10 The ]ibsheet November 24, 2009
OPINIONS _
. °
They don't make music like they used to
Maida Suljevic
NEWS EDITOR
Saving money for college
could get a whole lot easier.
The United States House of
Representatives recently voted on
legislation that would increase the
amount of federal aid students are
able to receive for their college
education.
The bill, known as
the "Student Aid and Fiscal
Responsibility Act (SAFRA),"
passed in the house by a vote of
253 to 171 and has been sent to
the Senate, where it is predicted
to pass.
If SAFRA were to pass, it
would have a direct impact on
community colleges nation±wide.
SAFRA includes a section in its
legislation that would set aside
9.5 billion dollars to community
colleges.Outoftheaforementioned
figure, 2.5 billion dollars would
go towards improving facilities
and campuses; the rest would go
towards grants.
The bill would introduce a
competitive grant program that
would encourage community
colleges to improve instruction,
facilities, student support
services, and implementation of
other reforms.
The bill would also invest
40 billion dollars over the next 10
years to increase the maximum
annual Pell Grant. In 2010, the
maximum amount for an annual
Pell Grant scholarship would be
raised to 5,550 dollars and would
continue to increase over the
years.
According to the bill,
the" Pell Grant would increase
to match the rising cost of the
standard of living, and will be
indexed through the Consumer
Price .Index, plus one percent.
SAFRA would include
provisions to improve the Federal
Perkins Loan Program, which
provides ,low interest loans to
help needy students.
The legislation would
require that, beginning on July
1, 2010, all loans are to be
converted to the Federal Direct
Loan Program. The bill ¢vould
eliminate the need for students
to apply and receive loans from
private lenders. The government
would then, in theory, save more
money, because they do not have
to guarantee or insure the private
lender. The government will
funnel the saved money back
into financial aid or towards the
national deficit.
The bill would also put
an end to the Federal Family
Education Loan (FFEL), because
the program would no longer be
able to generate revenue from
new loans.
While this idea may seem
great on paper, many republicans •
in the House opposed the
measure, complaining about the
increasing size of government
and the government takeover of
yet another sector that private
loan officers used to control.
"Today's vote was about
expanding the size and scope of
the federal government through
tens of billions of dollars in new
entitlement spending and the
elimination of choice, competition
and the innovation of the private
sector," said Rep. John Kline
from Minnesota, who is the top
republican on the Education and
Labor Committee.
On the other side of the
spectrum is Rep. George Miller,
democrat from California and
chairman of the House Education
and Labor Committee, who
said, "Today the House made a
clear choice to stop funneling
vital taxpayer dollars through
boardrooms and start sending
them directly to dorm rooms."
For the most part, advocates
for students support the passing
of the bill, arguing that the
legislation is looking out for the
best interests of future students
by offering more financial aid,
student programs and better
facilities.
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• College. Its content may not reflect the views of the administration or the
student body.
included in the paper.
First three copies ofthis issue are fre Contact Editor-in-Chief for
information regarding additional copies.
A letter to the students
Dear Students,
The Associated Student Government (ASG) is committed to representing students in
the decision-making that effects our campus. Bellevue College's model of shared
governance allows a broad spectrum of input from a wide variety of people. The
ASG uses this input to make sure that your needs are considered a primary
importance in any policy implemented. Among other things, we are seeking new
technological solutions that would decrease net textbook costs, promoting
legislation that Would place a student member on the Board of Trustees, working
towards environmental initiatives that promote sustainability, and reviewing new
and innovative ways to keep students informed.
publishing rights to piece of writing and artwork/photo (unless
otherwise noted) and the right to use the submitted writing/
Member: i •
That being said, this will be another year of dramatic budget cuts to the already
anemic Community and Technical college system. Figures suggest that the budget
situation in Olympia will continue to falter due to the recession our state's economy
is beginning to emerge from. This means that Bellevue College will likely See
another round of cuts to the College's budget resulting in reduced resources to our
students most in need. The ASG is resolved to work diligently to divert the
ramifications of such cuts away from student's.pockets. An arm of the ASG, the Office
of Student Legislative Affairs, will be lobbying in Olympia on your behalf during the
legislative session. They will meet with legislators, propose bills, and work with
other organizations to help ensure that the educational system does not see a
disproportional amount of budget reductions. To do this, we will need student
• support and testimony in Olympia. I urge you to contact your legislator and let them
know that students cannot be the ones to see cuts. (http://www.leg.wa.gov/pages/home.aspx)
: COLLEGIATE
The opinions expressed in this publication do not
necessarily represent the opinions of the Associated
Students of Bellevue College nor of the administration of
Bellevue College. They also do not speak on behalf of the
entire staff of The Jibsheet or advertisers.
Take a moment to visit the Associated Student Government on the second floor of
the C building in C212.
Sincerely,
]oseph Root
ASG President
Bellevue College
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