State reps tie U. funding to scholarships

A group of state representatives has threatened not to help the University retain state funding this year due to its alleged failure to provide adequate scholarships for Philadelphia high school students. The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia filed suit in Common Pleas Court in October, charging the University has not complied with a 1977 city ordinance requiring the University to provide scholarships to needy Philadelphia high school students. In a letter addressed to President Sheldon Hackney and Board of Trustees chairperson Alvin Shoemaker, legislators questioned the University stance on the controversial scholarship suit and for the first time, tied the issue to Commonwealth funding. The letter was signed by 20 members of the Philadelphia delegation -- including powerful state House Appropriations Committee chairperson Dwight Evans (D-Phila.) -- and may place another burden on the University's struggle to retain its state funding. In addition, one state representative whose district includes part of the University sent an additional letter to Hackney Friday saying he will not support the University's appropriation for general instruction. But Harold James (D-Phila.) said that he would support the University's request for appropriations for the Veterinary School, Dental School and Medical Schools, since they provide an important public service. Casey proposed cutting the University from the state budget starting this July. The current year's state appropriation tops $37 million. The legislators' letter is dated January 27 -- over a week before Gov. Robert Casey proposed eliminating the University's state funding. The state legislators are the University's only hope to retain state funding since the General Assembly can modify the governor's proposal before it is implemented. Legislators said in their letter that they were pushed by the constituents to reconsider the University's state funding in light of the current Mayor's Scholarship lawsuit. "The issues raised are being widely discussed by the families and teachers and principals in our districts and have been constantly pressed upon us," the letter states. "If . . . the University does not take serious steps to increase Philadelphia student participation to at least the level the 1977 Ordinance speaks of, it will be very difficult for us to maintain our support for substantial public monies to the University in the coming budget year," the letter states. James was more definite in his opposition to supporting the University's state appropriation. He said last night he had reviewed information on both sides of the controversial lawsuit and has spoken with his constituency on the issue. "Unless there is some agreement I'm not going to help restore [the University's state funds]," James said. "I'm going to talk to my colleagues to see if they will do the same." PILCOP has alleged the ordinance requires the University to give out 125 new four-year scholarships annually, for a total of 500 at any given time. The University has stated it should provide 125 scholarships total at any one time. Hackney said last night that the University maintains its position that the ordinance intended for 125 scholarships at a time. He added the University is working with City Coucil to solve the dispute. "We are working hard to resolve this issue," Hackney said. "We still feel confident our position is the correct path: we owe 125 scholarships, and have made sufficient contribution to the city of Philadelphia." Hackney said the issues should be treated separately, even though he understands the legislators' frustrations with the current situation. He added the legal dispute needs more time to resolve itself. "It's not a happy situation," Hackney said. "James has been a big friend of the University and a parent of a University graduate. He's someone we think of as a friend and when he gets nervous about our position it makes us worry." The University began the scholarship program to comply with a series of agreements with the city which date back to the 19th century. In exchange for the scholarships, the University received nearly 47 acres of land where the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Quadrangle now stand.

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