Georgetown students and faculty have begun to mobilize students against the Bush Administration’s proposal to cut several major federal student aid programs. The federal budget, containing these and other changes to smaller federal aid programs, could come to a vote in Congress as early as Friday.
Representatives from the Georgetown University Student Association, the Office of Student Financial Services and the Office of Federal Relations met with a group of students Wednesday to explain the issue and encourage them to organize.
Bush has proposed ending Federal Perkins Loans, which provide nearly $30 million in aid to Georgetown students every year, according to Dean of Student Financial Services Patricia McWade. No new money would enter the program, and Georgetown would have to pay back the loans it has already received.
Georgetown receives approximately $115 million in federal financial aid per year, most ly from the Federal Stafford Loan.
“Stafford Loans are not at risk so far, but they could be threatened if Congress squeezes lenders so much that they decide it’s not worth it for them,” McWade said.
“We need students to contact their congressmen and senators and tell them to fight these changes,” Assistant to the President for Federal Relations Scott Fleming (SFS ‘72) said. “If even one or two go against it, it will fail. There’s only so much I can do, but a few students can really make a difference.”
GUSA has begun a campaign to raise student awareness through townhall meetings and a thefacebook.com group for students who want to get involved. Over 1,500 Georgetown students currently benefit from Perkins Loans, which average $4,500 per year.
-Marco Cerna
