To the editor:
The Dec. 3 Journal-World contained an article written by Gene Budig regarding the need to pay attention to the level of federal financial aid offered in this time of rising college costs. He emphasized the need for higher Pell Grants and also commented on student loan borrowing.
I would like to remind your readers that in the 1998 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, Congress authorized the Pell Grant to be at $5,800 by the 2003-04 aid year. (It is currently $4,050). Although the promise of a more meaningful grant amount is written into law, the grant has never been fully funded by Congress. If Congress wants to increase the Pell Grant, it must reduce expenditures elsewhere.
As long as billions are spent on Iraq and elsewhere, there will never be increases in the Pell other than the $50 or $100 annual increases that we've seen sporadically since the 1998 reauthorization. Also, can Budig be totally unbiased when it comes to discussing student loans? After all, College Board is a student loan lender of both federal and private loans.
Chris Johnson,
Lawrence
Comments
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imastinker (anonymous) says…
Why is it the responsibility of the government to pay for people's school? I didn't get help with mine, and I spent all summer painting houses to pay for it - and the other people that got scholarships from my tuition dollars. Now, I am going to have to pay for all of my kids school and the school of yet other people still?
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
Sorry you weren't smart enough to get a scholarship. These Pell Grants are greatly needed for those who don't have mommy and daddy to pay their way. Usually, these students who receive Pell Grants are also taking out student loans to cover the extra tuition cost and books (unless they receive enough scholarship money). Congrats to those who worked their way through college and ended up without any college debt. Here's to the smart kids of poverty and a chance to leave poverty.
imastinker (anonymous) says…
No, mommy and daddy did help, and I have loans too. I also got scholarships. My wife even had a pell grant - so I know how they work. I am just tired of the fact that I paid for my school and other's school at the same time, and now am still paying it off.
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
You were lucky to have mommy and daddy's help. Not everyone is so lucky. You didn't pay for all of your schooling, so why should anyone else? I have college loan debt that isn't even close to being paid off, but I accept it and have to deal with it.
blessed3x (anonymous) says…
"You didn't pay for all of your schooling, so why should anyone else?"
This is what's wrong with America. you aren't owed anything!!!!!!!! Get over it. Are you seriously going to piss and moan that the money you can get for free isn't enough. Whiner!!! Get a job. Work your way through school. I worked nights unloading freight trucks at....drum roll...Wal-Mart!!! to put myself through school. Suck it up and quit being a wuss.
imastinker (anonymous) says…
Thanks blessed3x.
My point is that many of the tuition increases are going to pay for scholarships for needy kids. I do understand that there are kids out there that are needier than me, but it's not the responsibility of a college student trying to get through college to pay for all those other kids too. Most of those things are just a manipulation of how you can make your self look as needy as possible. How many people do you know that play games with income and savings to get kids scholarships? I knew a lot.