2008 Woodie Awards
Student Lobbying Association takes stand against rising debt
Harishi Patel
Issue date: 10/2/06 Section: News
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Media Credit: Student Lobbying AssociationPaul Murray introduces a petition for the Department of Education concerning student debt to students in the SCE.
Students from UIC's Student Lobbying Association are taking a stand against the rising problem of student debt in Illinois and around the country. The association will join other student leaders from around the Midwest to testify in front of a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee organized by the Department of Education on Oct. 5 at Loyola University's Water Tower campus.
The students from the recently founded organization are speaking up to encourage the Department of Education to relieve the burden of student debt by revising loan policies and increasing grant aid.
"We need to make sure that getting a college education means more than a lifetime of debt. Unless we make loans, and college more affordable, the problem will only get worse," said Trevor Montgomery, Student Lobbying Association President.
Many from all over the country and at UIC are feeling the burden of student debt. Some students that aspire to serve their community through positions in social work and teaching are quickly learning student debt is making their dreams unrealistic.
A recent report by the Illinois Student PIRGs found that more than 19 percent of all four-year public college graduates have too much debt to manage as a starting teacher in Illinois. Nationally, 37 percent of public and 55 percent of private college graduates would have unmanageable debt as starting social workers.
"Public servants like teachers and social workers are vital to the success of our communities and it is truly unfortunate that high student loan debt can prevent many students from embarking on these critical yet low-paying careers," said Paul Murray, a Student Lobbying Association member.
The association has helped to organize hundreds of students in seven states that are planning to attend and testify, and hopes to have at least ten students testify from UIC about their experiences with student debt. In addition to testifying, the group will deliver over 500 petitions to the Secretary of Education, hold a press conference at the event to raise student debt awareness and hold a luncheon to help connect student leaders and build a regional network of students to work on further issues.
The group is hoping to have a large student presence at the event to let the Department of Education know many students are serious about this issue while at the same time putting pressure on the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee, which has the ability to make an affective policy.
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The students from the recently founded organization are speaking up to encourage the Department of Education to relieve the burden of student debt by revising loan policies and increasing grant aid.
"We need to make sure that getting a college education means more than a lifetime of debt. Unless we make loans, and college more affordable, the problem will only get worse," said Trevor Montgomery, Student Lobbying Association President.
Many from all over the country and at UIC are feeling the burden of student debt. Some students that aspire to serve their community through positions in social work and teaching are quickly learning student debt is making their dreams unrealistic.
A recent report by the Illinois Student PIRGs found that more than 19 percent of all four-year public college graduates have too much debt to manage as a starting teacher in Illinois. Nationally, 37 percent of public and 55 percent of private college graduates would have unmanageable debt as starting social workers.
"Public servants like teachers and social workers are vital to the success of our communities and it is truly unfortunate that high student loan debt can prevent many students from embarking on these critical yet low-paying careers," said Paul Murray, a Student Lobbying Association member.
The association has helped to organize hundreds of students in seven states that are planning to attend and testify, and hopes to have at least ten students testify from UIC about their experiences with student debt. In addition to testifying, the group will deliver over 500 petitions to the Secretary of Education, hold a press conference at the event to raise student debt awareness and hold a luncheon to help connect student leaders and build a regional network of students to work on further issues.
The group is hoping to have a large student presence at the event to let the Department of Education know many students are serious about this issue while at the same time putting pressure on the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee, which has the ability to make an affective policy.
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