11 The Daily
Collegian
Published independently by students at Penn State
Pres.
talks
funds
Officials: PSU should
not expect an increase
in state funding.
By Brendan McNally
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Penn State President Graham
Spanier heard more of the same
from lawmakers in Harrisburg
on Wednesday,
just eight days
after he traveled
to the state capi-
tal and was told
not to expect an
increase in fund-
ing for next year.
While law
makers at a Spanier
Senate
Appropriations Committee hear
ing hailed the university as a
driving force for the state's econ
omy, they made it clear that
Penn State should not be expect
ing a funding increase this year,
Penn State spokeswoman Lisa
Powers said.
“It's interesting, because they
recognize the significant role
Penn State plays in the econo
my," she said. “But when it
comes down to their own dis
tricts, it becomes very personal
and they wonder why some pro
grams are being cut."
Spanier requested a 3.9 per
cent increase in funding for
Penn State. But Sen. Jake
Corman, R-Centre. Senate
Appropriations Committee
chairman, said budget problems
will make it impossible for the
state to increase funding for the
university
" [Rinding] is probably going
to stay flat,” Corman said. "‘The
deficit unfortunately continues
to grow."
Powers said Penn State’s 24
campuses generate $l7 billion a
year for the state's economy, and
she said Penn State officials are
‘‘deeply concerned” about the
direction of the university's
finances. Dwindling federal
stimulus money along with pro
jected deficits in the State
Employee's Retirement System
(SERS) could set the university
back as much as $66 million in
the coming years.
While funding remains
unchanged for higher education
in Gov. Ed Rendell's budget pro
posal, Spanier said K-12 educa
tion is set to receive huge fund
ing increases next year.
Corman said he would like to
See FUNDS, Page 2.
Students to spend break helping the nation
By Edgar Ramirez
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Despite strong warnings and
limited amount of time, 12 Penn
State students, alumni and other
volunteers will spend their spring
break in Haiti helping with relief
efforts.
With the help of Adventures in
Missions (AIM), students David
Adewumi and Zack Johnston
pulled together the trip within
three weeks an act Alisha
Brodie, who will also make the trip
to Haiti, calls “amazing.”
Brodie (junior-nutrition), who
has been on three previous mis
sion trips, said the planning
process was “chaotic, but expect
ed.” Adewumi (junior-Spanish)
After an hour of
debate. Univer
sity Park
Undergraduate
Association Miller
Some student government (UPUA) general
members are now saving there assembly members approved the
Andrew Dunheimer/coiiegian were not enough concrete details expenditure Wednesday without
Asher Roth performs at last available to justify allocating more knowledge of the names of any of
year’s spring music festival. than 545.000 for its spring music the potential musical acts. The
Eric Farmer (graduate-educational leadership) belts his self-composed song "Muse" at a Penn State's Got Talent contest. Thursday night was
the final night to audition for State College's version of "American Idol," sponsored by the Saudi Arabian Student Association.
Jackson returns
LOVE FOR
credits the help he got from AIM
and outside community support in
making the trip possible.
“These people going will not for
get the amount of help and impact
they will leave behind in Haiti,
regardless how small it will be,”
Adewumi said.
The group hopes to rebuild
buildings, clean up debris, pass
out food whatever they can do
to help reconstruct the ravaged
nation.
But while they’ve got plenty of
enthusiasm, some say their good
intentions are misplaced.
Project Haiti President Alain
Bonny, who went to Haiti last year,
said while he was happy to coach
the group prepare in what to
See HAITI, Page 2.
Group reacts to cost
UPUA discusses decision
to allocate $45,000 for a
spring music festival.
By Paige Minemyer
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
By Nick Weingartner
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
will be rolling
ordan Center for
"ain Tour" this
mger, known for
lingles "It's Five
imewhere" and
loochee" will be
; his was to the
>n May 21. said
de Punt, directo
if sales and mar
ing.
The concert is a
iccial one for the
JC, Punt said.
U.S. Army soldiers organize earthquake survivors who want to register
their displaced families and receive help from the United Nations.
festival, dubbed
"Last Call" at a
meeting Wednes
day.
toBJC
“Alan Jackson was our first
country concert at the BJC,” he
said. "That makes him special
his longevity.” »
Punt said as most bands in the
See JACKSON, Page 2.
AITI
psucollegian.com
first UPUA-sponsored festival,
called “Wallypalooza," featured
Asher Roth last spring.
This vote allows assembly
members to shirk responsibility
for the festival, UPUA Director of
Assembly Services Samantha
Miller said.
“I would have liked to see repre
sentatives have more options
about such a large amount of
money,” Miller (senior-political
science) said. "Not very many
See UPUA. Page 2.
SCOTT SUIT
Austin Scott walks to the
courthouse in Bellefonte in 2007.
Officials
dropped
incase
Former Centre County
District Attorney Michael
Madeira, resigned prosecutor
Lance Marshall and Centre
County have been dropped from
a lawsuit filed by former Penn
State running back Austin Scott.
On Wednesday Pennsylvania
Middle District Judge James
McClure granted the motion that
dismissed the three defendants
in the case, citing absolute pros
ecutorial immunity from Scott’s
claims, according to court docu
ments.
Scott’s attorney, John Karoly
said this motion will not deter
the pursuit of justice for his
client.
Scott was charged with rape,
sexual assault, indecent assault
and simple assault in 2007 after a
woman told police he assaulted
her in his on-campus apartment.
See SCOn SUIT, Page 2.
larissa Gut k
By Laura Nichols
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER