PENN STATE REPORTVOL. 12 NO. 2 OCTOBER 1977

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01315R000400260055-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 5, 2004
• Sequence Number: 55
• Publication Date: October 1, 1977
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2005/01/12 : CIA-RDP88-01315R000400260055-3
Penn
Report
The Penn State Alumni Association
104 Old Main
University Park, PA 16802
Second Class
Postage Paid
State College, PA
16801
Penn State's fragile financial situation, which we described in the August Penn State
Report, was unchanged at press time, although the Pennsylvania Legislature was to begin
working out a plan for nonpreferred appropriations when its recess ended September 26.
Earlier in the month, President John W. Oswald published an open letter to the Penn
State community stressing the urgency of the situation and pleading for cooperation to
ensure the continued strength of the University. Realizing the depth of alumni interest
and concern, we reprint that open letter here.
An Open Letter to the Penn State Community:
As the Fall Term begins, I realize that many of you have questions, anxieties, and perhaps some sense of confusion
about the current budgetary impasse at the University in regard to the lack of an appropriation from the State
Legislature. If some of you have been out of touch with developments this summer, let me state simply that the
Legislature in late August passed a State budget eliminatingall support to higher education at Penn State, Pitt, Temple,
Lincoln, and the large number of private institutions that receive State grants and used these funds to support other
agencies in the State.
Comments I made at the Summer Commencement exercises on August 27 relate to this unprecedented circumstance.
I quote a few paragraphs here:
"This morning as I stand before you, I am more frustrated than I have ever been in my professional career spanning
three major state universities.
"Most of you are aware of the legislative battle that has occurred in the last several days in the State in the effort to
settle on a budget. The Legislature of our State has recently passed a budget providing some 300 million dollars of
increases to branches of State Government, increases for State workers, for school subsidies, for the State colleges,
special help for Philadelphia programs, and a host of other programs - none of whose value I argue with.
"My total frustration comes from the fact that to secure this 300 million dollars, the Legislature did not come to grips
with the revenue problem and taxes. Rather it delayed action on taxes and took all of the funds that are normally
appropriated for Penn State, Pitt, and Temple -and appropriated this money to provide for increases to meet the
needs of other State responsibilities.
"This leaves Penn State at this point with zero dollars from the Commonwealth. To operate - and operate we will
- we must borrow the funds, incurring the necessary interest that goes with borrowing.
"Several State leaders and the Governor gave absolute assurance that as soon as the Legislature returns in late
September, consideration of University appropriations and the necessary taxes to support them will be given highest
priority. My deep concern is that we have been placed in the situation that the burden for raising taxes, which is
difficult at any time, appears now solely, only, and totally to relate to one activity of the State - namely, higher
education - and not to total needs of the Commonwealth.
"Higher education is as bipartisan as anything that exists in this State. We are neither a Democratic nor a Republican
University; we are a University of all the people of this State. At times during this partisan argument, people from both
sides of the aisle urged me to get into the fray. I could not and will not drag this University into a partisan debate."
Frustration need not mean discouragement. Rather, it can challenge us to overcome adversity. We must maintain our
faith that reason and good sense will prevail. It is beyond belief that the Commonwealth could let the foundations of this
University and univeAilprOi a iFtg7. No state funds have been use d
jr construction or equipment for this
T,roiect or for any other construction t_t
the Med::cal Center in the east.
i_n his keynote. remarks at the ribbon-cutting
."resident Oswalt! noted that durinct the past
fiscal wear there were almost U am' i , b0O
patient visits to the Center's outpaticnt
.links and department of family and community
medicine. The riimhe r of outpatients hr s
_ncreased tourfeid over the past seven
years and is expected to double by the early
9805.
Growth has been parallel at the Cc]Acye
of Medicine where the first class of 41
enrolled in 196 and the eleventh crass of
34 enrolled this year. Current total enrol-
lment is 373.
Alumni of Distinction
"'May our lives but swell thy lame, Dear Old
state."
That well known plea from the Alma :Liter
s one that has been answered with a flourish
for at least one group of Penn Staters. We
snow them as Distinguished Alumni, a title
designating Penn State's highest tribute,
paid to those wuose personal, professional,
.and community achievements have been olt-
,tandinK.
Since first awarded in 1951, the Li -le has
been conferred upon 195 alumni. Numbered
=among them are actors, publishers, wr_iter.s,
lesieners, engineers, geneticists, teachers,
economists, agrcnomists--even an astronaut.
[hey will be joined this coming Year bi
Trended by the trustees, faculty, staff
and alumni.
Readers interested i.r nominating Penn
.(Lets of distinction for consideration
may dc so before Novemier 25 by submitting
.iae nominee's name and complete biographical
information to the Alumni Office, 105 Old
Main, University Park, PA 16802.
Next the Concorde?
From now on when you fly into Happy Valley
you can leave the broomstick at home with
your cauldron. Two grant agreements between
the Lniversity and the Federal Aviation
Administration are providing $511,000 for
work at University Par] airport to improve
safety conditions and security. The FAA
i graving 90 percent of the cost and the
remaining $51,000 will come from funds
provided to Penn State as gifts.
Among the improvements will be a joining
of r.wc sections of taxiway and a clearing
,-F trees at runway approaches as required
for installation of the instrument landing
step which is expected to be completed
next summer.
Wanted: Choir Names
Notice to all past memters of Chapel Choir,
Meditation Chapel Choir, Concert Choir,
T-)Ienn State Singers, ant: All-Faith Choir:
If ycu are not on the Choir Alumni mailing
ist Flease send your rame, address, and
:gar of ,graduation to the Choir Office,
'I!, Eisenhower Chapel. Spring of 1978
is the 30th anniversary of the annual
aprinf; concert, and the choirs are trying
round up all their r.embers to get in
bet ore Lhe event.
New Plans for AVC
1 new twist is being auded to the Alumni
Vacation College for 1(178. Participants
ai]]. be able to choose between two academic
options--a single theme studied in depth
for five days, or the standard program
featuring a different topic each day. The
recreation and entertainment opportunities
:rill be similar to those of past years,
and the AVC will again take place during the
T,reek of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of
the Arts, July 9-15. More detailed infor-
mation and reservation forms will be carried
in the January issue o. The Penn Stater
magazine.
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