2008 Woodie Awards
Groups Nationwide Moilize to "Reverse the Raid" On Student Aid
Congress Under Pressure As Millions Struggle To Pay For College This Year
Toby Chaudhuri
Issue date: 4/18/06 Section: News
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Responding to public outrage about higher student loan rates and the rising cost of college, a wide range of organizations and activists representing millions of students, parents and recent college graduates are pushing to repeal recent cuts to student aid programs and increase supports to pay for college.
Millions of people nationwide will pay significantly more in interest on their student loans because of new measures recently approved by Congress effective July 1.
Using the slogan "Reverse the Raid," many organizations are mobilizing the public in different ways around the rising cost of college. Groups are reaching out to their members, releasing reports, launching online campaigns, communicating with the public, and holding events at dozens of college campuses and in hundreds of communities this year to ensure that the more than 18 million Americans who seek to pursue a college education can afford it, according to organizers.
Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., responded to the public's concern last week by introducing legislation that cuts student loan interest rates in half. Many of the groups that called on Congress to reverse the raid on student aid today endorsed the legislation in a letter to Congress.
Campaign for America's Future co-director Robert Borosage joined Sen. Durbin and Rep. Miller on today's conference call with reporters. Borosage said the legacy of this White House and Congress is broken promises and historic funding cuts.
"Finding a way to pay for college is a difficult struggle facing millions of families across the country," said Borosage. "This issue is going to be a hassle for Congress too. Families across the country are struggling to keep up with the largest cuts to student aid in our nation's history."
Student groups like the US Student Association, the State PIRGs and Campus Progress at the Center for American Progress are building support on campuses across the country and drawing attention to college affordability issues. The State PIRGs recently released a report to members emphasizing that unmanageable student loan debt discourages graduates from pursuing careers in public service fields such as teaching or social work.
Millions of people nationwide will pay significantly more in interest on their student loans because of new measures recently approved by Congress effective July 1.
Using the slogan "Reverse the Raid," many organizations are mobilizing the public in different ways around the rising cost of college. Groups are reaching out to their members, releasing reports, launching online campaigns, communicating with the public, and holding events at dozens of college campuses and in hundreds of communities this year to ensure that the more than 18 million Americans who seek to pursue a college education can afford it, according to organizers.
Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., responded to the public's concern last week by introducing legislation that cuts student loan interest rates in half. Many of the groups that called on Congress to reverse the raid on student aid today endorsed the legislation in a letter to Congress.
Campaign for America's Future co-director Robert Borosage joined Sen. Durbin and Rep. Miller on today's conference call with reporters. Borosage said the legacy of this White House and Congress is broken promises and historic funding cuts.
"Finding a way to pay for college is a difficult struggle facing millions of families across the country," said Borosage. "This issue is going to be a hassle for Congress too. Families across the country are struggling to keep up with the largest cuts to student aid in our nation's history."
Student groups like the US Student Association, the State PIRGs and Campus Progress at the Center for American Progress are building support on campuses across the country and drawing attention to college affordability issues. The State PIRGs recently released a report to members emphasizing that unmanageable student loan debt discourages graduates from pursuing careers in public service fields such as teaching or social work.
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