Anxious about the effects of Gov. Edward G. Rendell's proposal to slash the state appropriation of Temple University and Pennsylvania's other state-related universities and withhold their federal stimulus funds, two Temple student leaders decided to take their case to Harrisburg.

Last Friday, Temple Student Government (TSG) vice presidents Jon DeSantis and Anthony Leyro delivered approximately 3,000 letters expressing "extreme concern" about Gov. Rendell's budget proposal to the offices of state representatives, senators and Gov. Rendell. The letter urged state legislators to call for "the return of anticipated funding to Temple" and to ask Gov. Rendell to "reverse his position on Temple's status as a public institution."

DeSantis and Leyro assembled about 1,500 signatures — an estimated 90 percent from students — for the letter in a 56-hour period last week. The TSG team hand-delivered letters to the offices of each signee's state representative and senator on Friday. After two and a half hours of walking from door to door in the State Capitol, the Temple students and their volunteer assistants had brought letters to 125 of Pennsylvania's 203 state representatives and 49 of 50 state senators. In a few cases, the Temple team was able to give the letters directly to legislators. The students wrapped up their day by joining Penn State University student leaders for a press conference in the Capitol Rotunda, where Leyro spoke for the Temple student body.

"It was an eye-opening experience — definitely educational," said DeSantis, a senior from Yardley, Pa. "It proved to me that student government and students in general can take a strong hand to advocate on the state and federal level for their interests."

The TSG team was motivated by concern about the effects of the Governor's proposal on tuition. In their letter, the Temple students wrote that Gov. Rendell's proposal would cause Temple to lose $31.5 million in anticipated funding. Given that Temple has already cut $40 million from its budget, the letter argued, the loss would be "catastrophic" for students, employees and members of the community.

"We were extremely happy when Temple's Board of Trustees approved a low tuition increase and dedicated a record amount to financial aid," DeSantis said. "Temple stayed true to what many people would consider its heritage: an affordable and excellent education. We were upset that [Gov. Rendell's budget proposal] would undo all that."