November 17, 2003 Pye on Campus The Lion’s Eye Page 7 Your tuition money: Where It goes ... and what it buys Continued from PAGE 1 teachers. Tuition money is usually not spent until mid-semester, when it is invested, gleaning $100,000 extra a month. "Now, tuition money is spent immediately," said Tomeszko. "Every month Penn State is $100,000 short. We have been bor- rowing money since September with interest on it. We may not have a state budget in November or December. We are already planning $500,000 of (the total) tuition to carry over to next year as a cushion against problems." In 2002/03, the total budget was $9,799,000, less $214,000, which was used as ‘a "cushion against problems" for the current year, according to Tomeszko. This was a safeguard with foreknowl- edge. The budget problems began with the troubled economy. "This is a ripple effect and stu- dents make up the difference," said Wirth. "In 1990, an economic slump caused business recession and the commonwealth was $4 bil- lion dollars short revenue. Gov.Rendell inherited the debt. Some 501 school districts have not been given their appropriations yet. Penn State campuses are waiting for $300 million dollars from Harrisburg." The other 17 percent of tuition goes to Central Support Services at Main Campus. "This money is not always spent,” said Tomeszko. "It is saved and used differently every year. Recently, it has funded the new §3% Portion of Total Tuition ray i parking lot and the new roof on the main building." Separate from tuition are the student technology and activity fees. Each student had to pay $160 per semester for technology and $39 per semester for activities this year. The amounts for these fees change each semester depending on the number of students. "Every penny of the activity fee stays on campus in a separate fund," said Director of Student Life Doreen Hettich-Atkins. "There is a committee for using the fee consisting of seven students, an additional staff member, and myself and the SGA president as co-chairs.” The fee goes toward campus activities, equipment such as the fitness center, facilities for stu- dent spaces like furniture for the student lounge, recreation and sports, diversity, “Just in Time,” and selected support services, according to Hettich-Atkins. Just in Time is for emergency programs needed between student activity meetings such as the 9/11 counselors brought on campus. Selected support services are for programs that our campus might not be able to provide such as health and nutrition counseling and supplemental learning. This year, some of the things funded were: Penn in Hand, Lions Eye newspaper, uniforms for cheer- leaders, Multi-cultural Day, Native American music, and the fitness center. "The fitness center was paid for with the student activity fee and a loan from the Commonwealth College," said Hettich-Atkins. The technology fee funds com- puters and their components on campus. Much of this fee is sent to Main Campus. "We used to get 50 percent of the technology fee for this cam- pus; now we get 34 percent and the rest goes to Main campus,” said Tomeszko. "Main campus says we now get more support from them." Every bit of money that Penn State harbors is meaningfully uti- lized, Tomeszko said. "We don't spend any money unless it has a direct, positive benefit to the campus,” said Tomeszko. "We have less money to manage, but we are still focused on supporting faculty, staff, and students. “We invest in our priorities: students, then faculty and staff." Men's volleyball club forming Coach Tom Pfleger and Athletic Director Doris "Tiz" Griffith announce the formation of Penn State Delco’s men's club volleyball team. If you're the type of guy that enjoys competi- tion, athletics, or playing volleyball in the sum- mer, why not come out for the club volleyball team? Club sports are a great way to get involved with a school activity, all while having a great time. If you're interested, please contact Griffith at DMG4@psu.edu. — JOHN HICKEY Library extends hours for finals If you depend upon the library for quality study and work time, here is a bit of good news: Starting in December, the library will extend its hours. Finals are just around the corner and the extra few hours are likely to help. The dates and times are as fol- lows: Dec. 8 to Dec. 11, the library will be open until 11 p.m.; Dec. 14 to Dec. 18 again open until 11 p.m.. — STEVE SPENCE Write about PSU, and get paid for it The Penn State Delco Undergraduate Admissions Office is looking for student-produced articles, photo- graphs, and film and video clips about experiences at a Penn State campus. Content may be used on the Web or in print-recruit- ment materials. They will pay for any submissions they use. For more information go to: www.psu.edu/admis- sions/guidelines. Please submit all material through PSU Delco's admission office, Room 104 Main Building. Volunteer to take part in Multicultural Day Penn State Delco needs help from the entire campus to make Multicultural Day a success. The event will be held Thursday at 11:30 a.m. in the Commons Main Gym. If you'd like to participate in the international fash- lon show, please email Taryn Chance at TMC266@psu.edu. If you would like to be a food server or make a dish, please email Natalie Delva at NZD110@psu.edu or Pat Smith at PAS25@psu.edu. The campus needs people for other duties as well. Contact Diane Shorter at DDS4@psu.edu. Gamers wanted for LAN party A LAN party, an event at which people bring com- puters and network them to play computer games like Quake 3, Unreal Tournament, Half-Life, Counter-Strike, and Halo, will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It will be held in the Classroom Building, Room 203. The cost is $10 ($8 with valid PSU ID). Minimum age is 16 and non-PSU students are welcomed. Visit: http://www.istclub.net/lanparty. Penn State Tuition 2003/04 17% | Salaries. Fixed Cost, Unrestricted Money : Student Activity and Technology Fees 0, $9,000,000 estimated total ga Technology Fee 2003/04 @1 University Park [52 Delco Activity Fees 2002/03 Academic Year 10% “5% i] 1 i Activities 0% BB 2 ; Equipment \ [13 Facilities \ 1 4 : Program Support (274 H i 6 ® | LJ 5 i Recreation i: / 6 Diversity 9% w [4 Just-in-Time Support Services 10% $113,731 total - TRANSFERRING TO MAIN CAMPUS? LIVE DOWNTOWN! CALDER COMMONS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU! TWO BEDROOM/TWO BATHROOM FULLY FURNISHED APARTMENTS! And look what else.... = Fabulous Fitness Center » New Study Lounge = Fantastic Downtown Location x 1/2 a Block to Campus % On-Site Laundry & Parking » Free Cable TV 520 East Calder Way State College, PA 16801 814-238-3456 www.caldercommons.com
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