Newspapers / St. Andrews University Student … / March 14, 1985, edition 1 / Page 3
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MARCH 14,1985 Proposed Budget Shifts, Aid Policies BY MICHAEL PAIGE The College Administratis of St. Andrews is preparing to shift its financial aid programs to meet the proposed cuts of the 1986-87 National budget. Should the budget, submitted by the Reagan Administration, be approved by Congress, the Federal aid pro grams for the future freshman students at St. Andrews and other independent colleges of North Carolina could eventually be eliminated. According to “Bun” Perkinson, President of St. Andrews, a Com mittee from the North Carolina Association of Independent Col leges and Universities (NCAICU), is in the process of negotiating with the N.C. Bankers Assoc., the College foundation Inc., and the Educational Assistance Authori ty for a new independent pro gram, in which students entering college would pay 90 per cent of the tuition within a 10 year period. This would replace the Federal aid programs awarded to independent college in N.C. These Federal programs consist of the Pell Grants, College Work-Study, the National Direct Student Loans and the Guaranteed Stu dent Loans. Meanwhile, students already enrolled will be provided with funds from the schools in order to make up the difference in Federal cutbacks. Jerry Surface, Vice Pres, of Administration, has con firmed that all students enrolled at St. Andrews will be provided the appropriate aid in order to finish with a degree. And funds will also be provided to recr ait the capable. Though a larger deficit should occur, St. Andrews, according to Parker Umstead,, Vice Pres, of Finance, has the resources to manage the coming years. Umstead has pointed out that State aid has increased $100.00 to a total of $850.00 and there is hope for an increase that will total $1,500.00 per student. St. Andrews will also be prepar ing its 25th Anniversary fun draising drive for 1986. Ten milhon dollars in pledges is ex pected to be raised by that time from alumni, church organiza tions, foundations, and in dividuals. The first Convocation of the Anniversary will be held Sept. 20th, 1986. It is hoped that 25-30 milhon dollars will be raised to provide scholarship en dowments for a period of 8-10 years. Student enrollment at St. An drews is also growing. President Perkinson has attributed to the outstanding efforts of the Ad ministration Staff the incline of 181 freshman in 1983-84, to 232 in 1984-85, with a possibihty of 250 freshmen in 1985-1986. Thirty percent of the students are now children of alumni. And the alumni is gradually becoming of age to support the institution. Accordingly, St. Andrews should survive the pressures adminis tered by the budget cuts. It is estimated that the average family income eligible for the Federal aid will be under $35,000.00. For PeU Grants, the income limit will -be $25,000.00 and for the Guaranteed Student Loans, $32,500.00. The National Direct Student Loan will no longer have payments deferred. Also, if the Reagan budget is passed, there will be a $4,000.00 ceiling per year in Federal aid. To day’s tuition, which includes books, clothes, etc. is around $8,900.00 and Federal aid has paid $6,000.00. Small private colleges will be hurt by the cutbacks more than state universities, and while there is 6,000 empty spaces in the dor mitories of private colleges, state universities will be appropriating tax money to build new dorms. Many private schools will face a constricted future yet, 60 per cent of the executives working in the country’s top industries have graduated form small private col leges. Harvard, the first college in the U.S., was independent. There are 38 independent colleges in N.C. today, and a Uberal educa tion has been predominant among their curriculum. Becauses of the proposed cuts, the struggle of in dependent colleges will become, says Perkinson, “the survival of the financially fit.” But these cuts are still in the proposal and have not yet been passed in Congress. And through the cooperation of the students, families, and consituents thereof, the cuts in the educational budget can be reduced to a more reasonable percent* Te. According to Mo. oe W. Kar- min, of the U.S. News and World Report, the budget cuts will be presented to the public for ap proval, by the White House staff. The Democrtaic Party has not of fered a draft of a budget cutback of their own, and will support what the public majority permits. GOP Senators on the other hand, are wilUng to submit a budget reducing the proposed 277.5 bil- Uon mihtary budget to 246.3 bil lion. Republicans desirous to maintain GOP control in the Sen ate, fear a defense budget that would bring public indignation to the 1986 Senatorial Elections. Therefore, a compromise is ex pected on the proposed budget cuts, and public action through the House and Senate can protect the Educational aids provided for educated society. 1 Comment ^ A Personal Response To Budget Policies BY JOANNE KETCH In my Sage 102 class we were asked to write an in class essay responding to a particular article. The following was my response. In the essay “God help us everyone” George F. Will is a cross between an expository Kurt Vonnegut and a Gutsy Andy Rooney. The essay is satirical as well as cynical. Satire is usually effective because of its solid base. What makes Will so appealing is the validity of his comments. His comments on the Reagan Ad ministration were true and entertaining, but also introduced a subject not covered in the article. The Reagan Administration is the first administration to affect me personally. Reagan’s cuts in education made it almost im possible for me to attend college, particularly at a small rather expensive school. Still, St. Andrews was my first choice. The whole system proved to be completely infuriating. I spent hours preparing financial aid forms, and sent them in with money. Ironically, six weeks later, I was told by the system that I could af ford college. The financial aid system estimated that one third of my Father’s income could go toward my education. It was a tough couple of months when I looked at every possible avenue towards college, and felt as though I was sinking deeper and deeper. This year, things will be worse. Reagan has proposed a bill that once again cuts back on education aid. A family must make under $35,000 to be eligible. As far as I know provisions have not been made for large families or other students within the family. In the average American home today, two salaries are common (and necessary). The average salary being over $17,000 it is relatively easy for a family to make over $35,000. Eventually, if this trend keeps up, fewer and fewer educated people will be entering the job market, where education standards are rising. A very frustrating dilemma is being created. The situation becomes more infuriating when one considers that welfare and desirability are also to be cut on the same proposal. Defense spending, of course, is being increased. Systems that help the most needy of Americans, are suffering the brunt of this ap palling and infuriating situation. I realize that the first function of our government is to protect its citizens. It just seems to me that the “protection” of its citizens is at the cost of the education. When will President Reagan stop and when will America draw the line?
St. Andrews University Student Newspaper
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