Obama calls for Student Aid Bill of Rights

By NEPHY LAUTURE

President Barack Obama announced a Student Aid Bill of Rights last Tuesday, March 10 in an effort to “help borrowers responsibly manage their debt, improve federal student loan servicing and protect taxpayers’ investments,” as stated in a White House press release.

The signing comes during a time when 70 percent of students, upon finishing their bachelor’s degrees, will be in debt of more than $28,000.

“One of the things that’s been uppermost on my mind is how do we make sure that every young person in this country who is willing to put in the effort can go to college,” Obama said at the signing of the presidential memorandum.

Many students believe this is an important and necessary step for the administration to take.

“The Obama administration, since his last state of the Union, has shown an extraordinary commitment to education. The announcement of the Student Aid Bill of Rights is no different. I absolutely think it will make a positive impact on higher education in the U.S.,” said Benjamin Hermerding, a senior political science major and President of the University of Mary Washington Young Democrats.

“For too long, vulnerable young Americans has fallen prey to skyrocketing education prices,” said Hermerding.

The Student Aid Bill of rights sets to create a responsive student feedback system, help borrowers afford their monthly payments and prioritize to meet the needs of student borrowers, stating that “every student deserves access to a quality, affordable education at a college that’s cutting costs and increasing learning, every student should be able to access the resources needed to pay for college, every borrower has the right to an affordable repayment plan and every borrower has the right to quality customer service, reliable information, and fair treatment, even if they struggle to repay their loans,” according to a press release from the White House.