SGA passes a resolution against cuts in U.S. loans

By Jeff Frankel

The student governing body of Rider voiced its disdain against a new proposal in Washington that would hurt college students nationwide.

The Student Government Association (SGA) drafted a resolution in opposition to a proposed bill that would cut $15 billion from Federal Student-Loan Programs.

“Our high hopes are to set up some way [for] students to voice their concerns to say, ‘We don’t want this to happen,’” said SGA Vice President Steve Klemchalk. “We need to do something to make sure this issue is resolved.”

The SGA Resolution states that “the number of students being denied access to the right to continue their education at the Higher Education level is ubiquitous” and the “proposed budgets cuts will negatively impact the availability of Federal Financial Aid.”

In an effort to sway Congress, SGA is sending the resolution to all members urging them to vote against the proposal.

“We are sending it to every Senator in the state,” Klemchalk said. “We are going to send it to everyone we can.”

The SGA could not allow Congress to cut the program without letting it hear its voice.

“When it came up that [the Senate] was going to cut it even more, we couldn’t sit on it anymore,” he said.

Erica Stout, Chair of the Finance Board, agreed something had to be done by Rider and other schools.

“We’ve all had problems with getting aid from the school, and I think by doing something we’ll be able to pressure every school to do it,” said Stout. “I think this is one of the best things [SGA] has tried to do.”

It is not only the Lawrenceville campus involved with the project.

“Our counterpart, the Princeton campus, is also doing this,” Klemchalk said. “This is going to benefit all students.”

Schools, especially those in New Jersey are not taking a stand against the proposed budget cuts, said SGA President Perry Whiteley.

“The reason behind doing a piece of legislation is because the Association of Independent College and Universities of New Jersey (AICUNJ) sent a letter out to every single university asking why [weren’t] New Jersey colleges saying anything about this,” said Whiteley.

The Resolution “condemns any proposed budget cuts that would negatively affect the future funding of Higher Education” and would “wholeheartedly support and urge elected officials to increase the funding.”

Whiteley agrees schools should receive additional funds.

“If anything, we should be getting more money for financial aid because already, there are so many students that are being denied access to it,” he said.

Stout agrees and is glad that SGA is taking a stand.

“We got on the ball and decided we [have] to do something about it,” she said. “I personally think it is a great piece of legislation.”