For those interested in "how the system works," the case of the current effort by the Obama Administration to remove the banks as middlemen in the huge market for student college loans is revealing.
The Huffington Post is doing an important investigative series on this, and the initial report on their findings is available at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/07/how-nonprofits-won-specia_n_415028.html
It's not (yet) entirely bad news, but neither is it a done-deal good news story (yet) either.
DT
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Unfortunately this is just another example of the business of higher education in the US. Money talks, and in the capitalist society we are a part of this means sectors that are suppose to develop and enrich young minds for the future of the country, are tainted by the greed and selfishness that have caused the problems the US is plagued with today.
ReplyDeleteWith college tuition annually reaching unprecedented heights, it would be nice for someone to stand up for the little guy (the students), but the sources of the problem continue to not take accountability for the monster they helped create.
This article demonstrates policymakers’ stance on the matter goes to the highest bidder, but Wartburg has no problem increasing tuition, and I argue doing little to increase the services they provide (on-campus dining, first-year housing facilities, gravel parking lots, etc.).
Ironically, when the state cuts $400 from a grant they ask students to write the governor to state their case. How can students expect the chief executive of the state to seriously consider the dilemma many are faced with, when their own institution, along with many of its counterparts, do little to curb the damages it inflicts on the pocketbooks of those that invest so much into them?
Colleges are turning more and more into money hunting machines, and while funds for private institutions will always be important, there has to be a time when even colleges realize they can do something to stop hurting those whose well-being depends on the services they provide, or else in May I may be celebrating my retirement from Wartburg Corporation instead of my graduation from Wartburg College.
This should be copied to the President of Wartburg, the Cabinet, and the Board of Regents. Your question about the loss of $400 from the State Tuition Grant is a good one. Nobody I know with power to establish this rate increase has a good answer for it.
ReplyDeleteSorry I missed this earlier when it was posted. There are no "warning" when comments are posted. I'll see if I can fix that.
Cheers,
DT