Students from the four state-related universities held a rally in Harrisburg this week voicing their concern over potential funding cuts ahead of Governor Corbett’s budget address.

Alex McNeil, a Temple University student, noted the presence of Paul Clymer, House Education Committee Chairman and Bucks County Republican. Clymer was the lone legislator to attend the rally despite the fact that the House and Senate are not in session this week.

“I will give some credit: this does not entirely fall on deaf ears. Mr. Chairman, thank you for being here,” McNeil said.

In the budget freeze implemented in January, state-related universities were hit with a five percent cut in state funding. That meant more than $25 million in cuts for Penn State, which saw its funding reduced by 32 percent in last year’s budget.

University of Pittsburgh student Thomas Visco said he hopes state aid for his school doesn’t dip.

“As students and citizens, men and women, we have to recommit ourselves to higher education. To do anything less than this would be sacrificing a vision for what our state could be in the future,” Visco said.

Governor Corbett outlines his budget proposal February 7th. Last year, he proposed a 50 percent reduction in state aid for higher education. The legislature approved a 19 percent cut and Corbett signed it into law.