Despite the stated importance of the college student vote, it is distressing to us at The Eagle that many of the candidates in the 2008 presidential pool have insufficiently addressed the problems of rising college costs and insurmountable student loans.
Although quite a few of the Democrats have presented programs to help offset the burdens of tuition, it is disturbing that not one Republican offers a comparable plan. Instead, GOP candidates have reintroduced the controversial student voucher plan and said nothing about the rigors of student loans.
Maybe we're biased, but we believe that's unfair. Sure, public high schools are in need of serious reform, but at least they are available to students who cannot afford a private equivalent. With college, there is no viable backup. There isn't a university in the United States that's free and available to everyone. And for those of us who want to continue our studies - arguably, a bachelor's degree is no longer enough for some professions - the burden grows heavier. In essence, we've come to accept massive debt as an inevitable by-product of a good education.
Worse, there is no end in sight. As AU expands to provide more for its students, a tuition increase seems unavoidable. But before we complain about a $40,000 price tag, imagine how students at George Washington University feel about their annual $50,000 bill. Across the country, students struggle to continue their studies. A call for relief would undoubtedly be an understatement.
But a solution to rising college costs is not fathomable unless the candidates who stress the importance of the student vote actually work to represent the demographic. Regardless of political affiliation, each candidate needs to do his or her best to address the issue that most directly affects college students. Only through the power and publicity of the primary process can college students appeal for change. We'll readily support the first candidate who facilitates just that.
