Federal Student Aid:
Proposed Reductions Impact
UNC-Asheville
by Dave Picket
The academic year of 1982-83
may bring much despair to many
coiiege students throughout the
United States. In an attempt to
restore the economy and iighten
budgetary deficits, President
Ronaid Reagan proposes to cut
federal educational funding, if
Reagan’s proposed cuts are
passed by Congress, a great
number of coliege students will
be unable to continue their
education.
Approximately 2.4 million stu
dent loans and grants totaling $7
billion will be eliminated in
1982-83 if federal funding is
discontinued. The money lost to
supporting higher education will
be allocated to the national
defense budget. “The money
will be used in the financing of
of 95 B-1 bombers,” said UNC
president, William C. Friday,
who has been battling con
gressmen in Washington.
On March 3, Friday presented
testimony for educational fun
ding before the House subcom
mittee on Post Secondary
Education of the Committee on
Education and Labor. He said,
“The development of the
abilities and talents of our youth
must be primary among the
priorities of the nation. We need
to be educating more, not fewer
Americans, and the sooner we
are about it the better.”
Here at UNC-A 596 students
receive some type of financial
assistance totaling $394,500. If
Reagan’s proposed cuts are
passed by Congress, half of
these students may be unable to
continue their education.
Several recipients of federal aid
said that if educational funds
are cut, they will have to work
during the day and attend even
ing courses as they could afford
them. One student said, “I have
traveled very far, but now I may
be at the end of the road.”
UNC-A Chancellor, William E.
Highsmith said, “I don’t want to
see a student who has been here
a year or two and making pro
gress, lose out, I do not believe
ail cuts will go through. Political
pressure will be so great that
congress will not do it. There
will be some cuts, but hopefully,
not to the extent proposed
now.”
Those parents, students, or
others concerned about our
country’s educational well-being
should write to one of the per
sons below.
Representative Bill Hendon
212 Cannon House Office
Bldg
Washington, DC 20515
Senator Jesse Helms
4213 Dirksen Senate Bldg
Washintgon, DC 20510
Senator John East
5313 Dirksen Senate Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
BEOG
Current
Loss
New Amount
Received
Recipients
370
148
222
Amount
$275,000
$110,000
$165,000
COLLEGE WORK STUDY
Recipients
96
26
70
Amount
60,000
16,800
43,200
NATIONAL DIRECT
STUDENT LOAN
Recipients
50
50
0
Amount
24,000
24,000
00
STATE STUDENT
INCENTIVE GRANT
Recipients
43
43
0
Amount
24,000
24,000
00
SUPPLEMENTARY EDUCA
TIONAL OPPORTUNITY
GRANT
Recipients
37
37
0
Amount
24,000
11,500
00
596
304
292
TOTALS
$394,500
$186,300
$208,200