afford; her
father has worked two jobs
since she was three, and her
mother works in a factory 45
hours a week.
With the small scholarship
she was awarded in high
school, the part-time jobs she
held, and the significant
student aid she receives, she
was able to afford Penn State.
However, by the end of her
junior year, tuition at Penn
State became unreachable due
to the progressive tuition
increases each year. She was
forced to withdraw from Penn
State in order to take a full-time
job, and raise money herself for
tuition.
Everyone reading this has the
ability to make a positive
difference in Elizabeth’s life.
Everyone reading this has been
elected to a position that allows
you to stand up for students,
and fight a fight which is clearly
yours.
angered that tuition is SO
HIGH? How many of you
SAY that you are here to stand
up for students rights?
Don’t walk away and let
someone else deal with severe
tuition hikes. This is OUR year
is to show the legislature we
care. This-is OUR year to fight
for students like Elizabeth.
OUR year to set a positive
precedent that will enable
students across the State of
Pennsylvania to have
affordable higher education for
years to come. You CAN make
a difference; each and every one
of you reading this article can
stand up for what is right.
There are several ways to get
protect the students you
represent, several ways to
impact the future of Penn State
students:
eo Come to the Rally in
the Rotunda in
Harrisburg.
&
O
O
Ce
hours straight? I don’t know,
but an amazing thing is these
Thon dancers didn’t even let
the question enter into their
minds.
Frank Friday from Penn
State Delaware County said,
“My legs are hurting pretty
bad, but I feel good.”
Tim Gaines, University Park
Southeast Caucus Director,
CCSG, and CCSG Thon
Dancer, from Penn State Mont
Alto, said “I’m doing good
now, but I'm in this daze, like
I'm seeing myself in 3rd
person.”
Adrenaline is the only thing
that drives them now. They've
reached a level of physical and
mental commitment never
thought possible and only
found in movies. This is their
finest hour.
I’m so tired I’m out of breath,
but it doesn’t matter how tired
I am, because we’re down to
eo Join the Penn State
Grassroots Network,
applications are
available.
e Support your
Governmental
Affairs committee.
e Write a letter to your
representatives.
eo Meet with your
administrators, and
ask questions.
oe. Check the
Governmental
Affairs website.
e Join the
Governmental affairs
~~ Angel page.
e Follow recent
updates such as;
http://live.psu.edu/
story/16011
(*Name and major changed
for privacy)
the final hour...and still
standing.
I bounced a ball with a little
family. I cried. Tears of joy,
tears of pain, tears of sadness,
and tears of love. They're all
here; there all in each of us. But
the thing that garners the most
tears is the strength that these
kids have. They don’t cry. And
hopefully one day, they won't
have a reason to either. Until
then, Thon will be here,
because Together We'll
Prevail.
Our THON Heroes
Beth Herbert
: &
Mandy Whitsel