Aid cuts unacceptable

By Editorial

Last week it was reported in The Santa Clara that a bill submitted to Congress would slash $15 billion in student aid.

While President Bush seeks $70 billion in "emergency" spending in Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing the total dollars spent in Iraq to $225 billion, according to The Washington Post, $15 billion dollars will be sacrificed from education. Furthermore, while the Bush White House looks to increase its funding of NASA and its Mars exploration, extending the amount allocated to $16.5 billion, thousands of students (particularly those from low-income households) will suffer.

The Santa Clara believes that Congress and President Bush should not be looking to space while back on Earth, America's low-income students are denied an increasingly important education. Without acquiring advanced skills, many people will be shut out of the new technologically based economy and be denied the benefits of a college education.

Instead of bombing student financial aid to pay for Iraq and Katrina, Congress should look towards creative measures that will assure the continued funding of loan and grant programs, on which many students rely.

The cut's effect on university minority populations would be particularly unacceptable. As reported last week, Direct Loan Manager Trista San Agustin said the cuts would have a "tremendous affect" on campus diversity. The absence of these students at Santa Clara and schools across the nation is an injustice to the students themselves and to the universities which they attend.

Senators and Representatives must understand that when it comes to education aid, no sacrifices are acceptable. Education is too important to this nation's development and continued competition in world markets, as well as to the development of this nation's future leaders, to be ignored and sacrificed.

Surely, Congress can slash some pork-barrel spending or cut back on the moon landings to address more important issues back here on planet Earth.