“I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have…education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boston University ’55

Dear ,

A great deal of students-as well as a considerable portion of Boston University students-struggle to pay for college, and as a result, are frequently forced to essentially choose between future financial security or the complete development of their academic potential. This difficult decision, which all students must encounter in varying degrees, is one symptom of the growing disparity between the rich and poor; as a result, student loans is one of the few political issues that inevitably affects all students directly in some form.

In the interest of the 7,500 students of the 31,000 students we represent, the College of Arts and Sciences Student Government of Boston University is writing to express our ubiquitous opposition against the budget reconciliation bill. The included 9 billion dollar cut to the federal government’s loan programs could have substantial repercussions within the Boston University community, as well as all the students in Massachusetts.

We depend on the Congress to protect our rights as people and students, especially as tuitions rise and make higher education a more difficult prospect for every student everyday. The passage of this bill could inhibit or exclude students altogether from an opportunity that should always remain available to the people in our country: education that is accessible to students regardless of economic status.

To keep our democracy strong, our nation competitive, and our colleges open to all students who wish to increase their potential through academic growth, we urge you to vote against the reconciliation bill and keep students’ chances for higher education intact.

Sincerely,

CAS Forum

CAS Forum has taken this student affairs issue, which was brought to our attention by Tara Robinson of the Massachusetts Public Research Group (MassPIRG) at Boston University.

This initiative has already been presented to the Student Union and the President’s Council; We welcome support from any groups, governments, or students who may be interested in this extremely important issue. Ideally, we would like to send the above letter to all Congressmen and Senators of the state of Massachusetts immediately, encouraging them to vote against the College Access and Opportunity Act, which is to come before Congress as early as November 11.

authors: CAS FORUM [email protected], 732-674-4196 Tricia Choi Executive VP of Internal Affairs, CAS Forum 2007 CAS