Temple students follow funding talks

Temple University students are paying close attention to discussions between area lawmakers and officials from the university and university health system.

Temple University students are paying close attention to discussions between area lawmakers and officials from the university and university health system.

A bill that would release $175,000,000 dollars in state appropriations to Temple was pulled from the House of Representatives last week because of the health system’s decision to close Northeastern Hospital.

Listen:
[audio: 090811lftemple.mp3]

State Representative John Taylor says the lines of communication were not open but now progress is being made. Taylor says over the last few days University and Health System officials have been meeting with lawmakers to talk about what to do with the hospital site.

Taylor: On behalf of the community, what Representative Mike O’Brien and myself are looking for is at least an effort on the University’s behalf to make that community whole in terms of jobs and healthcare even though we don’t really expect a hospital.

Taylor says pediatric care, maternity services, or senior housing are all possibilities for the site.

A Temple spokesperson says the conversations have been productive. He says students could face a $5,000 tuition hike if the state doesn’t deliver the money.