Imagine you’re 35 with kids of your own and have $20,000 left to pay in student loans. You have your degree and work extremely hard, but with your salary it seems like you’re in endless debt. Soon it’ll be time for your kids to go to college, and you’re still not close to paying off your education. You can feel yourself sinking deeper into debt. How much does higher education really cost?
As a community who realizes the importance of education, we need to ensure we put continuous pressure on our legislatures to protect it.
I had the opportunity to attend the Young Invincibles’ College Journalist Summit in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 27. I was joined by about 30 other college students from across the nation to discuss higher education policy. We divulged our concerns and visions for our own education. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia guided us in our analysis of the issue.
Young Invincibles is a national organization with a campaign focused on repairing higher education and minimizing student debt. Founded in 2009, the group aims to make college more affordable and accessible to all sectors of the public.
Organizations like these are needed to aid in our fight for higher education reform. Young Invincibles informs and advocates for students across the nation.
The only time we’re marching to the capitol and calling our representatives shouldn’t be when they’re already devaluing our public education system and defunding scholarships.
I watched it happen with TOPS. For several months, rumors circulated of incredible budget cuts and withdrawal of TOPS funding for more than 50,000 students and their families. The Daily Reveille and local news stations covered the potential cuts and LSU President F. King Alexander sent mass emails to students regarding the issue. Yet, I saw very little reaction from my fellow students. It was like they thought they were untouchable, that the American value of higher education was untouchable.
Once it happened, my Twitter timeline went crazy. Everyone seemed disappointed, confused and infuriated. The delayed reaction was unbelievable.
You shouldn’t care when it’s too late.
We should be putting constant pressure on our state and federal governments consistently to ensure the protection of our pursuit of knowledge. The Higher Education Act, legislation which controls our higher education system, is overdue to be reauthorized. Its purpose is to give resources to higher education institutions with the intent to make college more accessible and affordable. Among other things, the act oversees financial aid programs and loans. Despite the last act being reauthorized in 2008, it is usually reviewed, updated and reauthorized approximately every five years.
This process will be interesting under the Trump administration and Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education, who seem unconcerned with preserving higher education. I would’ve been more hopeful had former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton been elected, but we’ll have to work with this. With Sen. Kaine as a new member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, I can remain optimistic.
During the summit, my group had the honor of speaking with Kaine regarding higher education on the federal level. I had the opportunity to ask him a brief question on the future of higher education in Louisiana.
I voiced my concern with Louisiana’s constitutional lack of protection for health care and higher education and asked what could be done on the federal level. Sen. Kaine said there are ways to put pressure on state governments through the Higher Education Act. They can find ways to give states extra money, but with restrictions that don’t lessen the state budget. So, in a sense, Louisiana would still utilize its full budget and use federal money to cover areas where they fall short — like higher education.
There is hope for the future of higher education in Louisiana.
First, everyone needs to become educated on the topic — it affects all of us. Understandably, it’s hard to advocate for something you know little about. However, the resources are there for you to become informed. You can search online, ask a professor, etc.
Second, it’s time to be selfless. Even if college affordability will never be an issue for your family, you should still care. Why? Because you clearly understand the importance of an education, so why not make sure everyone is awarded the right to further their education?
Yes, tuition spikes and TOPS cuts do affect me personally; because of them, there are some sacrifices my family has to make. However, I have slightly over a year until I obtain my degree and, as of now, I still plan to graduate debt-free. Yet, I still care about the state of higher education — moreso for the little boy down the street who hardly has access to a standard secondary education and is looking at the University like it’s unconquerable.
Education shouldn’t be a luxury. As constituents of the higher education system, we should set the standard. If we consider a school with excellent curriculum, organizations and professors to be a good education, then that’s what should be offered to everyone.
We can’t keep sitting around while our education is toyed with. We must stay informed on what’s going on and never become complacent with the state of our government — especially with regard to our education.
Clarke Perkins is a 21-year-old political science junior from New Orleans, Louisiana.