Vet School meets with Pa. farmers to discuss future

The Veterinary School received a boost last Thursday when representatives of Pennsylvania's farmers expressed their support for the school's imperiled $15.3 million state appropriation. At the "Save the School of Veterinary Medicine" meeting in Harrisburg, dairy farmers and livestock breeders joined University officials in calling on state legislators to approve the funding when they return in the fall. They warned that an end to the state's support of the Vet School -- which will operate with a sizable deficit next year unless the money is restored -- would cause long-lasting harm to the state's agricultural community. The show of support comes at a time of growing uncertainty for the Vet School. University officials say that without the state aid, which accounts for more than 40 percent of the school's annual budget, the school could eventually be forced to close. But Gov. Robert Casey, who first called for an end to state aid for the Vet School -- along with an end to the rest of the University's $37 million appropriation -- in his February budget proposal, remains opposed to funding for the school. Sue Grimm, a Casey budget spokesperson, said Tuesday that the University should find ways of cutting its expenses in other areas to make up for lost state money, rather than rely on the state to support the school. Keith Eckle, president of the Pennsylvania Farmers' Association, which sponsored the event, called the state legislature's decision not to include the funding in its recent budget "a short-sighted approach to good government." "One unchecked health outbreak among farm animals or poultry would eliminate any financial gain by the state," he said, noting that research done at the Vet School has had significant impacts on the state's poultry, pork and dairy industries. He said while there is "nothing wrong" with trimming state spending, "there are programs that are good for all citizens that must continue to be financially supported with tax dollars, because of their importance to the total society." Vet School Dean Edwin Andrews said those at the meeting have formed a committee to study ways "to get legislators activated" in the hope that the legislature may decide to restore the school's funding when it reconvenes after the summer recess. He said that while University officials have spent the past several months lobbying for the school's funding, the addition of the farmers could add legitimacy to that effort. "It's one thing for us as a school to tout how great we are," Andrews said. "It's another thing for the user community to spontaneously come to the aid of an institution, and that's basically happened with this meeting." But Grimm said the support of the farmers will not change Casey's stance on funding, even though several legislative leaders have suggested that they may support the passage of funding bills for the school in the fall. She said Casey believes the state needs to devote its resources to funding public education rather than private universities. Ten other private universities also lost state funding this year. Reflecting the concern of other University officials who interpret Casey's stance to be philosophically-driven and permanent, Andrews said the committee will also investigate ways of funding the Vet School in the long term. Beyond its effect on the lobbying drive, last Thursday's meeting also provided the Vet School with a much-needed morale boost. Andrews said faculty who attended the gathering were "very positively reinforced" by the group's support. The uncertainty of the school's future already appears to be producing an effect on students and faculty of the school. Andrews said his staff noticed of "a lot of uneasiness" from students at orientation and interviews. Other groups represented at the meeting included the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Institutes of Health, the American SPCA, and the Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs.

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