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UConnPIRG supports stimulus aid bill
Laurie Wilbur
Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: News
With the newly approved economic stimulus plan, many people expressed concern about the potential consequences of such legislation on students. As such, UConnPIRG has been an instrumental voice for students.
Jeffrey Czerwiec, UConnPIRG campus organizer, said in an e-mail that the organization supports the overall bill in two major ways. First, provisions in the bill address clean renewable energy and thus make crucial advancements in solving global warming. Additionally, the possible increase in Pell Grant allowance will provide students with greater opportunities to afford college.
However, UConnPIRG stops short of supporting the increase in loan limits.
"Increases in student loans only subsidize huge loan corporations," Czerwiec said. "Instead, the U.S. could put that money into funding more grant-based programs."
Christian Zimmermann, professor of economics, said through an e-mail, "Education is a market, even if heavily regulated by state governments [for public institutions]. If students get significantly more loans, universities will be asking for higher tuition."
Kevin Wilhelm, a 6th-semester economics major and UConnPIRG State chair, said that the bill might affect particular majors differently. Due to the investment industry, medical-related majors may see an increase in enrollment while other majors may see a decline.
Wilhelm admitted that if the current state of the economy had been in its current state wen he applied for college a few years ago, he may have reconsidered being an economics major.
Still, UConnPIRG is showing support for the economic stimulus package through a number of ways. Call-in days were organized when members recognized an opportunity for more emphasis on public transportation. This generated more than 100 calls to federal legislators, including Sen. Chris Dodd (D) and Rep. Joe Courtney (D), according to Czerwiec. In response, an additional $3 billion was put toward public transportation.
On Wednesday, UConnPIRG organized an event at the Homer Babbidge Library, using the slogan: "Love Your Mother - Stop Global Warming." They collected Valentine's Day cards to send to Courtney, thanking him for supporting investments in global warming solutions.
Now, students are asking Courtney to continue to further support and "create thousands of jobs, including investing in public transportation, renewable energy development and energy efficiency projects," according to a UConnPIRG press release.
Jeffrey Czerwiec, UConnPIRG campus organizer, said in an e-mail that the organization supports the overall bill in two major ways. First, provisions in the bill address clean renewable energy and thus make crucial advancements in solving global warming. Additionally, the possible increase in Pell Grant allowance will provide students with greater opportunities to afford college.
However, UConnPIRG stops short of supporting the increase in loan limits.
"Increases in student loans only subsidize huge loan corporations," Czerwiec said. "Instead, the U.S. could put that money into funding more grant-based programs."
Christian Zimmermann, professor of economics, said through an e-mail, "Education is a market, even if heavily regulated by state governments [for public institutions]. If students get significantly more loans, universities will be asking for higher tuition."
Kevin Wilhelm, a 6th-semester economics major and UConnPIRG State chair, said that the bill might affect particular majors differently. Due to the investment industry, medical-related majors may see an increase in enrollment while other majors may see a decline.
Wilhelm admitted that if the current state of the economy had been in its current state wen he applied for college a few years ago, he may have reconsidered being an economics major.
Still, UConnPIRG is showing support for the economic stimulus package through a number of ways. Call-in days were organized when members recognized an opportunity for more emphasis on public transportation. This generated more than 100 calls to federal legislators, including Sen. Chris Dodd (D) and Rep. Joe Courtney (D), according to Czerwiec. In response, an additional $3 billion was put toward public transportation.
On Wednesday, UConnPIRG organized an event at the Homer Babbidge Library, using the slogan: "Love Your Mother - Stop Global Warming." They collected Valentine's Day cards to send to Courtney, thanking him for supporting investments in global warming solutions.
Now, students are asking Courtney to continue to further support and "create thousands of jobs, including investing in public transportation, renewable energy development and energy efficiency projects," according to a UConnPIRG press release.
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