Behrend prepares
for budget crunch
Library, computer center to
reduce hours
b Bill Goodman
The Collegian
Penn State and other state
funded organizations across the
Commonwealth are bracing for
tough economic times in the
wake of Governor Robert P.
Casey's slashing of $731 million
from the state's budget.
Pennsylvania faces a possible $1
billion deficit next fiscal yeir.
In a letter to the University
community, University President
Joab Thomas announced $12.6
million has been trimmed from
Penn State's state funding.
To make up for the cuts,
Thomas has instituted an
immediate system-wide hiring
freeze, deferred maintenance costs
and curtailed travel expenses for
most departments.
Behrend has already started to
feel the pinch though, having
returned $131,000 to University
Park this semester in order to hire
professors to teach classes.
According to Provost and
Dean Dr. John Lilley, Behrend
may have to return another
$131,000 if Penn State's balance
sheet looks shaky. Lilley said
that those funds would be
collected by the end of the week,
if necessary. If the second phase
of recycling is not needed, the
money would remain at Behrend,
and would be carried into the next
year.
(continued on page 3)
Study abroad
trips canceled
War restricts Cairo
studies
b Mar Zaczkiewicz
The Collegian
The war in the Gulf has
interrupted the plans of many.
Business ventures, job
opportunities and even family
vacations have been put on hold,
or even cancelled, because of
hostilities in the Middle East.
One of those people is Pascale
Lakkis, a sixth semester political
science major from Behrend.
Originally she had planned to
spend this spring in Cairo,
Egypt, studying Arab studies,
Muslim thought and Middle
Eastern politics at the American
University at Cairo.
Until Iraq invaded Kuwait,
that is.
Soon after, Penn State
administrators cancelled Lakkis'
study abroad program. "I was
really upset, but I know it's for
the best," she said. "If Penn State
hadn't have cancelled the
program, though, I still would
have gone."
Lakkis isn't alone. She knows
of three °ther students who were
also planning on studying in
Cairo this fall. Another program
cancelled because of the war is
the one in Tel Aviv, lama
"Tm plosudng on still,"
Laklds skied. 'Hopefull going y things
will calm down snot* dmit I can
go back next spring (1992).
Boa Wet as affected by the war
(ctotintllNl an pegs 2)