Spring Break
The Daily OrangeCongress threatens to cut financial aid funding
By Krystle Davis
Posted: 10/6/05, 11:19 PM EST Section: News
USSA urges students to participate in its next call-in day on Oct. 19.
"There's strong pressure and strong intent to pass these bills, and that's why we're trying to mobilize students," Harris said. "It's going to take a united student voice to stop these bills from passing."
One of the proposed changes to the Higher Education Act is a $500 increase in Pell grants over the next five years, Walsh said.
"Over the next five years, the cost of education will probably go up thousands of dollars. It's just not generous enough," he said.
For students who rely on financial aid to subsidize their education, the rising cost of tuition can become daunting.
"Financial aid - that is the reason I'm here at this school," said Brittney Parkinson, a sophomore civil engineering major. "I wouldn't be here without financial aid. It pains me every day to think about the cost of tuition. It just keeps going up."
Heather Shearer, a graduate student in the writing program, said she disapproves of the cost of college tuition throughout the country.
"In the U.S. in general, it is too high," Shearer said. "People have to go into debt to get an education. We're the only industrialized nation where that's the case. It's embarrassing."
The SU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships works in conjunction with the SU Office of Government Relations, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation to try to make college more affordable for students, Walsh said.
"We're always trying to encourage the government to make additional funding available for students," he said.
Still, college loan debt is a reality many students and graduates face. The average graduate earns $27,000 out of college with loans totaling more than eight percent of their monthly income, Harris said. This leaves 39 percent of graduates with unmanageable debt, she said.
Shear said she has amassed so much student loan debt that she could have bought "a nice house" in Syracuse by now, while Parkinson tries to avoid thoughts of future debt altogether.
"I try not to think about (repaying loans) yet," Parkinson said. "I'm in school for a reason: to get a good job. So, hopefully I will be in a position to pay them off."
Harris said college students should get involved and let their congressmen know they oppose cuts to higher education.
"We shouldn't be attempting to balance the budget on the backs of students," she said.
"There's strong pressure and strong intent to pass these bills, and that's why we're trying to mobilize students," Harris said. "It's going to take a united student voice to stop these bills from passing."
One of the proposed changes to the Higher Education Act is a $500 increase in Pell grants over the next five years, Walsh said.
"Over the next five years, the cost of education will probably go up thousands of dollars. It's just not generous enough," he said.
For students who rely on financial aid to subsidize their education, the rising cost of tuition can become daunting.
"Financial aid - that is the reason I'm here at this school," said Brittney Parkinson, a sophomore civil engineering major. "I wouldn't be here without financial aid. It pains me every day to think about the cost of tuition. It just keeps going up."
Heather Shearer, a graduate student in the writing program, said she disapproves of the cost of college tuition throughout the country.
"In the U.S. in general, it is too high," Shearer said. "People have to go into debt to get an education. We're the only industrialized nation where that's the case. It's embarrassing."
The SU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships works in conjunction with the SU Office of Government Relations, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation to try to make college more affordable for students, Walsh said.
"We're always trying to encourage the government to make additional funding available for students," he said.
Still, college loan debt is a reality many students and graduates face. The average graduate earns $27,000 out of college with loans totaling more than eight percent of their monthly income, Harris said. This leaves 39 percent of graduates with unmanageable debt, she said.
Shear said she has amassed so much student loan debt that she could have bought "a nice house" in Syracuse by now, while Parkinson tries to avoid thoughts of future debt altogether.
"I try not to think about (repaying loans) yet," Parkinson said. "I'm in school for a reason: to get a good job. So, hopefully I will be in a position to pay them off."
Harris said college students should get involved and let their congressmen know they oppose cuts to higher education.
"We shouldn't be attempting to balance the budget on the backs of students," she said.
